Audi RS Q e-tron

The Audi RS Q e-tron is an off-road competition car, built by Audi under the e-tron battery electric sub-brand. It was specially designed to take part in the rally raids.

Audi RS Q e-tron
CategoryRally raid
Technical specifications
Length4,500 mm (177.2 in)
Width2,300 mm (90.6 in)
Height1,950 mm (76.8 in)
Engine2.0L Audi RC8 TFSI I4 (turbo petrol; generator only)
3x Audi MGU05 permanent magnet (electric; 2-motors per axle and 1-motor for engine generator) 200 kW (272 PS; 268 hp) (Engine)
288 kW (392 PS; 386 hp) (2x Motors) --> Mid-engine + Dual motors, All wheel drive
TransmissionOne single-speed racing gearbox per axle with limited-slip differential (software-based), virtual center differential with freely selectable torque distribution on front and rear axle
Battery52 kWh lithium-ion cells High Voltage Battery System (HVBS)
TyresBF Goodrich front/rear 37x12,5 R17
Competition history
Notable entrantsGermany Audi
Notable drivers
First win2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Last win2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Last event2023 Dakar Rally
EntriesRacesWinsPodiums
3311

Development

It was mentioned as an unnamed prototype during the 2020-12-11 announcement of Q Motorsport becoming Audi factory team.[1]

Specifications

The Dakar 2022 RS Q e-tron includes:

  • Two electric motors from Audi's Formula E program, one on each axle, for a combined power of under 288 kilowatts (386 hp).[2]
  • Energy converter maximum charging power of 220 kilowatts (300 hp).[3]
  • A TFSI engine rated approximately 200 kilowatts (270 hp).[4]

Competition history

On 30 November 2020, Audi announced their intent to compete in the Dakar Rally,[5] and during the announcement on 11 December, in which Q Motorsport became Audi's factory team.[1] Three crews of Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz, Stéphane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger and Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist would drive the car.

On 23 July 2021, Audi unveiled the RS Q e-tron, an offroad racer intended to compete in the 2022 Dakar Rally.[6][7] The car was quick but navigation errors from all 3 crews meant they lost hours of time on the first day. They even had many mechanical issues. Still all 3 drivers won a stage, with Sainz winning SS11 as well making it 4 stage wins on debut.[8]

At the 2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Peterhansel and Boulanger made history by winning the event and giving the RS Q e-tron its first win, and the first win for an electric vehicle in a rally raid.[9]

References
  1. "Project Dakar: Q Motorsport becomes Audi factory team". www.audi-mediacenter.com.
  2. Technical Data: Audi RS Q e-tron
  3. Rallye Dakar: The high-voltage battery in the Audi RS Q e-tron
  4. Staying cool: Complex cooling systems for the Dakar Rally in the Audi RS Q e-tron
  5. "Audi to compete in Dakar Rally". www.audi-mediacenter.com.
  6. Miller, Caleb (2021-07-23). "671-HP Audi RS Q e-tron Is an Electrified Dakar Rally Racer". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  7. Audi RS Q e-tron: Test laboratory for possible future technologies at the Dakar Rally
  8. "Audi RS Q e-tron at the Dakar Rally: Successful start into a new era". Audi MediaCenter. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  9. "Emotional first victory in the desert: Audi RS Q e-tron wins in Abu Dhabi". Audi MediaCenter. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  • Press kit: RS Q e-tron (*This vehicle shown here is the Rally Dakar vehicle that is not available as a production model.)
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