Race to the Clouds: Ford SuperVan vs. Pikes Peak

Known to motorsport fans as “The Race to the Clouds,” the legendary Pikes Peak International Hillclimb sees competitors take on 12.5 miles of twisting mountain road with menacingly-named corners like Bottomless Pit, Ragged Edge and the Devil’s Playground.

We’ve been racing our vehicles to the top of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains since the first organized event back in 1916 – but for the 101st running earlier this year, we decided to go in a completely new direction.

We entered a Transit van.

Ford vehicles have consistently left their mark on the iconic Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Ford Performance and the experts at STARD Advanced Research and Development joined forces once again to create SuperVan 4.2, specifically designed to conquer America’s mountain and showcase the extreme limits of electric power. As the automotive industry charges forward into an electrified future, SuperVan 4.2 takes center stage, demonstrating the immense potential of electric vehicles in motorsports.

“Together with our STARD partners, we have built the E-Transit SuperVan 4.2 to be a truly competitive machine focused on getting to the top of the mountain quickly. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb presents the perfect opportunity to showcase Ford’s electric vehicle technology and bring light to EV Performance.” - Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports.

The SuperVan 4.2 is a wild hillclimb monster that blends 1,400 horsepower of high-tech electric power1, born from three electric motors, with a body inspired by Ford Pro’s latest E-Transit Custom van. It’s an update of the crowd-wowing Ford Pro Electric SuperVan 4.0 that debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022, but fresh from an 880-pound weight reduction and super-charged with an enhanced battery and electric motors. It’s also had an aerodynamic redesign to create two tonnes of downforce at approximately 150 miles per hour for maximum cornering grip.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.