This will mark VW's first entry into the race since 1987. At the time, their twin-engine Golf failed to reach the end of the 12.4-mile course. The Hillclimb starts at 9,000 feet and climbs as high as 14,115 feet at the top. VW has yet to release any powertrain details for the I.D. R, but for records to be broken, the four-wheel-drive car will need to reach the goal in under 8:57.118 minutes. This record was set by Rhys Millen in 2016.
The VW board member responsible for development Frank Welsch said the following in a release.
"We want to be at the forefront of electro-mobility with Volkswagen and the I.D. family. 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 I.D.'s design is reminiscent of past models, particularly in the front lights and styling cues. We're expecting to see a non-racing hatchback in 2019, and a crossover in 2020.
