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The ID.R
The ID.R
Ambassador of the future
The ID.R is Volkswagen’s first purely electrically-driven racing car and the sporting flagship model of the ID. family, a completely new generation of electrically-driven series models. It took only 250 days from the first drawing to the presentation of the prototype. In 2018, with the Frenchman Romain Dumas at the wheel, the ID.R won the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in the USA. Further development was carried out on the high-tech racing car, which then went on to set further trailblazing records.
See the ID.R for yourself
See the ID.R for yourself
Pioneering for the series
In just over a year, the fully electric ID.R has set four major records which have cemented its place in Volkswagen’s history of motor sport. What is more, the use of the 500 kW (680 bhp) prototype provided valuable findings for the production of the ID. family of models.
Technologies that have been successfully employed in the record-breaking drives with the ID.R are now being incorporated in series production models. As the sporting flagship vehicle of the ID. family, the ID.R accompanies the launch of the ID.31 and the world première of the ID.42, Volkswagen’s first two ID. series models. The ID.3 has been available for order in many European countries since 20 July. The brand expects 1.5 million electric cars to be produced in 2025. Volkswagen is thus underlining its ambitions to become the world market leader in electric mobility.
The ID.R is a research and development laboratory on wheels.Sven SmeetsVolkswagen Motorsport Director
Technology carrier for the ID. family
Aerodynamics as a success factor
The aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle body plays a key role in both motor sport and in series production vehicles. The lower the drag coefficient – also known as the Cd value – the less resistance the moving body of a vehicle has to the air. The aerodynamics of the Volkswagen ID.R were optimised by extensive testing in the wind tunnel and computer simulations.
A design as if shaped by the wind itself
It is important to reduce the air resistance with electric series-production vehicles so as to conserve energy resources. Variable aerodynamic systems are not used here, but the basic objective remains the same: maximum efficiency for a high range performance. The most important factor is a flowing basic body and passenger compartment shape. As is also the case in motor sports, smooth transitions alternate with clear edges. The aim is to ensure that the air flows as closely as possible along the vehicle and then breaks off cleanly – a design shaped by the wind.
ID.R in the wind tunnel
ID.R in the wind tunnel
Design transfer: the aero wheel
The ID.3 only existed as a show car at the start of development of the ID.R in 2017. This model already had particularly aerodynamically shaped wheels. The ID. family’s “Sanya” wheels are still a strong identifying feature of the range. This wheel design is also used on the ID.R, although the requirements of a motor sports wheel differ greatly from those of a series wheel. However, both wheels have an important factor in common: what is known as the “aero lip” that covers the inside of the wheel edge. “During tests in the wind tunnel we found that this improved the Cd value,” explains Dr. Hervé Dechipre, responsible for the Aerodynamics division at Volkswagen Motorsport. “The air flow around the wheel arches is improved, and air resistance and consumption are reduced. That is totally comparable with the series model.”
Totally comparable with the series model.Dr. Hervé DechipreThe responsible Aerodynamics Engineer at Volkswagen Motorsport
Battery technology
There are also parallels between motor sport and series development in terms of battery management. In general, the ID.R electric racing car fares well with significantly less cooling air than racing cars with a conventional drive. Just like the vehicles in the ID. family: they also forego the typical radiator grille and, with their smooth front, convey a uniform appearance.
In electric vehicles, the focus is on correct battery temperature control, and on cooling the electronics and electric motors. For the Volkswagen ID.R, this meant fitting batteries with different performance levels, depending on where the car was being driven, to adapt the capacity to the respective route. And because this is impossible with series cars, different battery configurations are marketed to meet different customer needs in terms of performance and range.
Take a closer look at the battery technology on the ID.R
Take a closer look at the battery technology on the ID.R
The ID.R technology in detail
Twice the power, no driving emissions: two powerful electric drive motors with a system power of 500 kW (680 bhp) accelerate the Volkswagen ID.R from a standing start to 100 kilometres per hour in under two seconds – that’s faster than a Formula 1 car today.
The drive concept with an electric drive motor on each axle and the lithium-ion batteries of the ID.R are comparable with the technology that Volkswagen has fitted in the ID. product line of all-electric series production vehicles. The architecture with two electric motors and all-wheel drive will soon be reflected in an ID. family series model. The design with its stylised signature light also characterises the ID.R as the sporting flagship of the ID. family.
