In June, BMW headed to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb ready to show the Lamborghini Urus Performante who's boss and set a new world record for a production SUV wearing the XM Red label. Unfortunately, their plans took a nosedive when driver Matt Mullins crashed the M model into a tree in his pursuit of glory.
BMW wasn't one to sit around and twiddle their thumbs until the next year's event to make another run at the crown. On September 21, they returned to the mountain. While they fell short of the Urus Performante's record of 10:32.064, they did manage to carve out a niche for themselves - a "new record for hybrid electric SUVs" at 10:48.60.
To provide a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare both man and machine for such an extreme challenge, BMW had a camera crew follow Mullins and his team through every stage of the endeavor. The result is a two-part short film available online on the official @BMWUSA YouTube channel.
BMW Presents: Peak Power (Part 1):
BMW Presents: Peak Power (Part 2):
“Congratulations to Matt Mullins and the entire team behind our inspiring journey to the top of one of the world’s most difficult and historic hill climbs in the unstoppable BMW XM Label,” said Marcus Casey, Chief Marketing Officer, BMW of North America. “Pikes Peak is the ultimate proving ground for elite performers, and we are thrilled to be named fastest hybrid SUV thanks to the world class pairing of an epic vehicle with an equally impressive driver.”
With more than 150 turns at staggering elevations, the uniquely challenging Pikes Peak race begins at 9,390 feet (2,862 meters) above sea level and finishes at the 14,115-foot (4,302-meter) summit of America's Mountain. Pikes Peak's reputation for difficulty is matched only by its legendary status in motorsports history dating back more than a century. Since 1916, competitors, race fans and media from around the world have converged on the "Race to the Clouds" to experience the very best in hill climb racing.
Source: BMW