VW ID.R Heads To China With New Red Suit For Another Record Run

VW has applied a new, special livery to the record-smashing ID.R electric race car that has been prepared specifically for its upcoming record attempt on the Tianmen mountain in China.

The ID.R will tackle the 10km-long (6.2 miles) Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road, which has no less than 99 hairpins on its way to “Heaven’s Gate” and is considered to be one of the world’s most demanding mountain roads, attracting millions of tourists every year.

The Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road starts at about 200 meters (656 feet) above sea level and rises to about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) and it’s not open to regular traffic.

Also Read: Volkswagen ID. R To Battle Gamers’ Times Up 6.8-Mile Chinese Hill Climb

This will be the ID.R’s attempt, following the ones in Pikes Peak, Nurburgring and the Goodwood Festival of Speed (twice). For this occasion, the 670 HP electric missile will sport a bright red livery to signify another milestone in VW’s EV agenda.

VW was able to break the Nurburgring EV lap record by around 40 seconds, setting a time of 6:05.336. It was followed by smashing the overall hillclimb record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, beating the 20-year record held by an F1 car.

“The pioneering ID.R is the ambassador for our fully-electric ID. family, which will be launched in China from 2020,” said Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO Volkswagen China. “I think we have come up with a spectacular livery for the ID.R for its ‘China Challenge’ in September.”

The famous Chinese hillclimb doesn’t have a record yet, so VW will be the first to set one when it unleashes its silent but furious ID.R.