It’s known as “Heaven’s Gate” – the world’s highest naturally formed arch, with an opening some 430 feet tall and 190 feet wide, about 5,000 feet up China’s Tianmen mountain. A hallowed and scenic site for centuries, visitors can reach the gate on a road that ranks among the most scenic, and twisting, of any in the world, with 99 sharp switchbacks.

The feat was the latest in a string of record-breaking events for the purpose-built electric race car. In June 2018, Dumas not only won the famous ‘Race to the Clouds’ at Pikes Peak for electric vehicles with the ID.R, but also smashed the all-time record for vehicles using any kind of fuel by a massive 16 seconds. A few weeks later, Dumas undercut the record for electric vehicles at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s famous hill climb in England with the ID.R.

Next, the ID. R set a new and dominating electric record on the Nürburgring, and a few days later came the all-time record in Goodwood – demonstrating how electric vehicles can meet extreme challenges.

The Volkswagen I.D. R is a prototype fully electric vehicle designed as part of Volkswagen’s I.D. Project, and included within Volkswagen’s R series of cars designed specifically for competing in motorsport events. It is the first electric racing car designed by Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen I.D. R features two electric motors, located at each axle, allowing for a combined 507 kW; 689 PS (680 hp) and 649 N⋅m (479 lb-ft) of torque. The I.D. R weighs under 1,100 kg (2,500 lb) and has a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 2.25 seconds. The Chassis of the car was co-developed by Norma, French sports prototype and hillclimb specialists.

Lithium-ion batteries are used as the energy storage system, similar to production EVs, as their power density is the crucial factor for the system when producing high voltage. Roughly 20 per cent of the electric energy required is generated during the drive, so the key here is energy recovery. When braking, the electric engines act as generators, converting some of the braking energy into electricity and feeding this into the battery.

“Volkswagen’s goal is to reach the pinnacle of electromobility with the I.D. family,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, Volkswagen Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Development. “The hill climb on Pikes Peak will definitely be a real acid test for the electric drive. Customers have always benefited from the findings made in motorsport, and we expect to take these findings and use them as a valuable impetus for the development of future I.D. models.”

Now watch Romain Dumas tackle his most exceptional challenge yet: a record run up Tianmen Mountain in China at the wheel of the all-electric ID.R. With a time of 7.38:585 minutes he not only set the ID.R’s first record time in Asia, he was also the first driver ever to complete the 10.906 kilometre road and its 99 corners this quickly.

Stay tuned to these pages for more exciting coverage of Volkswagen’s upcoming I.D. Fully Electric line of vehicles and news of the many new technological breakthroughs and innovations that will occur during the automaker’s shift towards electrification.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.