Romain Dumas to pilot 1,972-hp Ford Supervan up Pikes Peak

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The Ford Pro Electric Supervan Concept is ready to take on the 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and Blue Oval has enlisted current Pikes Peak record holder Romain Dumas to drive it.

The French driver posted a time of 7:57.148 in 2018 behind the wheel of the Volkswagen ID.R electric time attack special, and while the Supervan isn’t expected to set a new record, it may come close.

The concept was unveiled at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​with a powertrain consisting of four electric motors that together produce 1,972 hp, more than the Rimac Nevera hypercar. Multiple motors allow the wild van to sprint up to 62 mph from a standstill in less than 2.0 seconds.

The concept is based on Ford’s E-Transit Custom electric van but shares very little with the production model. For example, the unique body is made of composite materials, and the platform is a custom-built steel space frame with front and rear subframes housing front and rear double wishbone suspension of unequal lengths.

Ford Pro Electric Supervan

Ford Pro Electric Supervan

Ford built the concept to be a demonstration of new technologies, both in electric powertrains and in connectivity and other digital features that can benefit businesses. Likewise, the automaker in 2020 presented the Mustang Mach-E with 1,400 hp, and earlier this month it teased another performance EV concept, this time expected to be based on the F-150 Lightning.

Pikes Peak 2023 is scheduled for June 25. This will be Dumas’ eighth appearance in the Race to the Clouds. Its first outing was in 2012. Ford’s history at the annual race outside Colorado Springs goes back to 1916, when the Model T climbed to a finish at 14,115 feet above sea level in a time of 28:03.

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