On the way to its debut at the Dakar Rally in January 2022, the team Of Audi Sport has taken another important step. The new Audi RS Q e-tron has completed an eight-day endurance test in the sweltering heat of Spain on gravel sections of the kind typically used in cross-country rallies.
The roll-out in Neuburg an der Donau on 30th June was an initial functional check for the innovative rally car. A test in the area of Magdeburg in mid-July was focused on gathering initial experiences on unpaved ground. The first test in realistic conditions followed at a test area near the Spanish city of Zaragoza.
All three of Audi Sport’s driver teams took part in the test in Aragon. The three-driver teams were seriously impressed with the handling and reliability of the futuristic SUV on the fast gravel sections. “For the first test in proper conditions for the car, I’m really happy with how the car behaves already, I had a really good feeling straight away,” said Carlos Sainz on behalf of his fellow drivers.
On the 10.5-mile-long gravel sections, the Audi RS Q e-tron achieved a top speed of 112mph. In addition, the vehicle was tested in temperatures of up to 34 degrees centigrade in the shade. “This test was focused on getting in as much driving as possible and detecting weak spots,” development engineer Arnau Niubó Bosch said after more than 1,000 test miles in extremely harsh conditions. “The next test in September will take us into the dunes for the first time.”
The Audi RS Q e-tron uses an all-electric powertrain with two motor-generator units from Formula E. The high-voltage battery that has been newly developed by Audi Sport is recharged while driving via an energy converter consisting of the efficient TFSI engine.
