German car manufacturer Volkswagen AG has finished polishing its ID. R all-electric racecar for a record run at the Nürburgring. The vehicle received some aerodynamic and powertrain improvements.
The former includes changing the shape of the car’s bottom, redesigning its front spoiler, and adding a sophisticated rear wing that has multiple active surfaces and features a DRS (Drag Reduction System) commonly found on Formula One cars.
The Volkswagen ID. R comes powered by two sets of batteries each connected to its corresponding engine on either the front or the rear axle. The powertrain is said to produce 680 hp (507 kW), enabling the racecar to hit 270 km/h (168 mph) going in a straight line. The team hopes that the car will be able to cover the entire distance at 180 km/h (112 mph) on average. This sounds realistic, given that it bolts from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.2 seconds.
Photos: Volkswagen