Ford preps 1,400hp SuperVan 4.2 for Pikes Peak
Company ditches a load of weight - and even some power - for this weekend's legendary 12.4-mile hillclimb
The great thing about Pikes Peak is that it’s one of the last bastions of motorsport innovation. Where else can you see an Alpine A110 with Le Mans-style wings, a Honda (well, Acura) NSX with active aero and a rotary-powered Mazda 3 scale a 4,720ft mountain course with naff all safety measures to stop you from going over the edge? This year’s ‘Race to the Clouds’ is set to be even more wild, with Ford confirming that it’ll run an updated version of its E-Transit SuperVan 4 up the mountain.
A quick refresher if you somehow missed the debut of the latest SuperVan at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed: it had four electric motors, one on each corner, which were powered by a bespoke liquid-cooled 50kWh battery. Acceleration was rated a ridiculous sub-two seconds to 60mph, and it set the fifth fastest time up the Goodwood hillclimb during last year’s shootout – beating a 911 GT3 Cup car in the process.
This, however, is SuperVan 4.2: a heavily revised version of the hyper ‘Transit’ that’s set to tear up Pikes Peak’s notorious 12.42-mile course. Among the revisions are, surprisingly, a drop in peak power - down from the Goodwood-spec 2,000hp to ‘only’ 1,400hp. This is a result of ditching one of the motors at the front, which Ford says has been done to improve the van’s power-to-weight ratio. On the plus side, SuperVan 4.2 should be considerably lighter than before, while a new 600kW battery regen mode can help recover more energy under hard braking.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pikes Peak special without some utterly bonkers aero, which SuperVan 4.2 absolutely delivers on. A new carbon fibre front splitter and gigantic rear wing should keep the van planted through Pikes Peak’s ultra-fast sweepers, with Ford quoting a staggering two tonnes (or 4,400lbs) at 150mph. Good thing Ford has enlisted the skills of Pikes Peak record holder and Le Mans winner Romain Dumas, who’s one of the few people on the planet who’s brave enough to put their talents to full use on such a treacherous course.
“Together with our STARD partners, we have built the E-Transit SuperVan 4.2 to be a truly competitive machine focused on getting to the top of the mountain quickly. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb presents the perfect opportunity to showcase Ford’s electric vehicle technology and bring light to EV Performance”, said Ford Performance Motorsports chief Mark Rushbrook. Not that the SuperVan shares anything in common with the Transit, nor is it really a van with most of the back end taken up by aero ducts - but that obviously takes nothing away from the spectacle of seeing this thing charge up the famed hillcimb.
Marketing targets aside, SuperVan 4.2 will doubtlessly be rapid when the 101th running of Pikes Peak kicks off on Sunday. We’ll be watching, though admittedly while cowering behind the sofa.
The second was a C100 with a fibreglass Mk2 body.
The “third” was the second with a vaguely Mk3 front end blended into the Mk2 rear.
All mid engined race cars with bodywork plonked on top.
The second was a C100 with a fibreglass Mk2 body.
The “third” was the second with a vaguely Mk3 front end blended into the Mk2 rear.
All mid engined race cars with bodywork plonked on top.
NB: Renault should send that F1 based Espace up the hill.
Two and Three were a C100 sports car chassis with a fibreglass body.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff