About a month ago, Volkswagen announced that it would be unveiling its fully electric race car, the I.D. R Pikes Peak. Well, the day has arrived and the world gets to see what the future of racing looks like.
This all-electric racer revealed in Ales, France, as you can see, boasts a body that looks fast even while standing still. Sure, this sounds cliché. But what Volkswagen is most proud of it’s the ideal balance between weight and performance. Weighing just around 2,500mbs, the I.D. R Pikes Peak packs two electric motors that generate a total system output of 680hp and 649Nm of torque.
Putting things into perspective, all that power allows the lightweight racer to sprint from 0-100kph in just 2.25 seonds—faster than most hypercars out there. Of course, what really matters is that it gets the car up the 20km hill climb quicker than the current 8:57.118 record set during the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Slated for June 24, this year’s return to Pikes Peak continues where VW left off some 30 years ago. Fas may recall the twin-engine Golf race to the clouds, with its last race in 1987. Not only does this race signal Volkswagen’s return to Pikes Peak but its intent to venture into electric mobility.
And as keen observers may note, the name itself blends two worlds into one sleek package. I.D., you may know, is what Volkswagen intends to call its fully electric vehicle lineup once it hits production within a few years. The R, on the other hand, is synonymous with performance. Simply put, this car is a fully electric number aimed at providing the utmost in driving performance.
