The fastest electric cars to lap the Nurburgring

Few things are more certain - or more exciting - to launch you into automotive folklore than lapping the fabled Nurburgring circuit in Germany quickly.

Now 12.9 miles in length (its course has changed over the years, making comparisons with older records hard) it is regarded as one of the most challenging laps on earth even by the most talented racing drivers, taking in blind corners, cambered corners, long straights and tree-lined curves.

Inevitably the onset of the electric car age has led to car makers trying to prove their credentials by lapping the track as fast as they can; here’s the lowdown on the five fastest to have done so to date:

6. Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive - 7m 56secs 

It says much for the pace of the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive that it was first unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and set this record in June 2013. At the time it was the first electric production car to break the eight-minute barrier for a lap - eclipsing the previous best of 8m 9sec by an Audi R8 E-tron.

6. Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive - 7m 56secs 

Overcoming its frankly chunky weight of 2110kg - a legacy of the battery technology of the time - it was powered by four individual synchronous electric motors, each developing 185bhp and 184 lb ft of torque. The combined output of 740bhp and 737lb ft of torque seems fairly paltry by today’s standards - but was good for 0-62mph in 3.9sec.

5. Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive - 7m 56secs 

Sticking true to its production ethos, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive was limited to a top speed of 155mph. While the lap record made headlines, and still stands it in good stead today, detractors pointed out that the petrol-powered SLS lapped the ’Ring around 12sec faster, in 7m 44sec. Given it also cost half the Electric Drive’s price, little wonder eyebrows were raised as to the significance of its then record.

5. Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7m 33sec

While it might be some distance from the Rimac, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S still set a Nurburgring lap time to be proud of. Although the Taycan Turbo S was a production model (bar the required additional safety equipment) the record wasn’t without controversy.

5. Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7m 33sec

The car was fitted with a Performance Pack that was only on sale on a single model line in Germany. It included special compound tyres and uprated software to improve the chassis control.

5. Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7m 33sec

The record was set on 10 August 2022, with development driver Lars Kern at the wheel. To provide some context, the lap was on a par with the best efforts of the  Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (7m 33.95sec), Koenigsegg CCS (7m 33.55sec), Mercedes-AMG GT S (7m 33.04sec), Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Pagani Zonda F (all 7m 33sec).

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 25sec

The Europe vs America battle swung back in the California-based brand’s favour earlier this year when the Tesla Model S Plaid regained its crown as the fastest-ever electric production car to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, taking bragging rights back from Porsche. Fitted with a new Track Package, the Plaid set the new record time on 2 June, completing the 12.9-mile course in 7min 25sec.

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 25sec

The Plaid first lapped the storied circuit in September 2021, setting a time of 7min 35 sec. While there were accusations of modified parts being used, they were hotly denied - and an in-car video was released to demonstrate the veracity of the time. 

Tesla shaved 10 seconds off its original time thanks to a new Track Pack, which added new carbon ceramic brakes, Goodyear Supercar 3R tyres and forged aluminium wheels. Top speed was also boosted to 200mph.

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 25sec

Performance highlights of the Model S Plaid included its three-motor set up, good for 1006bhp and 1047lb ft of torque, and enough to power it from a standstill to 62mph in 1.99 sec. 

3. Rimac Nevera - 7m 05sec

Rimac and its Nevera hypercar took the Nurburgring lap record honours earlier this summer, smashing both the times set by Porsche and Tesla. Driven by Croation racer, Martin Kodric, the Rimac Nevera managed to lap the circuit in a staggering 7min 5sec, eclipsing Model S’s lap by 20sec.

3. Rimac Nevera - 7m 05sec

What is more impressive is that the Zagreb-based brand didn’t make any radical changes to the 1407kW (1888bhp) Nevera production car before its record attempt, adding only a set of sticky Michelin Cup2R tyres.

3. Rimac Nevera - 7m 05sec

According to Kodric, the lap was undertaken on one of the hottest days on the track this summer. Rimac says the lap record was verified by independent timing data and on board telemetry. It also revealed that the Nevera managed to set a lap time of 7:00.928 on the shortened 12.8-mile layout.

2. Nio EP9 - 6m 45s

Driven by Peter Dumbreck, the EP9 set its Nurburgring lap record on March 12, 2017, resetting expectations not just for the capability of electric vehicles but also for the Chinese brand Nio, which used its record breaking run to raise awareness of the technical prowess of the £1m road car it was based on.

2. Nio EP9 - 6m 45s

With each wheel powered by an individual electric motor, each controlled by a torque vectoring system to ensure it could use it to best effect, the EP9 was rated as having a combined 1342bhp. Weighing 1735kg (despite a lightweight carbonfibre body) it’s 0-62mph time was a still astounding 2.7sec and 0-124mph time 7.1sec. 

2. Nio EP9 - 6m 45s

The EP9’s track speed was boosted considerably by its aerodynamic capability, including a three-way adjustable rear wing. Adjustable suspension also helped keep the car planted to the asphalt, with Nio revealing it could produce more than 2.5g of downforce at 140mph.

1. Volkswagen ID.R - 6m 05s

The ID.R was designed to showcase the potential of unlimited electric power, and started its record-breaking run at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in 2018 - going on to shatter records across different continents over the next three years.

1. Volkswagen ID.R - 6m 05s

Its date with destiny at the Nurburgring was 3 June, 2019. Hitting top speeds of 170mph and averaging 127.6mph, driver Romain Dumas redefined the record books, lapping in 6min 05.336secs - around 25secs faster than the quickest production car to ever lap the track even now (the Mercedes-AMG One, which did 6m 30.705sec last year).

1. Volkswagen ID.R - 6m 05s

The ID.R was powered by an electric motor on each axle, allowing for a combined 680bhp and 479lb ft of torque. Crucially for its agility and acceleration it weighted under 1100kg despite the weight of its 45kWh battery, and accelerated from 0-60mph in 2.25secs.

1. Volkswagen ID.R - 6m 05s

Other records beaten by the ID.R include the Goodwood Festival of Speed time (39.90, which has subsequently been bettered), Tianmen Mountain time (7m 38.585) and Blister Berg record (1m 24.206). The car has now been retired from competition.