Audi makes history: for the first time, a low-emission prototype with an electric drive, high-voltage battery and energy converter wins the world’s toughest desert rally with the Audi RSQ e-tron. The Spaniards Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz secured Audi’s first victory inthe Dakar Rally after around 7,900 kilometers with a lead of1h 20min.
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Race report: Historic victory for Audi atthe Dakar Rally
Audi RSQ e-tron wins toughest desert rally with innovative drive system. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz achieve fourth personal victory. Learn more More content MediaInfo: Quotes from Team Audi Sport onthe victory Photos: Dakar Rally 2024 Video: Dakar Rally 2024: Highlights
Rest day: 1–2 lead for Audi atthe halfway point ofthe2024 Dakar Rally
Atthe halfway point ofthe Dakar Rally, Team Audi Sport can look back onits best performance to date: Inits third participation inthe desert classic, Audi with the Spaniards Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz ahead ofthe Swedes Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist holds a one-two lead after six of twelve legs. Learn more More content Video: Flashback. Summary ofthe first half ofthe rally
Preview: Team Audi Sport ahead ofa great challenge
The Audi RSQ e-tron faces its third Dakar Rally. Team Audi Sport has optimized the pioneering rally prototype, that hasan electric drivetrain, a high-voltage battery and an energy converter, in meticulous detail for the toughest rally ofthe year. The three driver crews of Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger, and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz are facing the most difficult task ofthe year with optimism, but also respect.
Audi is changing. Constantly. Onthe Spotlight Corporate & Business, Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, Head of Corporate Strategy Silja Pieh, Head of Digitalization John Newman, and Audi General Secretary Martin Primus will describe how the strategy „Vorsprung 2030“ and its implementation inthe future look like, what processes are behind them, and how additional innovations are ensuring „Vorsprung durch Technik“.
“Vorsprung 2030“: Audi accelerating transformation
Audi strategy focuses on profitable growth and differentiation: Audi wants tobea sustainable, social, and technological leader by2030. The premium brand wants to offer electric vehicle customers an unparalleled onboard system with its own ecosystem.
Silja Pieh – architect ofa new Audi strategy
The automotive industry isgoing through a massive transformation – and Audi is right inthe middle ofit. Inthe premium automaker’s own transformation, Silja Pieh plays an important role. She leads Audi’s Corporate Strategy Department.
Electrifying test drives – putting preconceived notions tothe test
Many people view switching froma vehicle with an internal combustion engine to an electric car asa monumental step. In reality, however, itis significantly less eventful – as four Audi employees recently discovered during test drives inthe all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron.
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With the Audi Q4 e-tron and theQ4 Sportback e-tron, the brand with the Four Rings presents its first purely electric cars inthe compact segment. Under the expressively designed body, both SUVs offer a large interior, a high level of everyday usability, and astrong charging and driving performance. Depending onthe motor version, they achieve ranges ofupto520 kilometers (323.1 mi) (WLTP). The augmented reality head-up display brings a pioneering operating innovation on board on request.
Audi Q4 e-tron
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron
Welcome aboard: The driver and passengers experience entirely new dimensions inthe new Audi Q4 e-tron. The spaciousness ofthe electric compact SUV far exceeds the current class boundaries, and offers an amount of space comparable to that offered inthe full-size class. The display concept has also reached a new dimension: The augmented reality head-up display brings the real and virtual worlds together, and the MMI display hasa diagonal ofupto 11.6 inches (option will be available around the end ofthe year). The new steering wheel generation with touch operation represents the new electric model’s course for the future. In terms of stowage compartments, the Audi Q4 e-tron scores high with a total volume of around 25 liters (0.9 cuft), and the bottle holders inthetop section ofthe doors area further highlight. The airy and progressive interior design allows customers to experience the new technology era.
Audi is quattro and quattro is Audi. For more than40 years, the permanent quattro all-wheel drive has been oneof Audi’s key technologies. Outstanding traction, high driving safety and enormous driving dynamics characterize Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive. This makes quattro a trump card for the brand. Audi quattro is fascination, quattro is emotion. But technically speaking, not all quattros arethe same. Learn more about this in our Audi TechTalk.
Full information and press material can be found here.
Audi TechDay Neuburg: On-Location photos are available here
On-Location videos are available here
Gallery: quattro in motorsports
1978 Audi entered the world of rallying asa works team in 1978, initially runningfront-wheel drive cars. Barely a year had passed since the original quattro was first unveiled in Geneva thanthe brand began to achieve enormous success inthe World Rally Championship. Hannu Mikkola from Finland wonthe first six special trials inthe snow atthe 1981 Monte Carlo Rally. He had a lead of almost six minutes when victory slipped through his fingers dueto a minor accident. He recorded his first victory atthe next round in Sweden.
1982–1987 The following year, the quattro dominated the championship. Audi set a new benchmark with seven victories and easily wonthe manufacturers’ championship. One year later, Mikkola took home the drivers’ title. The 1984 season also started off with a bang – the newly recruited two-time world champion Walter Röhrl wonthe Monte Carlo Rally ahead ofhis teammates Stig Blomqvist (Sweden) and Mikkola. Atthe end ofthe season, Audi claimed both the manufacturers’ title and the drivers’ title with Blomqvist.
To make better useofthe loose regulations ofthe Group B class of rallying, Audi developed the Sport quattro for the 1984 season. This had a shorter wheelbase that promised nimbler handling.