Volkswagen has unveiled the enhanced version of the fully electric Volkswagen ID. R. The racing car is to set a new electric lap record at the Nürburgring.
Volkswagen ID. R
Volkswagen
Volkswagen has unveiled the enhanced version of its fully electric ID. R racing car at the Nürburgring. Described by Volkswagen as "the spearhead of the fully electric ID. product family", this racing car should set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.832 km long "Nordschleife" race track. Volkswagen has enhanced the ID. R in order to beat the previous record of 6:45.90 minutes. On April 25th, the ID. R will complete its first test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
The 500 kilowatt (670 hp) electric drive of the ID. R has been adapted to the track characteristics of the Nordschleife. Energy is stored on board the ID. R by two lithium-ion battery blocks, which were designed with expertise gained from Volkswagen’s production development and with technology similar to that of future production vehicles from the ID. family.
New aerodynamics with Formula 1 technology
The most striking feature of the evolved version of the ID. R is the aerodynamics, which are designed for a higher top speed. "Last year, the winding hill-climb track and the thin air at Pikes Peak demanded maximum downforce", explains François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director of Volkswagen Motorsport. "On the Nordschleife lap, the ID. R will reach an average speed of more than 180 km/h – with a top speed on the straight of up to 270 km/h. We have therefore developed a completely new aerodynamic package with DRS, known from Formula 1, and have also optimised the energy management system, which controls the power output of the two electric motors and energy recovery while braking."
The DRS (drag reduction system) is essentially a hydraulically-adjustable element on the rear wing of the ID. R, through which Romain Dumas can reduce the car's air resistance by about 20 per cent at the touch of a button. "In contrast to Formula 1, however, the DRS on the ID. R is used not for overtaking, but to improve efficiency", explains Demaison. "The ID. R has a very powerful drivetrain. The DRS helps this output to be used with lower energy consumption, so that it can be exploited for the entire Nordschleife lap."