V6-Powered Nova Proto NP01 Defeats Ford’s EV at 2025 Pikes Peak

So when Ford Performance announced it was returning to Colorado in 2025 with a wild new weapon—the Super Mustang Mach-E Electric Demonstrator—expectations were sky high. Promised to be leaner, lighter, and meaner than ever, this three-motor, 1,400+ horsepower machine was built to crush. With over 3,000kg of downforce at 150 mph, it sounded more like a Le Mans prototype than a street-derived SUV. “We come to Pikes Peak to win,” Ford declared. “And the electric platform is the way to do it.”

But Pikes Peak always has a few tricks up its sleeve.

The Underdog Roars: Simone Faggioli and the Nova Proto NP01

Despite the hype—and despite Dumas shaving 100kg off the Mach-E’s weight for this year's effort—Ford’s electrified juggernaut finished second overall. And it wasn’t another EV that snatched victory. No, the winning car wasn’t backed by a global automaker or powered by lithium-ion cells. It was a featherweight, V6-powered French prototype piloted by an Italian hill climb legend.

Simone Faggioli, an 11-time European Hill Climb champion, took the overall win in the Nova Proto NP01, a purpose-built racer developed by the highly respected French outfit Nova Proto. And in a world increasingly dominated by electric silence, Faggioli’s screaming 800-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 offered a glorious reminder of the raw, visceral thrill of internal combustion.

Watching the footage, it’s impossible to miss the violent symphony of turbo whoosh, gear shifts, and combusting hydrocarbons. It’s the kind of noise that makes your spine tingle—and for many fans, it was a deeply satisfying moment. In a race where EVs have been gaining ground year after year, a compact, sub-500kg gas-powered missile just humbled one of the most advanced electric race cars on the planet.

A Momentary Reprieve for ICE Enthusiasts?

Let’s be clear: the winds of change are still blowing hard up the mountain. This year’s event was partially hindered by high winds at higher altitudes, potentially affecting performance for some teams. And yes, Ford will undoubtedly return even stronger next year, as will rival OEMs pouring money into electric innovation.

But for now, the internal combustion engine has struck back—and in spectacular fashion. Faggioli’s victory isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s a reminder that skill, precision engineering, and mechanical soul still matter in the electrified era.

So, hats off to Simone Faggioli and the Nova Proto NP01. Against all odds, they brought the thunder—literally—to Pikes Peak 2025. Whether it’s a temporary upset or a spark of renewed interest in hybrid hill climb strategies remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: the race is far from over.