Motor Shows – Pulpaddict

Audi RS Q e-tron Drifts Alongside Ducati DesertX in Italy

Audi and Ducati join forces to unveil a common design to emphasize the synergy between the brand groups. The Audi RS Q e-tron demonstrates its extraordinary capabilities drifting alongside the motorcycle.

The Volkswagen automotive group has many sub-brands under its umbrella. As our avid readers must already know, this includes the Ingolstadt brand. However, for those unfamiliar with the two-wheeler industry, VW’s Italian subsidiary Lamborghini is also the parent company of Ducati Motor Holding. A group of lucky journalists recently got the opportunity to drive an Audi RS Q e-tron racer alongside a Ducati DesertX motorcycle in Sardinia, Italy.

The event was also the first time that journalists got to test both vehicles simultaneously. Both offerings now share a common design language that highlights the synergy between the brand groups. The test was conducted under the expert supervision of motorsport professionals from Audi and Ducati. Danilo Petrucci from Ducati was present to demonstrate the potential of the bike manufacturer’s Testastretta motor.

Audi’s Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz, along with Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Emil Bergkvist, also displayed the capability of the RS Q e-tron’s advanced technology by drifting the Dakar racer drifting alongside the Italian two-wheeler on gravel tracks.

Audi RS Q e-tron

Audi factory driver Carlos Sainz shared his thoughts on the RS Q e-tron.

“What Audi has achieved with this concept is technically unique and a real benefit for us drivers,” explains Sainz. He further adds, “The event in Sardinia was great to communicate the benefits of the electric drive. All the media were impressed throughout.”

A high-voltage battery pack powers the Audi RS Q e-tron. The Dakar racer’s innovative electric drive setup uses an energy converter that offers a maximum charging power of 220 kilowatts. The converter consists of a TFSI engine and motor generator units derived from the automaker’s e-tron FE07 Formula E racer. The electrified off-roader can accelerate to 62 MPH from a complete standstill in just 4.5 seconds on loose surfaces. The Audi RS Q e-tron can also hit a top speed of 106 mph. With four stage victories, RS Q e-tron made an exciting debut.

Danilo Petrucci also offered his insights on the experience. “It’s a dream come true for me, because already as a child I was a fan of Carlos Sainz,” said the Italian. “You can’t describe the feeling in the cockpit. I didn’t expect the RS Q e-tron to be so fast off-road. Its technology shows the way to the future of the automobile.”

Image Source: Audi

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LCE Performance Audi Quattos Makes Big Splash at SEMA 2021

Rocketbyz Audi Quattro

German Audi builder LCE Performance machines include art-car tribute to Walter Rohl’s Pikes Peak climb, Ken Block’s “Turbomonster.”

The SEMA Show isn’t just a showcase of the latest products, but also the place for manufacturers and tuners to show what they can do. Audi sometimes makes an official appearance at the show, the latest being 2017 with its TT Clubsport concept. That’s not to say Ingolstadt’s best doesn’t turn up, though.

German Audi builder LCE Performance turned up for SEMA 2021 with a pair of Audi Quattros. One’s an artistic tribute to Walter Rohl’s Pikes Peak climb in 1987. The other was their “Turbomonster,” now in the hands of Ken Block.

Especially when Ken Block is involved. Alongside Hoonigans’ Brian Scotto and his Coupe Quattro, Block brought a pair of special Audis for Toyo Tires’ Treadpass SEMA 2021 display.

LCE Performance Turbomonster Audi Sport Quattro

The origin of Block’s Quattro began as a search to build a monster in tribute to Audi’s post-Group B activities. Specifically, Walter Rohl’s run up Pikes Peak in 1987 in the Sport Quattro S1. With Scotto and the Hoonigans film crew, Block visited Germany a few months ago to source the perfect specimen.

Ken Block Turbomonster

“We spoke to the guys in LCE,” said Scotto. “They were like, ‘Yeah! That’s awesome! We’d love to build you one. How does 2025 sound?’ We were like, ‘No. That’s not gonna work for us at all. You must have a client car or something that we can buy, and then modify from there.’ And he was like, ‘Ahhhhh.’ I could hear in his voice that he had something he didn’t want to sell us. So, we just kept pushing and pushing and pushing.”

