The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most trying, storied, and respected automotive challenges, testing the performance limits of cars and drivers alike, which is why Porsche decided to test its most powerful Taycan Cross Turismo model at the legendary venue, with the help of a racing legend. Driver Hurley Haywood took the electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo on an electrifying exhibition run up Pikes Peak, a demonstration highlighting both the technology’s power and the event’s enduring tradition of bringing top-tier drivers and automotive innovation to the forefront.
As a five-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and two-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring, Haywood is no stranger to the challenges of the racetrack. Even still, taking on Pikes Peak was a first for him. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo took the thin air of the high altitudes in stride, demonstrating its impressive capability and resilience. Haywood was amazed, stating, “I was not getting close to what the car was capable of, but it was a lot of fun and required some recalibration on my part.” An important advantage of electric vehicles in places like Pikes Peak is that they don’t suffer from the performance reduction usually associated with conventional engines at high altitudes.
The Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo was not only reliable but nimble. Haywood noticed the utility of the rear-axle steering as it smoothly navigated through the notorious tight switchbacks of the climb. The Taycan Cross Turismo itself is no newcomer to Pikes Peak, one of America’s highest drivable points. Previously, it completed a record-breaking 1,400-mile journey from one of the lowest points in the U.S.—the bottom of a mine—to the top of Pikes Peak. This stunning feat set a Guinness World Record for the greatest altitude change by an electric car.
The 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb reaffirmed its long-standing tradition of attracting world-class drivers and showcasing the latest breakthroughs in the automotive world. Hurley Haywood’s memorable run with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo exemplifies the event’s premise, proving that innovation and tradition create amazing moments and push the automotive industry forward as a whole.