Volkswagen Pushes for All-Electric Rallycross

VW’s Frank Welsch says that rallycross racing is the perfect arena for all-electric competition. Indeed, the head of technical development for the Volkswagen brand told Autocar that he is already discussing the idea with organizers.

“I can certainly imagine a championship done with all-electric cars,” Welsch told Autocar. “The races are around six minutes long, which allows for short, intense bursts of competition and then charging.”

VW already competes in Red Bull Global Rallycross with factory Beetle GRCs and in FIA World Rallycross with Polo RXs. Both cars squeeze around 560 HP out of their tiny engines and reach 62 mph in just over 2 seconds.

“Today these cars are super-powerful, have torque from hell and use all-wheel drive,” said Welsch. “Electric drivetrains could deliver that.”

Welsch went on to say that “If the championship moved that way it would be perfect for us.”

Volkswagen, though, is not done with gas-powered rallycross. “We like being three-time champions very much,” Welsch told Autocar, confirming that VW will continue to race in traditional rallycross for the next two to three years, at a minimum.

Below you can watch Beetle GRCs leap gracefully through their natural habitat at the Red Bull Global Rallycross Final in LA, run earlier this year.

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