VW claim all-electric prototype faster than F1 cars

Volkswagen claim to have made an all-electric vehicle which is faster than a Formula 1 car. The 670bhp I.D. R Pikes Peak will attempt to break the record for electric cars in the Pikes Peak Race to the Clouds in Colorado, United States later this year.

VW's prototype takes just 2.2 seconds to hit 60mph thanks to its two lithium-ion battery packs and will look to complete the uphill 12.42-mile (20km) course in less than eight minutes 57.118 seconds.

Two-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner and defending Pikes Peak champion Romain Dumas will be the man behind the wheel as VW look to make history.

Whether the overall record of 8:13.878 is under threat remains to be seen, but VW's bold claim about their car's pure pace is enough to catch the eye, as is its futuristic look.

"Volkswagen's goal is to reach the pinnacle of electromobility with the I.D. family," said board member Dr Frank Welsch.

"As such, Volkswagen’s involvement on Pikes Peak not only sets the trend for our future in motorsport, but is also of great symbolic significance in the truest sense."

Fellow official Jurgen Stackmann added: "The car looks fantastic and has already been attracting a lot of interest from the media and on social media channels for a few weeks.

"The I.D. R Pikes Peak and the start at the most iconic hill climb in the world offers Volkswagen the magnificent opportunity to charge the topic of E-mobility, both emotionally and from a sporting perspective."