All participating carmakers are either already parading their Pikes Peak motorized weapons or teasing them to raise anticipation. Ford is, of course, doing it the Ford way and teases its Lightning SuperTruck with a wing as big as the state of Texas.
It is the vehicle that Ford is counting on for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), scheduled to take place on June 23. Just one look at the teaser, and everything becomes clear. The SuperTruck rocks a massive wing at the back.
And if you haven't seen a pickup truck with a wing before, this one is surely going to look… unnatural. That is what creates an insane 6,000 pounds (2,721 kilograms) of downforce at 150 mph (241 kph).
The vehicle that Ford throws into the Race to the Clouds will be shown in all its glory on June 18, five days before the actual race. It will be based on the F-150 Lightning but will sport several visual and technical modifications. In fact, everything changed about the pickup truck.
There are aggressive spoilers on the front and rear end. Air vents split the absolutely huge front fenders of vehicle racing with the number 150.
Ford has just the right driver in that vehicle
On the 102nd edition of the hill climb stretching 156 corners, the Ford SuperTruck will be in the hands of record-holder racing driver Romain Dumas. He is the one who still holds the time record at Pikes Peak, achieved in a Volkswagen ID.R electric prototype back in 2018.
Photo: Ford
So, it is obvious that Ford is going to Pikes Peak to play. The automaker is targeting time records along the 12.5-mile course in Colorado Springs.
What you are looking at is not previewing any Ford special version. The carmaker will not unveil a production version of the SuperTruck. The vehicle was only built to be taken to the mountain and will be seen between June 18 and 20 during the qualifying sessions that take place before the race on June 23.
Back in 2023, Ford took to Pikes Peak its absolutely insane SuperVan 4.2 and finished just seven seconds behind the overall winner. The vehicle came with 1,400 horsepower, so we can expect similar figures for the pickup truck.
The era of the EVs started at Pikes Peak
It sounds like it is the era of the EVs at the International Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Hyundai will be bringing four Ioniq 5 N Time Attack examples to go up the mountain in the annual Colorado Springs race, targeting the records for the fastest Electric Production SUV/Crossover and Electric modified SUV/Crossover.
The 5 N TAs will come with 687 horsepower (677 metric horsepower) and ride on 18-inch wheels with Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires.
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