30 years of progress in Audi motorsport
Ken Block is partnering with Audi in order to bring a new era of automotive shredding on YouTube. Ken Block visits Audi’s storage facility in Germany to kick off the new partnership. This video shows Ken following up on his rally car testing and moving on to Audi’s early DTM racing cars. Ken gets to test the Audi e-Tron Vision GT, a high-revving V8-powered 1990s DTM vehicle. This will show Audi’s evolution over the years.
The Audi 200 was a remarkable motorsports champion in the 1990s. The large luxury sedan was regarded as a huge luxury sedan and larger than the rivals in DTM from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Audi decided to make a stronger engine to compensate for the sedan’s massive weight, which was approximately 500 pounds more than its competitors. Audi’s race-bred V8 produced 414 horsepower (308 Kilowatts), or more than 100 more than its competitors.
The powerful, high-revving V8 engine was coupled to a 6-speed reinforced manual transmission. Power was then fed to all four wheels by Audi’s Quattro all wheel-drive system. Although this exciting touring car doesn’t have the same fame as the BMW M3, it was the beginning of a long line Audi DTM involvement that will lead to future racing success.
The Audi e-Tron Vision GT is at the opposite end of the Audi spectrum. This vehicle is a unique creation and demonstrates the future of motorsport. It was created for Grand Turismo. The Audi e-Tron Vision GT’s electric motors produce over 800 horsepower (596 Kilowatts). This EV proves that motorsports’ future is bright, even though it will be more quiet.