I.D. R Pikes Peak Sporty Ambassador for the I.D
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I.D. R Pikes Peak Sporty ambassador for the I.D. family 2018 Pebble Beach Automotive Week 21–26 August Foreword 2|3 Dear Media Representatives, Electromobility plays a central strategic role for Volkswagen. fantastic racing car in just eight months. The Volkswagen Fully-electric vehicles are an important part of the mobility of I.D. R Pikes Peak set the fastest time in the history of this hill the future, and Volkswagen is working hard to develop top- climb, which spans more than 100 years – that speaks volumes class products for customers all over the world. for electric mobility. Nowhere is technical development progressing at such a high The I.D. R Pikes Peak is also a forerunner: the I.D. family, a new speed, nor ground-breaking innovations as sought-after as in generation of fully-electric vehicles, will be launched in 2020. motorsport. Production has always benefitted from the ideas, The fact that it also bears the letter “R” in its name is no co- experience and findings acquired under competitive conditions. incidence – at Volkswagen, it is synonymous with performance Major innovative advances are possible and particularly valuable optimised vehicles, which will also be available with electric in the field of electromobility, which is a highly dynamic drive in the future. development area. It is now my pleasure to invite you to discover more about the Volkswagen developed the brand’s first fully-electric racing I.D. R Pikes Peak in the following pages. car, which took on and conquered the iconic hill climb on Pikes Peak. The I.D. R Pikes Peak is an uncompromising sports car, which combines performance and efficiency in a unique Dr. Frank Welsch form. Every Volkswagen employee can be extremely proud of Member of the Board of Management of the the result. With a combination of outstanding engineering skills, Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for passion and commitment, the team has managed to create a “Technical Development” Contents #ChargedToThePeak, energised to the max Contents Foreword – Dr. Frank Welsch 02 Introduction – Charged to the peak 06 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb – A legend, right away 08 Goodwood Festival of Speed – The next record-breaking run 12 Concept – A model athlete: the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak 16 Technology – Driven to the summit 22 Technology – Every gram counts 26 Technology – Into thin air 30 Technology – Live cell therapy in under 20 minutes 32 Design – Emotional E-Mobility 34 I.D. Family – Countdown to the future 36 Background – Bring on the future 38 Driver – A bundle of energy 40 Partners – From the racetrack to the streets 42 Partners – A strong team 44 The legend of Pikes Peak – The pinnacle of motorsport 46 The legend of Pikes Peak – Facts and figures 48 History – A score to settle 50 Service and contact 52 4|5 Introduction Charged to the peak Volkswagen not only smashed the record for electric cars at Pikes Peak with a fully-electric super sports car, but also set a new all-time record. 22 April marked the start of a new era for Volkswagen in Compact but intense test programme for the I.D. R Pikes Peak motorsport: the brand unveiled its fully-electric super sports car – the I.D. R Pikes Peak. With 500 kW (680 PS), 650 Nm of It is one of the unique challenges on Pikes Peak: testing on the torque and weighing less than 1,100 kg*, the super sports car route of the hill climb in Colorado Springs was very limited and took on the iconic Pikes Peak on 24 June 2018. Not only did the only possible on certain sections. For this reason, the bulk of new car smash the record for electric cars at the “Race to the the testing was not done on the actual route, but at race- Clouds”, but it also set a new all-time record. Following its tracks. After the unveiling of the car in Alès two months before record attempts with the legendary twin-engine Golf in 1985, the record attempt, Volkswagen’s Pikes Peak programme 1986 and 1987, Volkswagen returned with the first fully- entered the next, crucial phase. electric racing car from Wolfsburg – also featuring a twin- engine solution. The brand had a score to settle on Pikes Peak – last time out, in 1987, the twin-engine Golf and its driver The big day: 24 June 2018! Jochi Kleint (D) came within a couple of corners of snatching sporting glory. A distance of just short of 20 kilometres, 1,440 vertical metres of climbing, 156 corners, and just one single attempt – not only did the technology