Quickly ready
The ID.R is equipped with quick charging technology. Its lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in just 20 minutes. The system was developed with series production knowledge and expertise – and, in return, the findings from deploying the ID.R in motor sport are flowing back into series production.
Technical data
- Drive: 2 electric motors, permanent all-wheel drive
- Power output: 500 kW (680 bhp)
- Torque: 650 Nm
- Battery: Lithium-ion, 8 modules each with 56 cells
- Max. charging power: 90 kW
- Charge duration: 20 minutes
- Weight: < 1,100 kg
- Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in < 2 sec.
- Maximum speed: 270 km/h
Records, Records, Records
Victory at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Electric drive beats petrol-driven cars: after only 250 days of development, Romain Dumas completed the 19.99-kilometre route at Pikes Peak in the US state of Colorado in 7:57.148 minutes on 24 June 2018 – beating the existing overall record held by a petrol-driven racing car by more than 16 seconds. Never before in the history of the mountain race, which has been held since 1906, had a driver reached the 4,302-metre high peak in under eight minutes.
ID.R’s record-breaking drive at the 2018 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
ID.R’s record-breaking drive at the 2018 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
New electric record on the “Green Hell”
This was followed on 3 June 2019 by the fastest lap by an electrically-powered racing car on the Nürburgring’s North Loop. The ID.R, which was specifically developed for the record attempt, completed the 20.8-kilometre long track, considered to be the most demanding in the world, in 6:05.336 minutes. Dumas improved on the previous 2017 record held by Peter Dumbreck (GB, NIO EP9) by 40.564 seconds. With an average speed of 204.96 km/h, the ID.R again underlined the high performance of Volkswagen’s electric drive.
ID.R sets the electric record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 2019
ID.R sets the electric record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 2019
Twice the amazement at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
The British Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the world’s most traditional and prestigious motor sports events. Volkswagen and ID.R have already thrilled the many fans of the festival on two occasions: in 2018, just a few weeks after his victory at Pikes Peak, Romain Dumas set a new record for electric vehicles on the 1.86-kilometre short sprint track with a time of 43.86 seconds – at the same time coming first overall in the competition. Then in July 2019, the duo won again and beat the overall track record by 1.7 seconds with a new best time of 39.90 seconds. The latter track record had been set by Nick Heidfeld in 1999 in a Formula 1 car with almost 800 bhp of power.
Romain Dumas at the wheel of the ID.R
Romain Dumas at the wheel of the ID.R
The drive to “Heaven’s Gate”
The ID.R’s first outing in the Middle Kingdom: Tianmen Mountain, about 1,300 kilometres as the crow flies from China’s capital, Beijing, forms the connection between heaven and earth, according to Chinese folk legend. The “Heaven’s Gate” is a natural opening through the rock in the mountain measuring around 7,000 square metres. One of China’s most spectacular roads winds up to this gate to heaven. With 99 hairpin bends, it climbs around 1,000 metres of vertical elevation. On 2 September 2019, Romain Dumas stormed up the 99 narrow bends of the Tianmen mountain road in 7:38.585 minutes and reached the summit quicker than anyone before.
The Volkswagen ID.R in record-breaking form on Tianmen Mountain in China
The Volkswagen ID.R in record-breaking form on Tianmen Mountain in China
2020: The ID.R returns
Although the global coronavirus pandemic cancelled or postponed some of the Volkswagen ID.R’s missions, the electric sports car once again made people sit up and notice in 2020. During a test drive on the Bilster Berg race track, test and development driver Dieter Depping set the absolute best time on the 4.2-kilometre track in Eastern Westphalia, Germany. The new ID.3 was also involved in this test. For the first time, the technological pioneer and the fully developed series model covered several kilometres together. The new record underlines once again the enormous potential of electric drive technology for future models in the series.
The Volkswagen ID.R breaks the lap record at Bilster Berg
The Volkswagen ID.R breaks the lap record at Bilster Berg
Our electric vision
Our electric vision
Volkswagen’s future is electric. We’re committed to developing cars and technologies that open up the possibilities of electric driving to all. Making the switch to electric not only benefits the environment, it could also help you save money and discover a new and exciting way to drive.
Our electric vision
Volkswagen’s future is electric. We’re committed to developing cars and technologies that open up the possibilities of electric driving to all. Making the switch to electric not only benefits the environment, it could also help you save money and discover a new and exciting way to drive.