Is The VW ID R About To Tackle The Nurburgring?

TopSpeed

By Safet Satara

Published Dec 9, 2018

State Of The Art Racer And Pikes Peak Triumphant VW ID R Will Go After The Nurburgring Lap Record

As one of the most astounding racing cars in the world, the electric Volkswagen ID R seems to be gunning for the Nurburgring Lap Record. Sources close to the company reported that Volkswagen actually booked the track for May next year. We suspect it will try to send the slightly retuned electric ID R to that very track in order to slash the electric car record and take the scalp off the Nio EP9. That one managed to lap the Green Hell in 6 minutes 45.9 seconds. It is, obviously, a really fast car. Yet, considering the blistering Volkswagen ID R hill climb run at Pikes Peak where it smashed the previous record by 15 seconds and managed to finish the course in 7min 57.148 seconds, I can only imagine it will do the same at Nurburgring.

Volkswagen Is All In With Setting Amazing Records

The Volkswagen Group is known for its forays into the unknown with the creation of strikingly fast vehicles. This strategy helped them secure all time Nurburgring lap record with the Porsche 919 Evo that lapped the track in just 5 minutes and 19.55 seconds. Heck, the Lamborghini Aventador LP770-4 SVJ holds a record for the fastest production car around the ring at 6 minutes and 44.97 seconds. This one is even faster compared with the fastest electric car there - the Nio EP9.

Right now, Volkswagen is continuously working on improving the ID R. Apparently; the simulations did show that the car is more than capable to overthrow the Nio EP9. Nevertheless, we are in for a few really important changes. The ID R is, as you remember, a racer ready for a hill climb. Now, at the Nurburgring, it has to do circuit racing well. This requires special adaptation that will result in the ID R losing some of the exaggerated aerodynamics features with a possible suspension touch up as well.

While I (and everyone else) did compare it with the Nio EP9 and the fact that it is on the course to obliterate its record, I have to believe that the Volkswagen ID R will do far more than that. Some did report that the simulations I talked about actually showed the Volkswagen ID R Nurburgring lap time at 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Apparently, "There’s more to come, we’re sure," an insider told Auto Car.

The VW ID R Is A Beast That Will Become Even More Amazing For The ‘Ring

It can blitz to 62 mph in 2.25 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph. Now its top speed is a problem as it is low. At some parts of Nordschleife, really fast cars can achieve more than 186 mph. I can only imagine that the drivetrain of the Volkswagen ID R will be considerably modified to enable the electric car to reach such speeds. Can we expect a transmission with more than one speed? Something along the lines of Formula E cars maybe? Honestly, I hope to see something all-new — something novel to drizzle about.

Return To Goodwood

After visiting the Nurburgring in May, Volkswagen may attack yet another record with the ID R. The Goodwood hill climb record set by a Formula 1 car. This year, Volkswagen successfully slashed the record for electric cars with the ID R, but now it set its sights on Nick Heidfeld's F1 run up the Goodwood hill. Heidfeld managed to do 41.6 seconds in 1999 with his McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car.

Can the electric car beat the F1 car? That’s the question. The game is afoot.