Volkswagen Racing is really on it these days. This past weekend they contested the gruelling Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado, USA with Romain Dumas at the helm of their I.D. R race car.
Racing up the 20km hillclimb – often termed the ‘Race to the Clouds’ – Dumas smashed the all-time record on the 156 corner course, set by Sebastian Loeb in 2013 driving a Peugeot 208 race car. He recorded a time of 7:57.148, which obliterated Loeb’s record by almost 16 seconds.
The I.D. R is a purpose built race car that is powered by an all-electric 'powertrain' that features a 43-kWh battery that sends all of its power (approx. 500kw and 650nm) to all four wheels. The car tips the scales at just 1.1 tons, so it’s no surprise that it does 0-100kph in around 2.3 seconds.
Following that record, Volkswagen has turned its attention to another, this time with a Jetta that is specially prepared for a top speed attempt.
Based on the latest US-spec Jetta, this is the Bonneville Jetta, built by Ventura-based speed shop THR Manufacturing, and it’s got its sights set on the BGC/G class record at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.
The Bonneville Jetta will receive a specially-tuned and modified version of VAG’s 2.0-litre EA888 direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder power plant. Apart from a very unique livery, The Jetta also gets salt flat specific wheels and tyres, a highly tuned suspension kit and a limited slip differential. It's also got a pair of parachutes out back to help slow it down.
The current class record speed the Jetta has to beat is 335.5kph, which Volkswagen hopes to reach with the help of the Jetta's good drag coefficient of 0.27. The record attempt will take place at the 2018 Bonneville Speed Week in early August.
Also worth a look: the Volkswagen Golf and the Volkswagen Touareg.
FAQ
Q: Can you buy the Volkswagen I.D. R race car in South Africa?
No, the Volkswagen I.D. R is a purpose-built race car exclusively designed for motorsport events like Pikes Peak, and it's not available for public purchase anywhere in the world, including South Africa.
Q: What is the top speed of the Volkswagen I.D. R that broke the Pikes Peak record?
While Volkswagen hasn't officially disclosed the I.D. R's maximum speed, the electric race car produces approximately 500kW and can accelerate from 0-100kph in just 2.3 seconds, making it faster than most supercars.
Q: How much does a modified Volkswagen Jetta like the Bonneville version cost in South Africa?
A standard Volkswagen Jetta starts from around R480,000 in South Africa, but a Bonneville-spec modification with custom turbo work, salt flat tyres, parachutes, and specialist tuning would likely cost an additional R300,000 to R500,000.
Q: Is Volkswagen Racing active in South African motorsport?
While Volkswagen participates in international racing events like Pikes Peak and Bonneville, their local South African racing involvement is primarily through dealer-supported club racing and the occasional factory-backed touring car programme.
Q: What Volkswagen sports cars can you actually buy in South Africa?
In South Africa, you can buy the Volkswagen Golf GTI from R658,400, the Golf R from R798,900, and various other performance-oriented models through official Volkswagen dealerships nationwide.
Should You Buy It?
You can't actually buy these specific race cars, but if you're inspired by Volkswagen's racing success, the best performance VW under R700,000 in South Africa is the Golf GTI at R658,400. It delivers 180kW of turbocharged punch with that legendary hot hatch character that made Volkswagen famous on track. For serious speed demons with deeper pockets, the Golf R at R798,900 offers all-wheel drive and 213kW of grip-limited acceleration. Skip the dream of owning the I.D. R and grab a GTI instead, it's the closest thing to Volkswagen racing DNA you can park in your driveway, and unlike those record-breaking monsters, you can actually drive it to the shops without needing a team of engineers and a trailer.
