Final 12 months, we noticed Ford Efficiency race an all-electric “SuperVan” up the hill at Pikes Peak, however this 12 months, it’s upping the ante with a souped-up model of the F-150 Lightning known as the “SuperTruck.” SPOILER ALERT… it has an enormous spoiler.
The Pikes Peak Worldwide Hill Climb, also referred to as the “race to the clouds,” is an annual race getting into its 102nd 12 months. Groups and drivers from across the globe race up the hill’s 12.42-mile in hopes of capturing a report time.
Whilst a longtime and long-running race occasion annually, Pikes Peak is slowly changing into extra electrified. For instance, for the time ever, a ZDX BEV from Acura will cleared the path up the 14,115-foot summit at Pikes Peak because the official tempo automobile.
Hyundai is concentrating on a number of information throughout this 12 months’s occasion utilizing its new IONIQ 5 N fashions. Final 12 months, we noticed Ford Efficiency make the climb up Pikes Peak in a custom-made model of its E-Transit van, calling it the “SuperVan.”
This 12 months, Ford took the same strategy utilizing its F-150 Lightning EV and, after all, needed to identify it the “SuperTruck.” Though Ford introduced the F-150 Lightning’s entry at Pikes Peak on March 1, 2024, we had but to see what the all-electric racing truck would seem like.
As we speak, Ford formally unveiled it, and its design is kind of a departure from the inventory passenger mannequin. Have a gander.
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The F-150 “SuperTruck” competing at Pikes Peak / Supply: Ford -
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Ford’s F-150 SuperTruck appears to dominate Pikes Peak
Ford Efficiency captured a number of information with the SuperVan at Pikes Peak final 12 months and hopes to make a behavior of it with the assistance of BEV expertise and a brand new race car known as the F-150 SuperTruck.
Designed with the assistance of Ford Design and STARD Superior Analysis and Growth, the American automaker describes the F-150 SuperTruck as peak (no pun supposed) efficiency in BEVs. The custom-made Lightning truck might look a bit funky in comparison with the passenger model you’ll be able to see driving round city. Nonetheless, it’s a shifting lesson in superior aerodynamics that may generate 6,000 kilos of downforce at 150 mph.
The truck is propelled by three STARD UHP 6-Part Motors and Extremely-Excessive Efficiency Li-Polymer NMC cells that mix for an output of over 1400 horsepower. Different distinctive options embody a triple-element entrance wing, headlight ducts, hood ducts and louvers, entrance dive-planes, aspect diffusers, rear diffusers, and a multi-element rear wing.
The magnesium solid wheels are outfitted with carbon ceramic brakes and Pirelli P-Zero tires, supported by a completely customized in-board suspension system.
Ford shared that the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck can be pushed by Pikes Peak veteran and report holder Romain Dumas, who was behind the wheel of the SuperVan final 12 months. Dumas spoke about this 12 months’s climb and what he and the Ford Efficiency group count on to realize:
After a profitable 2023 climb, I’m thrilled to be behind the wheel once more with this group and to assist push the boundaries of what an electrical car can obtain on the turns of this legendary course. In testing, the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck has surpassed my expectations, so we hope for some good climate to try to do one thing very particular.
Ford shared that this 12 months, it has its sights set on besting its personal 2023 report set by the SuperVan 4.2, which accomplished the run in 8 minutes 47.682 seconds. The 102nd annual Pikes Peak Worldwide Hill Climb is scheduled for June 23, 2024.
