Monday, October 7, 2019

Forza Horizon 4: The electric record-breaker

In an effort to shake off its dirty publicity image due to the Dieselgate mess they have one through, Volkswagen laid out plans to create electric cars and while in the process of creating their first electric cars, they've went into considerable lengths to show the world that electric power is the future of everything by creating an all-electric time attack machine, the I.D. R.



Volkswagen's purpose built electric time attack machine made a huge mark in the motoring world ever since it became the fastest machine to reach the Peak last year. So, what's so special about the ID.R Pikes Peak machine?



A year ago, Volkswagen announced that they will take on Pikes Peak with their purpose-built machine for the job and thus, the ID.R Pikes Peak machine was born. With a 500kW e-engine motor at hand, lightweight body, and low downforce at hand, the ID.R became the top star of the show by reaching the Peak at the time of seven minutes 57.148 seconds, it's the fastest hillclimb record ever with Romain Dumas behind the wheel. Not only the ID.R conquered Pikes Peak but also the Nurburgring, the Goodwood Hill Climb, and recently, Tianmen Mountain.



Those record-breaking feats around the world truly demonstrate the wonders of Volkswagen's electric vision and while some are delighted to the future, some don't because with feats like this, the lovers of the internal combustion engine are really running scared because this purpose-built record-breaker truly fires a lighting bolt warning that the rise of electrics are coming and soon, it will overtake every single internal combustion engine-powered car every second, whether you believe it or not.

Anyway, enough of the hysteria this electric racer caused because it's time to conduct a little experiment with the record-breaker I.D. R racing machine and I know a place that's close to the Peak as you can get and with that, I went to Fortune Island.



The Needle at Fortune Island really is as close to the Peak as I can get and it's the perfect place for the I.D. R to flex its electric muscles. By taking it for a twirl, the instant acceleration generated by its 500kw electric motor really means goosebumps for those who are placing their feet down but despite the acceleration comes with bulky handling like most electric cars possess and because of such grip, understeering is likely. It's worth a break in the arm but with a little practice, you can really uncover the I.D. R's untapped potential that made it the king of electric racers, something those Formula E machines should learn from it.



At this point, I was going to take it for a hill climb run at The Needle but sadly, those extreme track toys came to bully this electric racer down. With its steadfast feel, the I.D. R wants to make sure its whispers will not be silenced to the likes of them and that meant it's going for an all-out race to the top of the needle against those ancient aliens. I wonder who comes up on top?


Who says you can silence its whispers? Looks like the whispers of the I.D. R trumped the roar of the internal combustion racers. The hills couldn't get even more alive than this.



Now that the I.D. R got the sound of silence it needs, it's time for me to conduct a little Needle Hill Climb experiment with this record-breaker, just to have the taste of what's like to be with the new king.


My run with the I.D. R at the Needle Hill Climb recorded a 2:11.465 lap time, which isn't a quick one as such, but it's pretty impressive for a race car like this.



The Volkswagen I.D. R is famed for smashing records set by its internal combustion racers and those who snagged the car from the Autumn Horizon Playlist of this FH4 update have the chance to get to know the new king of everything. If this is the future, count me in...or out probably, but to be honest, it's hard to think why we are adapting to this brave new world we've got into.

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