Seven minutes, 42 seconds.
The challenge for electric cars isn’t necessarily performance. After all, there are plenty of them that can hit 100 km/h in three seconds or less. The problem is keeping that power going. Delivering quick for a long time. While motors, controllers, and even the wires themselves heat up. It’s a tough problem to overcome for any automaker, but Porsche wants to show that it’s accomplished that task with the new Taycan. And the latest proof is a Nurburgring record lap.
The Taycan performance enduro series of press releases started with acceleration and braking. 0-200 km/h-0. 26 times over, with the fastest and slowest runs nearly identical. Then Porsche sent the car to Nardo. Where it completed 3,425 km of flat-out racing around the massive test circuit. That’s an average speed of 143 km/h. Including charging stops. It’s impressive. Especially when the outside temperature was up to 42°C. Let’s see how long you maintain performance in that heat.
This time, it’s the Green Hell for the green Porsche. Setting a fast lap around what might be the most challenging race track in the world. Germany’s famed Nurburgring.
Seven minutes, 42 seconds. That’s how quickly the Taycan was able to lap the 20.6 km and 153 corners of the circuit. That makes it, Porsche says, the fastest four-door EV around the ‘Ring.
It’s not even just fast by EV standards, it’s flat-out fast. That time puts it in league with cars like the 997.1 911 GT3 RS. And the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 SV. Seriously quick hardware.
The time is helped by the chassis. It offers a new chassis control system that can act more quickly than previous systems. There’s also a series of high-tech suspension bits. Like the three-chamber active air suspension. And Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport that includes electronic roll stabilization. It can actually flatten out the car in mid-corner. The record car came with 21-inch tires and rear-wheel steering to make it even quicker.
Keeping things cool are new active cooling air flaps. They can open to keep the controllers and circuitry cool, but then close when top speed is needed. The rear spoiler extends early for less lift, but then moves to help with cornering too.
But what about Tesla’s fastest ring time? The Model S doesn’t have an official time. And all the tries we’ve read about ended in the overheating of electronics that Porsche is concerned with. We’ll get the full specs on the Taycan next week at the full reveal.
Keyword: Porsche Taycan Home Nurburgring Record