Thus, the acquisition of LCE’s demonstrator, dubbed the “Turbomonster.” Back when it was active, the Sport Quattro made 1,081 horsepower from its beefed up turbo-five. Everything from a modded S2 cylinder head to a camshaft from a Volkswagen diesel bus contributed to the mad power boost, all funneled to the corners via a six-speed manual.

Rocketbyz Audi Quattro

Block’s now-white Sport Quattro is joined by SEMA 2021 by LCE’s other Audi, a collab with visual artist Rocketbyz. The Quattro’s matte black surface is covered in splashes of bright yellow, green, pink, white and orange paint. The cherry on top, though, is a portrait of Walter Rohl on the rear wing.

Photos: Newspress USA, LCE Performance, Instagram/Toyo Tires

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Cameron Aubernon

Cameron Aubernon’s path to automotive journalism began in the early New ’10s. Back then, a friend of hers thought she was an independent fashion blogger.

Aubernon wasn’t, so she became one, covering fashion in her own way for the next few years.

From there, she’s written for: Louisville.com/Louisville Magazine, Insider Louisville, The Voice-Tribune/The Voice, TOPS Louisville, Jeffersontown Magazine, Dispatches Europe, The Truth About Cars, Automotive News, Yahoo Autos, RideApart, Hagerty, and Street Trucks.

Aubernon also served as the editor-in-chief of a short-lived online society publication in Louisville, Kentucky, interned at the city’s NPR affiliate, WFPL-FM, and was the de facto publicist-in-residence for a communal art space near the University of Louisville.

Aubernon is a member of the International Motor Press Association, and the Washington Automotive Press Association.

Audi Grandsphere Debuts at IAA 2021

Even with its impressive 720 HP electric-only powertrain, the futuristic cabin of Audi grandsphere is the star of the show.

The Ingolstadt-based automaker unveiled its grandsphere concept study at the IAA 2021 yesterday. This is the second installment of the three “sphere” concepts that Audi has been working on. The design of grandsphere concept aims to offer the comfort of luxurious private travel. As a result of this, grandsphere gets one of the most futuristic cabins we’ve ever seen. That’s not all, because Level 4 automated driving capability is also part of the package. This means grandsphere can cruise on freeways and maneuver through heavy traffic conditions with minimum human intervention.

A 120 kWh battery pack powers the grandsphere, and according to Audi, the concept can deliver 470 miles of range. Customers can recharge the massive battery pack from 5% to 80% capacity in just 25 minutes, courtesy of its 800-volt fast-charging capability. Furthermore, the EV gets a dual-motor setup (one on each axle), and the electric-only powertrain produces 720 HP of power and 708 lb-ft of peak torque.

Sharp creases offset grandsphere’s curvaceous bodywork. The front-end is dominated by a flat hexagonal faux grille that lights up and houses the sensors for grandsphere’s autonomous driving system. The lighting units in the headlights are designed to emulate Audi’s four-ring logo. Audi’s Avus concept from the 1990s inspired the design of grandsphere’s gorgeous 23-inch rims.

Audi Grandsphere Debuts at IAA 2021

Futuristic interior space that offers a luxurious onboard experience

Audi grandsphere’s interior is its pièce de résistance. The car’s steering wheel, instrument display, and pedals retract when the car is in autonomous driving mode, to give occupants more cabin space. The car does not have any B-pillars, and the rear doors open backward, which makes it easy to get in and out of the vehicle.

The infotainment system of grandsphere makes large touchscreen units look antiquated. The concept car uses projectors to display images onto the wooden dashboard. Passengers can control the system with hand gestures and eye movements. The EV’s cabin comes equipped with a drinks cooler that slides out of the center console, which also houses a plant.

Audi has confirmed that its production cars will eventually receive the technologies that are debuting in the grandsphere concept study. The grandsphere concept will offer the foundation for Audi’s flagship sedans in the future. The German automaker’s next concept car will be the Audi urbansphere which will premiere sometime next year.

Image Source: Audi

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