Volkswagen Unveils I.D. R Pikes Peak Entry

Photo: Volkswagen

Volkswagen took the wraps off its I.D. R Pikes Peak, the all-electric prototype it will take to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June, on Sunday.

Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner Romain Dumas will drive the car as the German manufacturer attempts to beat the existing record of 8:57.118 in the ‘Race to the Clouds’.

The I.D. R Pikes Peak can accelerate 0 to 62 mph in 2.25 seconds, faster than a Formula 1 or Formula E car, and has two electric motors producing 500 kW of power.

“Volkswagen’s goal is to reach the pinnacle of electromobility with the I.D. family,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, Volkswagen Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for Development.

“As such, Volkswagen’s involvement on Pikes Peak not only sets the trend for our future in motorsport, but is also of great symbolic significance in the truest sense.

“Customers have always benefitted from the findings made in motorsport, and we expect to take these findings and use them as a valuable impetus for the development of future I.D. models.

“The hill climb on Pikes Peak will definitely be a real acid test for the electric drive.”

Lithium-ion batteries are used in the car with a goal to reach the highest possible power output rather than range.

Around 20 percent of the electric energy required will be generated during the drive through energy recovery systems when braking.

The car’s test program will soon get underway on purpose-built racetracks as testing is very limited on the actual Pikes Peak route.

“As with the Volkswagen brand’s production vehicles, fully-electric racing cars will also play an increasingly important role for us in the future,” said Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.

“The cooperation within the group really helped us, particularly given the tight schedule. For example, we received support from the Volkswagen battery plant in Braunschweig and worked together with the technical development department in Wolfsburg.”

Photo: Volkswagen

Photo: Volkswagen

Photo: Volkswagen

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.