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Volkswagen will market its electric vehicles by sending one where?

Answer: Racing up Pikes Peak.

Designed and built specifically to take on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, Volkswagen’s I.D. R has 680 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It weighs in at less than 2,500 pounds and can do zero to 60 mph in just 2.25 seconds. But most notably, the vehicle is 100 percent electric, and Volkswagen believes it will be the ticket to a first-place, record-breaking finish.

It’s been 31 years since the automaker entered a vehicle in the race, and the company has moved away from motorsports in general. However, it seems to believe the Pikes Peak race is an excellent opportunity to showcase the potential of its electric vehicles, since they have historically performed well on this particular course. That is because of the altitude — diesel- and gasoline-powered cars don’t generate as much power at high altitudes because they need oxygen to operate. EVs, however, don’t notice the difference. The race finishes at 14,00 feet above sea level, after climbing 4,700 feet in just 12.4 miles.

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.