Ford’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck will take part in the 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June.
Ford Performance is headed back to “America’s Mountain” this summer to help advance the company’s research and development of electric powertrains. The F-150 Lightning SuperTruck will take part in the 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb brought to you by Gran Turismo in late June.
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Ford Performance’s new EV demonstrator vehicle is based on the F-150 Lightning but will have the improved aerodynamics and power needed to scale Pikes Peak.
As the name suggests, the new EV demonstrator is based on Ford’s best-selling electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning, but the Ford Performance team will be ratcheting up the vehicles’ aerodynamics and power output to take on the daunting 12.5-mile uphill excursion. Technical specs for the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, which is being developed in conjunction with Ford Design and Stard Motorsports, will be revealed at a later date.
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Ford’s last entry at Pikes Peak, Electric SuperVan 4.2, set a class record en route to a class victory there last year.
This is the second consecutive year Ford has taken an electric test vehicle to the competition at Pikes Peak. Ford’s 1,400-horsepower Electric SuperVan 4.2, based on Ford Pro’s E-Transit Custom Van, set a class record en route to a class victory there in 2023.
EV proving grounds
The legendary “Race to the Clouds” at Pikes Peak is well-suited as a test bed for electric powertrains, as it features twisting mountain roads and intimidating corners. Running electric test vehicles there allows Ford to push the boundaries of EV powertrains in the most extreme conditions and bring those learnings back to enhance our production vehicles. These performance-minded rolling laboratories facilitate the development of components such as motors, inverters, and battery packs, as well as informing software calibration and battery cell chemistry, among other areas.
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The Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 recently broke the world record for the fastest quarter-mile pass with a full bodied-drag car at the National Hot Rod Association Winter Nationals.
And it’s not just happening at Pikes Peak. Ford Performance is also learning from another pair of electric demonstration race vehicles. The Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 and Mustang Mach-E 1400 do not meet regulations to run in events endorsed by racing’s sanctioning bodies, but they are helping our engineers learn about areas like battery cell chemistry, and heat generation and cooling.
Ford is also expanding its technical knowledge of hybrid powertrains with the company’s reentry into Formula 1 in 2026 through a strategic partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
More to come from the International Hill Climb
The F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, with driver Romain Dumas again at the wheel, will be competitor No. 150 when it makes its qualifying run in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 18-20. The Hill Climb follows on June 23.
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In 2024, we’re racing in more events, series, terrains, and places than any other brand. But that's not all — our commitment to innovation extends beyond the track. We're harnessing the technology and expertise from our race vehicles to elevate our entire lineup, from gas-powered to hybrid and electric vehicles. Visit Ford Performance for more on Ford Racing.
