VW ID.4 Successfully Completes NORRA 1000 In Baja Peninsula

Volkswagen’s ID.4 electric racer has completed its 840-mile journey through the Baja Peninsula as part of the NORRA 1000 race, which only 64 of the 90 entrants were able to finish.

The SUV was driven by Tanner Foust with Emme Hall acting as navigator. The ID.4 itself was prepared by Rhys Millen Racing and equipped with an off-road focused suspension featuring rally-style coilover struts, tubular lower control arms and boxed lower rear links.

The interior was also stripped, while racing seats and additional racing-focused displays were added. The radiator, meanwhile, was raised to improve approach angles and cooling capacity, while skid plates were added for extra protection.

Read More: This Butch VW ID.4 Will Compete In The NORRA Mexican 1000 Race Later This Month

Despite the changes, the 82 kWh battery pack and electric motor were left stock. That means the racing ID.4 has the same 201 hp as the crossover being sold at dealerships.

“This was an exciting test of ID.4 technology because no other production-based EV had ever entered this event, let alone completed it,” said Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen of America. “Congrats to our team for demonstrating that EVs can stand up to extreme environments, and showing how fun electric vehicles can be. The ID.4 could definitely be the Baja Bug for the electric age.”

The ID.4 recharged between stages, which lasted between 33 and 167 miles. The crossover was mostly recharged by a biofuel generator, though VW had a clever solution for the stages between which the race vehicles had to be transported. Unlike the other competitors that were transported on trailers, the team simply flat-towed the ID.4 and used regenerative braking to add range.

“This was everything we had hoped for,” said Tanner Foust. “The course was challenging, but the ID.4 was more than up to the tasks we asked of it. This demonstrates the real potential for EV technology to make an impact in all sorts of areas that we have only just begun to explore.”

Volkswagen reports that the key power and battery control systems performed flawlessly, with a damaged bumper being the only injury taken during the brutal race.