German car manufacturer, Audi, is a serious challenger in the 2022 Dakar Rally. For the sake of the 2022 Dakar Rally, Audi made a prototype of the Audi RS Q e-tron electric car that uses the electric car technology it uses in Formula E.
Not only for this year’s Dakar Rally, the RS Q e-tron project will be a long-term project and Audi’s research base for e-tron technology in the future.
The RS Q e-tron is equipped with two Motor Generator Units (MGU) that drive 4 wheels on desert sand.
The power from these two MGUs reaches around 671 hp, but it will still be adjusted to the existing 2022 Dakar Rally regulations.
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Because of the safety factor, there are rules regarding the maximum speed limit where the car can only go the fastest at 180 km/hour.
In addition to the two MGUs, the RS Q e-tron is also equipped with a third generator that will serve as a battery charger for this car when the car is running.
Because it is not possible to charge the battery during the race, the RS Q e-tron is also equipped with a 2,000 cc 4-cylinder TFSI engine that was taken from the engine at the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing event.
This internal combustion engine is not used to run the car’s wheels, only as a range extender or distance enhancer.
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The engine will activate when needed or when the battery is running low, then transmit energy to a third generator to charge the battery so that the car can travel even more.
This is very important in the Dakar Rally because the distance is quite long in each stage.
The performance of the RS Q e-tron at the 2022 Dakar Rally is very interesting because fans are curious about the durability of the car.
Everyone knows that the Dakar Rally is not just a matter of speed, but also the endurance of the car in traversing extreme terrain.
By carrying a high-voltage battery, can this car last for days at the 2022 Dakar Rally? That’s a question that will be answered during this race.
Of course, Audi has also installed many parts that will maintain the safety of the drivers when driving the RS Q e-tron on the sands of Saudi Arabia. Audi uses the services of classy drivers to maximize the potential of the RS Q e-tron at the 2022 Dakar Rally.
The names of the Dakar Rally champions are Carlos Sainz and Mr. Stephane Peterhansel. Dakar is included in the Audi squad.
In addition, there is the DTM champion, Mattias Ekstrom, who will make the combination of Sainz and Peterhansel and Audi even more perfect.
Regarding the story of Audi who suddenly became serious about the Dakar Rally, it is reported that the boss himself, Markus Duesmann, had ambitions because of his promise with Sven Quandt.
Sven Quandt is a descendant of BMW’s shareholder who was the initiator of the Mini X-Raid project and founder of Q Motorsport, the cross-country rally project that bears the Audi name.
VW Group as the parent also gives full support to Audi for the rods in the Dakar Rally.