The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed starts this weekend, running through Sunday July 13. The Goodwood Estate will host automotive and motorsport figures from around the world.
Since 2019 – when the record-breaking Volkswagen ID.R posted the fastest FoS hillclimb run in 20 years – the event has embraced both traditional combustion engines and electric power.
Matt Hearn, Festival of Speed’s Head of Content, spoke with EV Powered about why electrification matters for FoS’s future.
“We want to tell as broad a story as possible,” Hearn says. “Since the Festival of Speed started in 1993, it’s been about celebrating the past, present, and future of motorsport and automotive culture. EVs are certainly as important as the past.”
This year’s theme centers on 75 years of Formula 1. But there’s plenty for EV enthusiasts.
FoS introduced ‘Electric Avenue’ in 2021 to showcase electric cars up close. That coincided with the government’s original 2030 mandate for EV adoption – later pushed to 2035.
“We felt it was our duty to show the public what electric vehicles were available and how they could fit into their lives,” Hearn explains.
Electric Avenue won’t return this year. Instead, organizers created the inaugural supercar ‘First Glance’ showcase. FoS’s list includes EV and ICE supercars tackling the estate’s 1.16-mile hillclimb.
“We realized that a big structure showcasing cars that weren’t moving wasn’t as powerful as showing them in motion,” Hearn continues. “There are so many EVs on roads now that they’re just cars to us. We’re keen to show them being dynamic on the hill.”
The strategy started with VW’s ID.R in 2018. Ford’s SuperTruck followed. Last year, the all-electric McMurtry Spierling reclaimed the production car record.
In 2023, Hyundai used FoS to debut its Ioniq 5 N. That car changed the EV landscape significantly.
Hearn appreciates both EVs and combustion engines. He sees clear advantages for electric power.
“Something EVs do really well is big power and instant power delivery,” he says. “That’s intoxicating and impressive – your regular all-electric family car produces figures that supercars from 20 or 30 years ago were making.”
EVs also enable new layouts. The Rivian R1T pick-up offers huge space. The Renault 5 and Alpine A290 look better than typical hatchbacks.
“We want to show the best electric vehicles we possibly can and create space for hydrogen,” Hearn adds. “EVs are definitely important for Goodwood’s future.”
Meet the 536bhp, £150,000 Renault 5 Turbo 3E
Since Renault president Luca de Meo announced his Renaultution plan, the French brand became one of the hottest EV makers. The Renault 5 shook the market with retro design, £23k pricing, and 250-mile range.
The R5 Turbo 3e takes that formula to extremes. This £150,000 ‘mini-supercar’ uses a tri-motor setup shared with the Alpine A390. It produces 536bhp through the rear wheels.
The flared body kit and yellow, black, white paintjob reflect the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo from 1980s Group B rallying.
Renault has sold all 1,980 R5 Turbo 3e units scheduled for 2027 delivery.
The Pikes Peak-winning Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck
Ford Racing has dominated with all-electric race cars recently. Its F-150 Lightning SuperTruck won Pikes Peak in 2023. The Transit Supervan 4.2 came close the previous year.
At 2024’s FoS, five-time Pikes Peak winner Romain Dumas set the fastest overall shootout time of 43.98 seconds in the 2,000bhp SuperVan.
This year, Dumas returns in the SuperTruck. The F-150 Lightning SuperTruck packs 1,600bhp in tri-motor configuration – or 2,000bhp as a quad-motor.
Don’t bet against Dumas going quickest again.
Supercar ‘First Glance’ featuring Alpine, Rimac, Lotus, and Karma
The supercar showcase replaces Electric Avenue to give attendees access to the latest electric and hydrogen supercars.
Alpine’s hydrogen-powered, 740bhp Alpenglow HY6 will climb the hill. The fearsome, fully-electric Rimac Nevera R joins it, along with the Lotus Evija.
The Karma Kaveya makes its FoS debut. Despite recent struggles, the California-based carmaker will showcase its 1,180hp Kaveya supercar.
The Kaveya should offer over 250 miles of range from a 120kWh battery. Production starts in 2027 – if it happens at all.
Rimac shooting for another record with its 2,087bhp Nevera R
Rimac has been a FoS fixture for years. The Croatian hypercar manufacturer smashed the production car record on its 2023 debut with 49.32 seconds.
The 2,078bhp Nevera R arrives for 2025. Its dual-layer rear wing generates up to 400kg of downforce. It hits 0-62mph in 1.81 seconds and 0-186mph in 8.66 seconds.
Updated torque vectoring splits power between all four wheels. New carbon ceramic brakes with silicon layers improve stopping power, cooling, and durability.
Just 40 will be made.
Denza, MG, and Honda roll out new EV models
Denza – BYD’s luxury subbrand – brings their D9 MPV, B5 off-roader, and Z9 GT shooting brake. BYD chairperson Stella Li suggested the Z9 GT might woo drivers from the Porsche Taycan.
The Z9 GT features a “Compass U-Turn” that spins rear wheels in opposite directions for ‘crab’ parking.
MG unveils its Cyberster Black, compact Cyber X concept with pop-up headlights, and two embargoed EVs.
Honda learned from its loveable-yet-flawed e. They’ll showcase their Kei-car inspired Super EV Concept on the hillclimb. The Honda 0 SUV appears on static display.
Alpine celebrates its 70th birthday
Alpine has been rolling since early 2025. They’re using FoS to celebrate 70 years in business.
The Alpine A290 launched as the R5’s performance sibling. The all-electric, 464bhp, tri-motor A390 crossover arrives early 2026.
The A290 Rallye is stage-ready with full roll cage, ZF limited slip differential, upgraded suspension, brakes, running gear, and hydraulic handbrake. It sends 217bhp through front wheels with 221lb ft of torque.
Both A290 versions attend 2025 FoS, plus the A390, Alpenglow HY6, and A110 R Ultime – the final ICE A110 before next year’s EV replacement.
BMW’s glimpse into the future with its all-electric ‘Heart of Joy’
The BMW Vision Driving Experience (VDX) isn’t production-bound, but it’s Munich’s statement of intent. The VDX produces 13,269lb ft of torque – five times more than a Koenigsegg Gemera.
It features active aero and has never done a dynamic UK run before FoS.
Its quad-motor layout will underpin future all-electric M cars. The ‘Heart of Joy’ computer system handles propulsion, energy recuperation, braking, charging, and steering.
Heart of Joy appears in upcoming BMW Neue Klasse cars, including the Vision Neue Klasse X SUV that previews the new iX3.
Extreme H takes to the hill with hydrogen fuel cell
FoS 2025 displays Extreme H’s Pioneer 25 challenger at the Future Lab. Extreme H is the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport championship, evolving from the defunct all-electric Extreme E.
The Pioneer 25 uses a Spark Racing Technology chassis. It’s a hydrogen fuel cell off-roader producing zero emissions except water.
Front and rear eMotors produce 200kW each. Top speed hits 124mph with 0-62mph in under five seconds.
Former Extreme E drivers Catie Munnings, Cristina Gutiérrez, and Klara Andersson will drive it up the hill.
Extreme H starts later this year – no official date announced yet.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N makes electrifying global debut
Hyundai used FoS 2023 to debut its excellent Ioniq 5 N. For 2025, they’re launching the N version of the swoopy Ioniq 6 streamliner on July 10th.
The Ioniq 6 N should make around 600bhp. It’ll benefit from chassis tweaks and updates from its sister car – twin-motor setup, AWD, plus simulated gearshifts and engine notes.
The N gets the Ioniq 6’s new front end that debuted at Seoul Motor Show earlier this year.
Expect it to be fantastic.
