Volkswagen is developing an all-electric race car for one of the world’s most famous race, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA. It won’t be their first dabble into electric vehicles as developments have already gotten underway with the introduction of the all-electric VW Microbus (KOMBI) along with an all-wheel drive, fully-electric I.D. Crozz packing 302 hp that promises Golf GTi-like handling.
The all-wheel drive prototype will aim to set a new record for electric cars when it reaches the finishing line at a dizzying 14,000 feet above sea level. The project is part of the VW’s transition into a leading producers of electric cars where it will offer 23 all-electric vehicles come 2025.
There are already indications to that impending future with the Gen.E, a Golf lookalike, said to be capable of a 398 km driving range. There is also the VW e-Golf, essentially a VW Golf Mk 7 without a combustion engine – capable of producing 134 hp with 290 Nm of torque with a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h.
“The Pikes Peak hill climb is one of the world’s most renowned car races. It poses an enormous challenge and is therefore perfectlly suited to proving the capabilities of upcoming technologies,” explains Member of the Board responsible for Development, Dr Frank Welsch.
He added, “Our electric race car will be equipped with innovative battery and drive technology. The extreme stress test posed by Pikes Peak will give us important feedback that will benefit future development, and it will showcase our products and their technologies.”
The last time VW competed at Pikes Peak was in 1987; with a monstrous 652 hp Golf with two 1.8-litre engines – one up front and another at the rear.
