THE MOTORSPORT LAP
Electric race car built to tackle Pikes Peak climb
Volkswagen Motorsport unveiled its staggering all-electric I.D R Pikes Peak race car to much fanfare
Volkswagen Motorsport earlier this week unveiled its new Pikes Peak race car, the I.D. R Pikes Peak, that not only looks the part, but has more than an ace up its sleeve. For starters it generates a staggering 500kW and 650Nm, weighs less than 1,100kg and is said to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.25 seconds, making it quicker off the line than both a Formula One and a Formula E car in a sprint. It is electrically powered, with its twin electric motors said to be designed for sheer performance and not range so, as a result, the energy density of the battery is such that it gives the vehicle maximum power to accelerate up the almost 20km hill. The fully-electric super sports car, developed for the iconic Race to the Clouds in Colorado Springs (US), will attempt to break the record for electric cars at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 24. Until then, the spectacular prototype will undergo a strict programme of testing — initially in Europe, then in the US. The man in the...
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