The record-breaking 671bhp Volkswagen ID R electric prototype has set the first official record of 7mins 38.585secs on the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road in China – with the firm challenging other EV makers to try and beat it. Driven by Romain Dumas, already set new outright or electric records at Pikes Peak, the Nurburgring and Goodwood. To showcase the potential of its ID electric technology in China – the world’s largest EV market – Volkswagen staged an event on the 6.776-mile, 99-turn road, which snakes up Tianmen Mountain near Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan Province. Due to time constraints, Dumas had limited running on the course, with just four test runs in the ID R on two practice days before the record attempt, and two more ahead of his final run today (Monday). Having completed the course in aorund 8mins 30secs on Sunday, Dumas admitted he was surprised by his eventual time. “The track improved for the final run, because some damp bits dried up, and we made some changes to the car that allowed me to push,” he said. “I took a few more risks, and we improved a lot. I was sweating a lot in the last run.” Dumas described the course as “completely crazy”, with the team’s biggest problem finding grip on the bumpy road surface, which the ID R’s suspension had not been originally designed to cope with. While this was the first officially timed run up the hill, a number of machines have tackled it in anger in the past. The previous unofficial hill record – on a marginally longer course – was set by Land Rover last year using a 567bhp Range Rover Sport SVR. Driven by Jaguar Formula E reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung, it completed the course in 9min 51 secs. Stephan Wollenstein, VW’s Chinese boss, said the event was a milestone for the firm in the Chinese market, and issued a challenge to other manufacturers. “Now the race is really on,” he said. “We invite anyone who thinks they can build an electric car that can go quicker to come and challenge us.” He added: “If anyone goes below 7mins 30secs, we’ll get a new car and come here again.” Volkswagen will unveil the ID 3, its first production model based on the VW Group’s bespoke electric MEB platform, at the Frankfurt motor show. The firm will launch two locally produced ID models in China next year, with the market a key part of its goal to sell one million BEVs per year by
Origin: Volkswagen ID R establishes record on Chinese hillclimb
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VW ID R takes all-time Goodwood hillclimb record – with video
Volkswagen has smashed the outright hillclimb record at Goodwood Festival of Speed with the 671bhp ID R electric racer. Driver Romain Dumas initially took the record on the second day of the event, setting a time of 41.18 seconds in a practice session, before going even faster a day later with a 39.90 in the timed shootout. All the news from the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed The previous record for the Sussex course had stood since 1999, when Heidfeld set a time of 41.18 seconds at the wheel of McLaren MP4/13 F1 car – a pace so far ahead of anything else that Formula One cars were subsequently banned from making timed runs. With one day of the 2019 Festival remaining, there’s every chance Dumas will get another chance to go even faster, although a chance of rain may prevent further improvements. He joked after breaking the record for a second time, saying “if we stay one more week, it’s possible we could find a few more tenths.” The ID R came to Goodwood fresh from its record breaking efforts at the Nurburgring, where it set the fastest lap ever for an electric car with a time of 6min 05.336secs The 671bhp ID R broke the outright record at the Pikes Peak hill climb last year, but needed heavy modifications to cope with the 12.9-mile Nordschleife’s long straights and fast corners. They included a new F1-inspired aerodynamics package, which added a new rear wing, redesigned front splitter and drag reduction system (DRS) which, when deployed, reduces downforce by as much as 20%. Changes to the energy management system help the car reach its top speed faster, while using less energy from its twin lithium-ion battery packs. Driver Dumas, who has won the Nurburgring 24-hour race four times dethroned the Nio EP9 electric hypercar by more than 40 seconds. The EP9 set the previous record for fastest EV around the ‘Ring in 2017 with a time of 6:45.90. Volkswagen also teamed up with free-to-play racing simulator RaceRoom to let players digitally compete with its real-world record attempt. A virtual version of the ID R was created using data from the original car, with VW Motorsport engineers helping to create a realistic driving experience. “The ID. R’s mission to be the spearhead of the fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen continues in full force,” Volkswagen’s Motorsport Director Sven Smeets, said. “Once again, this time in 2019, the ID. R will demonstrate the great potential of electric drive, combining emissions-free technology with true
Origin: VW ID R takes all-time Goodwood hillclimb record – with video
VW ID R: electric racer beats Goodwood hillclimb record
The 671bhp ID R broke the outright record at the Pikes Peak hill climb last year, but needed heavy modifications to cope with the 12.9-mile Nordschleife’s long straights and fast corners. They included a new F1-inspired aerodynamics package, which added a new rear wing, redesigned front splitter and drag reduction system (DRS) which, when deployed, reduces downforce by as much as 20%. Changes to the energy management system help the car reach its top speed faster, while using less energy from its twin lithium-ion battery packs. Driver Romain Dumas, who has won the Nurburgring 24-hour race four times dethroned the Nio EP9 electric hypercar by over 40 seconds. It set the previous record for fastest EV around the ‘Ring in 2017 with a time of 6:45.90. “The extent to which the ID. R has been continuously developed compared to 2018 is impressive,” Dumas explained. “I can’t wait to finally drive the ID. R on the Nordschleife.” Volkswagen also teamed up with free-to-play racing simulator RaceRoom to let players digitally compete with its real-world record attempt. A virtual version of the ID R was created using data from the original car, with VW Motorsport engineers helping to create a realistic driving experience. “The ID. R’s mission to be the spearhead of the fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen continues in full force,” Volkswagen’s Motorsport Director Sven Smeets, said. “Once again, this time in 2019, the ID. R will demonstrate the great potential of electric drive, combining emissions-free technology with true
Origin: VW ID R: electric racer beats Goodwood hillclimb record
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