Volkswagen unveils I.D. R Pikes Peak challenger

The Pikes Peak hillclimb classic’s quietest contender has been unveiled, with Volkswagen showing its I.D. R Pikes Peak all-electric race car.

Volkswagen is a bit coy on the details of the racer's battery size and type, and the nature of its asynchronous electric motors, but it has admitted it will be all-wheel drive.

Built as a sports halo for the I.D. brand, the I.D. R Pikes Peak will hit the famous Colorado hillclimb in June, aiming to beat the 2016 record of New Zealander Rhys Millen at 8:57.119 for the 19.99km uphill sprint.

The Pikes Peak hillclimb starts higher than anywhere in Australia, at 2800 metres, and climbs to a summit of 4300 metres. Volkswagen last competed there officially with a twin-engined Golf in 1987, but did not finish the race.

“We want to be at the forefront of electromobility with Volkswagen and the I.D. family,” Volkswagen brand board member for development, Dr Frank Welsch, insisted.

“Competing in the most famous hill climb in the world with the I.D. R Pikes Peak not only has symbolic meaning, but is also a valuable test for the general development of electric cars.”

That last part might read nicely, but it’s not remotely true, given the millions of test kilometres the four-model I.D. production range has already gone through. The I.D. range will go on sale via the I.D. hatch with a Golf exterior footprint and Passat interior space late next year.

Volkswagen plans more than 20 fully electric cars by 2025, while its Pikes Peak assault will be run by Volkswagen’s Motorsport brand, which has delivered four straight World Rally Championships, and driven by Le Mans winner Romain Dumas.

“Pikes Peak is without question the most iconic hillclimb in the world. For Volkswagen, it represents a fantastic opportunity to charge the topic of E mobility, both emotionally and from a sporting perspective, thanks to the I.D. R project,” Volkswagen’s board member for sales, marketing and aftersales, Jürgen Stackmann, said.