Audi RS Q e-tron E2 finishes initial endurance test

Audi revealed that the RS Q e-tron E2 has completed its first endurance test.

According to the German automotive brand, the team had a total of 4,218 kilometers (km) in Morocco where the endurance test was staged. Together with the previous tests in Europe, the vehicle  already covered a total distance of 6,424km for the Audi RS Q e-tron E2.

 

“Our plan was to have nine days of testing so that each driver/co-driver pairing could work with the test vehicle for three days. There were two main objectives: to develop the second evolution for the Dakar Rally and to familiarize the driver teams with the new developments. The weight reduction creates new opportunities for suspension set-up, which we want to exploit. We are moving in a good direction. The electric drive with all its systems is also working more smoothly than at the test a year ago,” said Track Operations Project Leader Arnau Niubó Bosch.

All six drivers and co-drivers got to know and appreciate the second evolution stage in tough conditions.

“Not only the weight, but also its distribution is more favorable now. As a result, the car drifts less, it feels more agile and it’s easier to control,” reported Carlos Sainz.

“When we drive through long, fast corners, there are fewer centrifugal forces. So it’s much easier to stay on the inside of the corner. Likewise, our seating position is better than before,” added Stéphane Peterhansel.

Meanwhile, Mattias Ekström, who is still a newcomer to off-road rallying, commented, “it’s not about lap times as on asphalt courses, but about having a predictable car. In addition to the lower weight, the improved aerodynamics are also clearly noticeable. It has a positive effect, especially at higher speeds.”

The engineers at Audi Sport by no means only had the conditions for the drivers in mind during their work. The three co-drivers also benefit from an optimized working environment. “We wanted to be able to operate the complex systems more easily. This has been achieved well with the latest evolution. In some cases, the systems now respond to warnings without manual intervention,” says Emil Bergkvist.

“The ergonomics in the cockpit are now better and various controls have been logically regrouped, which definitely helps us. This allows us to concentrate better and gives us more time for our core task: navigation,” Lucas Cruz added.

For Edouard Boulanger, another aspect was paramount: “The car feels very different from before. The lower weight means we can move a little more toward comfort in terms of damper set-up. That’s important when you spend as much time in the cockpit as we do and have to stay focused for hours.”

In less than two weeks, the team will jump right into the Morocco Rally scheduled from October 1-6. Here, they look to apply what they learned from the endurance test and hopefully finish strong at Rallye du Maroc.

Photos from Audi

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