This morning the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak electric race car set a new record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The electric race car was driven by Romain Dumas who managed to not only defeat a range of conventional powered cars, but set a new overall record with a time of 7:57.148s, which was 16 seconds faster than the previous record.
The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak race car is powered by a fully electric powertrain with 671 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque. The electric race car reach 62 mph in 2.25 seconds and weighs in at a light 2,425 pounds.
“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,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for “Technical Development”. “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.”
Romain Dumas stated, “The I.D. R Pikes Peak is the most impressive car I have ever driven in competition. The electric drivetrain means that many things are different and I learned a lot during the project. The team did an indescribably meticulous, yet at the same time relaxed, job. Not only did we get the desired result, but the team spirit was also spot on. I am incredibly proud to have been a part of it.”
Source: Volkswagen
