23:49 03-04-2026

Goldmember electric car: 1,020 hp driverless EV for Pikes Peak race

Unplugged Performance has unveiled the Goldmember electric car with 1,020 horsepower, set to compete in the 2026 Pikes Peak race without a driver. The vehicle will tackle the 19-kilometer course with 156 turns entirely autonomously. For the market, this signals a new phase in autonomous driving development—testing in extreme conditions rather than on ordinary roads.

Driverless Tech Takes on a Legendary Course

Unplugged Performance announced that the driverless Goldmember electric car will participate in the legendary Pikes Peak race. This marks the first time a fully autonomous vehicle will attempt to conquer the "Race to the Clouds" course.

The project is built on the Cybercab robotaxi platform and represents an evolution of the company's previous racing programs.

1,020 HP, 1.5 Seconds to 100 km/h, and Extreme Aerodynamics

Goldmember features a three-motor electric powertrain producing 1,020 horsepower and around 1,420 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 1.5 seconds.

Weighing roughly 1,900 kg, the aerodynamic bodywork generates downforce comparable to the car's weight—a critical factor for navigating the mountain circuit.

© Unplugged Performance

The key technology is the Full Self-Driving: Hillclimb system, adapted for 156 turns and an elevation change exceeding 1,500 meters.

Unlike traditional race cars, Goldmember has no driver—control is entirely handed over to algorithms. This represents a radical departure even from advanced Level 2–3 ADAS systems.

Pikes Peak was chosen deliberately as one of the world's most challenging circuits, where engineering limits are tested. If the system succeeds here, it could be adapted for public roads.

The project also competes less with other vehicles and more with human drivers, making it a unique case for the industry.

In practice, this means shifting from driver-assist systems to full vehicle control without human input—with motorsport serving as the proving ground for this transformation.