Volkswagen I.D. R EV strikes new record at Pikes Peak

Volkswagen’s all-electric vehicle I.D. R just smashed the overall Pikes Peak record with a fastest lap time of 7 minutes and 57.148 seconds in history of Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Driven by Romain Dumas, a French auto racing driver, this new record surpassed Sébastien Loeb’s 2013 lap time of 8 minutes and 13.878 in a Peugeot 208 T16. The I.D. R managed to beat not only the EVs but also the other fuel-powered cars in the 20-km race.

Related: Volkswagen to electrify entire model range starting with Golf

What made this record-breaking run possible, is the fact that Volkswagen actually designed the I.D R for the Pikes Peak itself, tailor-fitted to meet the demands of this famous hill climb. The German brand put their efforts and dedication for just 250 days to come up with a combination of minimum weight, greater downforce, and maximum power to achieve the best possible outcome.

The I.D. R Pikes Peak weighs less than 1,100 kg, including its battery cells. In terms of aerodynamics, they calculated the downforce to keep the stability of the vehicle since there’s thinner air at the top of mountain. Another thing your eyes won’t miss is the huge rear wing for a better drag. This mighty EV has two electric motors that can deliver a power of up to 671 hp and 649 Nm of torque. There’s no doubt that these combined factors resulted to I.D. R’s beast-like performance.

“The I.D. R Pikes Peak is the sporty forerunner of Volkswagen’s I.D. family. Today, we saw what this technology is capable of. Every Volkswagen employee can be extremely proud of today’s result. I congratulate the team from the bottom of my heart. With a combination of outstanding engineering skills, passion and commitment, the team has managed to create a fantastic racing car in just eight months. The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak has now set the fastest time in the history of this hill climb, which spans more than 100 years – that speaks volumes for electric mobility.”

Dr. Frank Welsch
Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in Technical Development

The success of the I.D. R can greatly reflect on the I.D. EVs of the Volkswagen brand. The I.D. Crozz is expected to arrive out of its conveyor by 2020 as an electric crossover. The adorable microbus I.D. Buzz, on the other hand, is said to be completed by 2022.