SuperVan 4.2: Ford's Electric Dynamo Gears Up to Give Pikes Peak a Shocking Performance

Ford’s electric SuperVan 4.2, redesigned for Pikes Peak Hill Climb, offers unprecedented hill climb prowess.
SuperVan 4.2’s aerodynamics, unique powertrain, and performance enhancements demonstrate future of electric motorsports.
The 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a stern test for SuperVan 4.2, is on June 25.

For the 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Ford Performance is set to stun audiences with its all-new, all-electric SuperVan 4.2. The vehicle, an upgrade from the SuperVan 4, has been meticulously modified to confront the grueling hill climb with unprecedented proficiency.

Ford’s rich history with Pikes Peak dates back to the event’s inception in 1916 with the Ford Model T. This year, the legacy continues with racing veteran Romain Dumas, who’ll pilot the SuperVan 4.2 in his eighth appearance at the famed mountain race.

Created in partnership between Ford Performance and STARD Advanced Research and Development, the SuperVan 4.2 is a testament to the future of electric vehicles in motorsports. It features refined aerodynamics and a custom-made powertrain designed specifically to master the hill climb’s challenges.

The SuperVan 4.2’s improved aerodynamics, which includes a lightweight carbon fibre rear spoiler and front splitter, significantly boosts its traction on the winding mountain roads. Paired with a lighter chassis, these enhancements offer superior balance and agility.

The powertrain of the SuperVan 4.2 has also been refined, boasting a higher power-to-weight ratio thanks to the reduction of STARD UHP 6-phase motors from four to three. Coupled with STARD’s Ultra High Performance Li-Polymer NMC pouch cells, and a combined discharge power of 1,050 kW (1,400 horsepower), the SuperVan 4.2 is poised to demonstrate the power of electric vehicles while maximizing energy use with a new 600 kW regeneration performance.

Additional features to optimize the vehicle’s performance include a minimalist race interior, magnesium forged wheels with Pirelli P Zero race tires, upgraded driveshafts, a perspex windscreen, and an updated regenerative braking system with carbon ceramic brake discs.

The iconic Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a challenging course with 156 turns, an elevation gain of 4,725 feet, and a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level, will take place on Sunday, June 25.