Volkswagen

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is like little else in motorsport. It’s the second-oldest race in the country, giving five years up to the Indy 500. However, this is no circuit race. It’s a hill climb, up and across one of the tallest mountains in Colorado. That means exactly one chance to get it right; one run of 12.4 miles (19.99km) that starts at a mere 9,390 feet (2,862m) and finishes above the clouds at 14,110 feet (4,300m).

As part of its Dieselgate penance, Volkswagen is mounting an all-out, all-electric assault on Pikes Peak this June. And, on Monday, the German automaker finally gave us our first look at the car it’s going to use: the I.D. R.