Ford SuperVan 4.2, with over 1,400 hp, aims for Pikes Peak

Ford has upgraded its electric Supervan to take on the 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The Blue Oval's British division has a tradition of turning transit vans into hot rod supervans, and for the fourth generation Supervan, Ford has decided to go all-electric. The project debuted as the Ford Pro Electric Supervan ahead of the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. However, the supervan had to be ready for the challenge.

The modified van, dubbed the Ford Super Van 4.2 (the second version of the fourth-generation van), had its exterior overhauled to accommodate new aerodynamic aids to compensate for the thin air on Pikes Peak, which climbs from 4,725 feet to 14,115 feet above sea level. With 156 corners in between, maximizing downforce is essential.

The large carbon fiber rear spoiler and front splitter are the most noticeable changes, helping to generate more than 4,400 pounds of downforce at 150 mph, according to Ford. The supervan is also lighter, but Ford has not revealed the final weight. The bodywork, based on the European-market E-Transit Custom, is clad in a new livery for Pikes Peak.

As with the original, Ford commissioned the motors for the Super Van 4.2 from the Austrian rally company STARD. The number of motors was reduced from four to three, and output was reduced from 1,972 hp to about 1,400 hp. All-wheel drive was retained, with one motor driving the front wheels and two driving the rear wheels. This was determined to be the optimal setup for Pikes Peak.

At Pikes Peak, the power applied to the front wheels is limited in certain corners, Mark Lashbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, told Motor Authority. So the fourth motor only added weight and used additional energy to generate power that could not be used consistently.

To harness all the power going into the many corners, a modified 600kw regenerative braking system was combined with carbon ceramic rotors and placed behind forged magnesium wheels wrapped with Pirelli P Zero tires.

The Super Van 4.2 will be driven by current Pikes Peak record holder Romain Dumas. The French driver took the wheel of the Volkswagen ID.R Special in 2018 and set a time of 7:57.148, a time that has yet to be broken. The Super Van is not expected to set a new record, but should still set a fast time.

The 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is scheduled for June 25. Ford claims its history with the event dates back to 1916, when a Model T summited the climb in 28:03.