Audi S1 Hoonitron electric stunt car revealed for Ken Block’s Gymkhana

Rally driver, extreme sports star and Internet personality Ken Block has revealed the hero of the next instalment of his Gymkhana stunt video series: the all-electric Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron.

After parting ways with long-time associate Ford earlier this year, Ken Block joined forces with Audi – and with the use of the rally driver's drift-ready Ford Mustang and F-Series race cars no longer on the table, the next star of the Gymkhana series now wears four rings on its nose.

Officially known as the Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron (but S1 Hoonitron from here on within this story), Block's new car is a modern interpretation of the iconic Audi Sport Quattro S1 racer designed for the Pikes Peak hill climb in the 1980s – but instead of a 2.1-litre turbocharged five-cylinder under the bonnet, there's a pair of electric motors and a battery pack beneath the floor.

With a short wheelbase and long overhangs akin to the original Sport Quattro, the new S1 Hoonitron references its forebear through 'box' wheel arch flares and an imposing aerodynamics package, with a bold front splitter and tall rear wing (with endplates).

Unlike the original car, however, there's a unique livery familiar to followers of the E-Tron sub-brand – with the red and black striped regions along the lower body intended to hint at the battery sitting beneath the floor – joining thoroughly modern alloy wheel covers and LED lights.

No mechanical details of the S1 Hoonitron have been confirmed, beyond that it features dual electric motors for all-wheel drive – though some of Block's last petrol-powered Ford Gymkhana cars have used twin-turbo V6 or V8 engines developing as much as 1043kW.

The Hoonitron employs a full carbon-fibre chassis, which Audi says is compliant with all FIA safety requirements.

The new Audi S1 E-Tron Hoonitron will make its debut in the next (12th) Gymkhana stunt video, tentatively titled Elektrikhana – though details such as location and theme are yet to be confirmed.

"The collaboration with Audi is a very special partnership for me. The brand and its passion for motorsport motivated me to get into rallying," Block said in a statement. "That Audi has now developed this car for me and my team, and has joined us in our next project, has made a dream come true for me. The Hoonitron is writing the next chapter in our history and taking our Gymkhana story into the future."

"Audi gave me the opportunity to test it for a few days in Germany. I'm familiar with a wide variety of cars using internal combustion engines and transmissions, but there were a lot of new things for me to learn here. Spinning into a donut at 150 km/h directly from standstill – just using my right foot – is an all-new experience for me ... My thanks go to the whole Audi Sport squad for their outstanding teamwork."

Speaking about the design, Audi chief designer Marc Lichte added: "When we first heard about this project, the whole team was thrilled immediately: we had the opportunity to develop a car that combines an icon of our brand with the future.

"It was about creating a modern, all-electric interpretation of the S1 Pikes Peak. The timeline was extremely tight: while our design process normally takes one to one-and-a-half years, we only had four weeks from the first drawing to the final design. We were constantly in touch with Ken Block and his team and engaged in intensive exchanges."