With four electric motors producing a combined 1741kW, the Ford SuperVan 4 is an utterly mad machine. And with a 12.42-mile course featuring 156 turns winding up a 14,1115ft high mountain, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an utterly mad event. So what happens when you combine the two? Well, the sort of absolute madness that we can’t wait to see.
The SuperVan 4 was unveiled last year to showcase the performance potential of Ford’s electric technology, and shattered at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed shattered the record for the fastest-ever van on the 1.16-mile hillclimb.
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But while that achievement was notable, it’s nothing compared to the challenge the SuperVan 4 will take on this year. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA is one of the world’s oldest motorsport events, having first run back in 1916. And it’s also one of the most fearsome, taking place on a winding, unforgiving course that snakes up a mountain.
Still, Pikes Peak has also become a popular event for electric vehicles, and one of the few where they compete in the same class as combustion engined-rivals. In fact, EVs do have some advantages: the elevation of the mountain means that combustion engines can lose power due to a lack of oxygen, giving EVs an advantage.
The outright Pikes Peak hill record is currently held by an electric car: the 500kW Volkswagen ID R, which set a time of 7mins 57.148secs back in 2018. It was driven by sports car ace and Pikes Peak specialist Romain Dumas – who has also been snapped up to drive the SuperVan 4 this year.
There’s obviously a big difference between the single-seat prototype-based ID R that Dumas used in 2018 and the super-powered Ford van he’ll drive this year. But he won’t be lacking for power, given that the SuperVan 4 uses for electric motors that combine for a ridiculous 1741kW (1973bhp).
The SuperVan 4 was developed by Ford Performance and Austrian motorsport specialist Start. The all-wheel-drive powertrain is fed by a 50kWh battery, while there’s also a carbon composite body that has been honed for aerodynamic efficiency, and adjustable regenerative braking.
This year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will take place on Sunday June 25. We’re tempted to start hiking up the mountain now to ensure we get a good spot to see the SuperVan in action…
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