Volkswagen's Pikes Peak Racer: the I.D. R

Volkswagen's latest I.D. model is set to generate buzz for the Buzz, along with the rest of the automaker's electric lineup. The I.D. R Pikes Peak is headed to one of the most famous hillclimbs in the world this June.

Volkswagen is planning to have more than 20 electric cars in the lineup by 2025, with the first one set to ender production at the end of next year. But to build hype for the lineup, and show off electric performance, Volkswagen is taking electric vehicles racing.

“We want to be at the forefront of electro-mobility with Volkswagen and the I.D. family,” said Volkswagen Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Development, Dr. Frank Welsch. “Competing in the most famous hillclimb in the world with the I.D. R Pikes Peak is a valuable test for the general development of electric cars.”

The Pikes Peak International Hillclimb has been taking racers up the mountain in Colorado since 1916. The 20 km Race to the Clouds starts at a towering 2,750 m above sea level and ends at an altitude of 4,302 m. It's one of the premier hill climb events in the world, and the high altitudes and steep dropoffs make it a challenge for the driver as much as the car.

Since electrics aren't affected by altitude in the way gas-powered cars are, taking EVs up the mountain makes sense. Volkswagen will be aiming for the current record-holding run. That was driver Rhys Millen in a Latvian-built Drive eO PPO3. That car used six electric motors to generate 1,368 hp and climb the hill in just under nine minutes. VW hasn't revealed power figures for the I.D. R yet, but expect it to be a big number and rocket up the hill with French sports car and Dakar racer Romain Dumas behind the wheel.

The last time VW entered the hillclimb was in a car that was nearly as extreme. In 1987, the automaker stuffed two 1.8L engines into a Golf. That 652 hp, all-wheel drive racer set fastest time in the first split but suffered a broken suspension near the finish that lead to its retirement.

The Pikes Peak International Hillclimb takes place on June 24th.