Christened the Audi RS Q e-tron E2, the identify now incorporates the E2 abbreviation that beforehand featured on the legendary Audi Quattro in its Group B derivation within the Nineteen Eighties.

All the physique of the car has been redesigned because it made its debut on this yr’s Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, with chief designer Axel Loffler stating “not a single physique half from its predecessor” has been carried over to the brand new mannequin.

A number of weight-saving measures have been adopted as the unique Audi RS Q e-tron was chubby due its extremely advanced hybrid powertrain system, with the German producer admitting that it needed to shed a number of kilos of the automotive even because the minimal weight has been raised from 2,000kg to 2,100kg.

Perception: How Audi took the Dakar by storm with its hybrid game-changer

Aerodynamics have been additionally a significant level of focus, with designers capable of cut back the drag by 15% regardless of having to widen the scale of the cockpit as per rules.

Coming to the powertrain itself, the RS Q e-tron E2 basically stays a hybrid, with a pair of electrical motors supplemented by a DTM-derived engine that’s used solely to cost the batteries – moderately than energy the car instantly.

A number of enhancements have been made to make the powertrain extra environment friendly in addition to repair a number of the points that appeared on its debut, together with a surge in energy that was famous when the wheels made much less contact with the bottom whereas leaping or on uneven terrain.

The servo pump, the air-conditioning cooling pump and the followers have additionally been optimised to save lots of power utilization throughout phases.

Plenty of modifications have additionally been made to make it simpler for the crew to function the car. Firstly, flat and simply detachable physique elements have changed the earlier cumbersome covers for the spare wheels to save lots of time changing punctured tyres.

Audi RS Q e-tron E2

Photograph by: Audi Communications Motorsport

Secondly, the management buttons on the centre console have been reshuffled, with a brand new rotary swap added to permit each the motive force and the co-driver to rapidly toggle between the 4 system areas; specifically stage, highway, error and settings.

Preliminary working of the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 was accomplished below the supervision of head of check engineering Arnau Niubo Bosch, with the automotive now set to journey to Morocco to make its competitors debut in Rally du Maroc from 1-6 October.

Audi may have its whole fleet of three automobiles in Morocco, pushed by 14-time Dakar champion Stephane Peterhansel, fellow rally legend Carlos Sainz and two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom.

The up to date automotive will participate within the 2023 Dakar Rally, which begins on New Yr’s Day in Saudi Arabia.

“We’ve managed a great debut on the Dakar with the Audi RS Q e-tron and even our first stage victories in a motorsport self-discipline that’s new to us,” says new Audi Sport managing director Rolf Michl, who has changed Julius Seebach.

“All the staff is working excellently collectively and pulling in the identical path.

“As is common at such an early stage, the drivers, co-drivers and technicians rapidly agreed on the following growth targets. We have now summarised the lead to a brand new evolution bundle – the RS Q e-tron E2.”