Ford took on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with an electric van, aiming to set a record by completing the course in under nine minutes in the Open Class competition. The updated vehicle was based on the existing SuperVan 4.0 but required modifications to handle the grueling 12.5-mile course.

The evolution from SuperVan 4.0 to 4.2 involved cutting 881 pounds (400 kilograms) from the prototype, although it still weighed over 4,400 pounds. Ford Performance engineers had to fine-tune nearly every aspect of the vehicle for the run, including ride height, brakes, and suspension.