The five fastest electric cars to lap the Nurburgring - and only one of them’s a Tesla

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:

5. 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.

5. 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.

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 35sec

Oh-so appropriately, the world learned that Tesla set this record on September 10, 2021 when company boss Elon Musk Tweeted about it. Describing the car as “completely unmodified” and “direct from the factory” he provided scant detail of Swedish driver Andreas Simonsen’s then production car record run beyond the staggering time.

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 35sec

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. Adding lustre to the debate was the fact the Model S Plaid had beaten a Porsche Taycan Turbo S to take the record - setting up a Europe vs American head-to-head.

4. Tesla Model S Plaid - 7m 35sec

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 1.99secs and on to a top speed rated at 200mph.

3. Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7m 33sec

That wasn’t the end of the Europe vs America battle, though. The Taycan Turbo S’s record may only scrape the podium overall for the fastest car to lap the ’Ring - but it’s hugely significant because it also reconfirmed its position as the fastest-ever electric production car to lap the hallowed track - crucially taking bragging rights back from Tesla and returning them the ‘home’ team in Stuttgart.

3. Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7m 33sec

Although the Taycan Turbo S was a production model (bar the required additional safety equipment) the record wasn’t without controversy because it 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.

3. 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).

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.