and driver have to be on top form as they attempted to set a new record on 24 June 2018, but the external conditions also had to play ball. It was cold and sometimes foggy, but at least the temperatures at the summit of Pikes Peak, the end of the hill climb, stayed above freezing point. * incl. driver 6|7 24/06/18 New all-time record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 20/06/18 Qualifying on Pikes Peak Final test on Pikes Peak 30/05/18 First test on 23/04/18 Pikes Peak Beginning of test programme DAYS World premiere of the 19/03/18 I.D. R Pikes Peak Publication of the first detailed graphics 31/01/18 Signing of Romain Dumas Announcement of the project 250 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb A legend, right away 24 June 2018. The time has come. The record attempt on Pikes Peak. The team around driver Romain Dumas is perfectly prepared. And the I.D. R Pikes Peak performed well in practice sessions. 10:07 local time. Romain Dumas rolls up for the showdown in A strong, clear signal for electric mobility the I.D. R Pikes Peak. The Frenchman is fully focussed and speeds off a few seconds later. The team can’t do anything for The I.D. R Pikes Peak comes back into sight on the last climb. him now. Dumas is on his own. One single attempt. The electric A long left curve, then the black and white chequered flag. speed record is in sight. As the I.D. R Pikes Peak disappears out Hope ... fear ... 7:57.148 minutes! It’s an all-time record! of sight behind the first left curve, all eyes are on the screens 16.730 seconds faster than the old best time clocked by at the starting line. Sébastien Loeb in 2013. In the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak, Dumas defeats the competition, all of whom are driving vehicles Dumas masters the first fast section with confidence. It is as if with conventional powertrain technology, and that in the the I.D. R Pikes Peak were gliding on rails. After about six kilo- fastest time achieved in the more than 100-year history of the metres, the number of slow curves increases. Thanks to the hill climb. This is a strong, clear signal for electric mobility. perfect aerodynamics and powerful electric motors, the I.D. R ▶ Pikes Peak accelerates out of the curves like no other vehicle can. Dumas reaches the treeline fast – very fast. In the last section, the passages are smoother again, but the curves are “I’ve been trying to make it in less still extremely tricky. The seconds tick away ... than eight minutes for years. Now I’ve finally managed it.” Romain Dumas, Driver I.D. R Pikes Peak 8|9 On its way to the showdown – the I.D. R Pikes Peak was the centre of attention all race weekend Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Chequered flags at 4,302 metres – Volkswagen and the I.D. R Pikes Peak made history at the world’s most famous hill climb race with a record time of 7:57.148 minutes 10|11 “The I.D. R Pikes Peak is evidence of the fact that Volkswagen can build outstanding electric cars, and it will.” François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director Volkswagen Motorsport ▶ “Amazing, I don’t know what to say,” Dumas exclaimed, stuck The result of perfect teamwork for words after coasting to a halt and climbing out of the I.D. R Pikes Peak at the summit. “The race wasn’t easy, the fog made For one man, all the weight of the last several months lifted the middle section very slippy, but the car was perfect. I’ve been from his shoulders in the moment of victory: “I’m so unbeliev- trying to make it in less than eight minutes for years. Now I’ve ably happy for the team,” said Volkswagen Motorsport’s finally managed it. Many thanks to the Volkswagen team; Technical Director François-Xavier Demaison, grinning from ear they’ve done an unbelievably good job.” to ear. “We’ve proven that an electric race car can beat the competition in their combustion engines. And last but not least, Sven Smeets immediately returned the praise: “What an un- the I.D. R Pikes Peak is evidence of the fact that Volkswagen believable achievement by Romain,” rejoiced Volkswagen can build outstanding electric cars, and it will.” Motorsport’s Director following the triumph. “The 7:57 minutes felt like an hour to me. Romain suddenly disappeared from the time monitor and I was worried that he’d dropped out of the race, but his name reappeared just a few seconds later at the top of the board. It was at that moment that we knew he’d done it.” Goodwood Festival of Speed The next record-breaking run Following the victory on Pikes Peak just three weeks ago, the I.D.