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Tesla targets Nürburgring EV record next month
Tesla has left Nurburgring for now, but tweeted that it will return next month with its modified Model S "Plaid" model. It suggested that the track tests it did over the last week or so indicate that it could have pulled off a lap time of around 7 minutes and 20 seconds, though it never did any official timing. When it returns, however, it promised to do a lot better, saying that "with some improvements, 7:05 may be possible when the Model S returns next month."
Intrigue at the Nurburgring as Tesla unofficially beats Porsche's fastest lap
When Porsche beat the Nurburgring lap record for a four-door EV, it was sending a message to rival Tesla: "Hey, 2-second 0-60mph acceleration times are cool, but how long can your brakes, motor, tires and batteries last?" Tesla boss Elon Musk got the message loud and clear, and as it goes with him, he wasn't willing to let it go. Now, it appears that a Tesla Model S has bested the Taycan Turbo's 7 minute, 42 second time by 19 seconds (unofficially).
Watch Tesla's record-breaking Laguna Seca lap
Last night Elon Musk tweeted that the company's Model S "just set record for fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca" and now there's video evidence of its 1:36.555 time. There aren't a lot of details available on the run or exterior shots to show how close to stock the sedan is. In a description, Tesla said this Model S is equipped with its "Plaid powertrain" (which continues the Spaceballs reference by going a step beyond Ludicrous) and a chassis prototype.
Porsche Taycan sets four-door EV speed record at the Nürburgring
Porsche really, really wants to convince you that the Taycan will outperform Tesla's cars in the right circumstances. The automaker reported that its pre-production EV set a (rather specific) lap record for four-door, all-electric cars on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, completing its 12.8-mile run of the legendary circuit in seven minutes and 42 seconds. It unsurprisingly credits not just the top speed and acceleration of the car, but also the longevity of its electric powertrain. Unlike some EVs, the Taycan has both an 800-volt system (instead of the usual 400V) and a cooling system that can sustain performance for long periods.
VW's electric ID.R racer smashed a Nürburgring efficiency record
VW's ID.R wasn't just running laps around the Nürburgring in June to set electric performance records. The automaker has confirmed that the EV also set an efficiency record while blasting through the Nordschliefe, using 24.7kWh to complete a lap in 6 minutes and 5.34 seconds. The car was not only faster around the circuit than a Porsche 911 GT3, according to VW, but used a quarter of the energy. While that's not a figure you'd brag about to your fellow car enthusiasts, it could make a compelling case for EV racing going forward.
Watch Volkswagen's ID.R set an electric record at Nürburgring
Earlier this month, after lots of planning and testing, Volkswagen's electric ID.R racer set a record for "the fastest lap ever driven in an emission-free racing car" at the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife. An in-car video proving the record was released then, but now Volkswagen has put together a short behind the scenes video showing all the work necessary to make it happen, and stress of the actual day. You'll get up close interviews with the team and plenty of views from around the Green Hell. Check out the nine-minute video after the break, plus the in-car view of that blazing 6:05.336 lap around the 20.8km course. That's not just the fastest EV lap at the 'Ring, it's the second fastest lap -- period. Only the Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO has done it faster, with a 5:19.546 record set last year. Now the ID.R is focused on defending its crown at the Goodwood Hillclimb, and then taking on China's 6.8-mile "Heaven's Gate" road in September.
New GTA Online 'Verified Jobs' race around Nurburgring
Rockstar has added another ten jobs to GTA Online's list of multiplayer to-dos today, one of them being an impressive recreation of the famous German race track, Nürburgring. "Verified Jobs" are custom multiplayer match types, created by the community and hand-selected by Rockstar developers. Players create these custom Jobs using GTA Online's creation tools, introduced in late December to both Xbox 360 and PS3. Creation tools are currently limited, and only support race and deathmatch variants. Rockstar plans to expand GTA Online's creation system soon, and expects to add co-op heists some time this year. [Image: Rockstar Games]
Hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder beats Nordschleife track record by miles (actually, 14 seconds)
Porsche's hybrid 918 Spyder did double duty this week, making its first public appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show and setting a world record at Nürburgring's grueling Nordschleife circuit. Stuttgart's pride burned around the North Loop at an average of 112MPH to finish the circuit in 6:57, a full 14 seconds faster than the previous record holder: the gas-burning Dodge Viper ACR. Check out the video after the break and you'll discover that this Spyder is throaty -- especially compared to those purely electric (and rather screechy) Formula E racers.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive breaks Nurburgring EV lap record
There's no question that the SLS AMG Electric Drive is faster than most EVs. However, Mercedes-Benz wants to prove that the car is fast in any category -- and it just broke a Nurburgring record to underscore its point. Merc's 751HP clean machine recently ripped through the track's Nordschleife section in 7 minutes and 56 seconds, beating a production EV record set last year by Audi's R8 E-tron. While that lap time won't rival the absolute EV record, let alone those of faster conventional cars, it puts the electric SLS firmly ahead of its peers. That may be all that matters for buyers picking up their cars this month: when you've dropped half a million dollars on a new ride, some bragging rights are in order. Video of the run awaits after the break.
Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video)
Last week, Toyota's racing team set out to break the current EV record on the Nordschleife track, part of Germany's infamous Nürburgring -- and they've done it, clocking a swift 7:47.79 seconds with the P001 electric racing car. The Peugeot EX1 EV's previous 9:01.338 record seems like a distant memory as the new contender shaved more than a minute off the time, giving even gasoline-powered vehicles a run for their money. Toyota's car is no slouch as it can reach 260km/h (174mph), with a track time that rivals the Radical SR8 LM's record breaking time of 6:48. Beating its predicted goal of eight minutes, Toyota hopes the victory will bring new awareness to electric racing and perhaps to help sell custom race cars in the future -- yes, you too might be able to cop a car with the same guts (albeit different body and chassis) as a Radical Sportscar some day. Check out the full PR after the jump.
Toyota to take on Nurburgring without a sound, aims to beat EV record
All bets are on as Toyota hits up the Nürburgring next week, hoping to shatter the existing EV speed record over all 12.9 miles of the Nordschleife, affectionately nicknamed "green hell." To break the current nine minute, 1.388 second world best, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is unleashing an electric race car with two motors and a top speed of 260kmph (174mph) without emissions. The Radical-based car is similar to the one used by the Racing Green Endurance team on its epic 16,000 mile road trip, only lighter thanks to lithium-ceramic batteries. The company hopes breaking the record will show racing fans just how far electric cars have come, with GM Ludwig Zeller saying, "Many people are still dreaming of an electric future for motorsport; at TMG we believe this is much closer than some think." Full details are in the PR after the break, or you can just take a detour to the Black Forest next week and check it out yourself.
Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi wins class victory in real-life 24-hour endurance race
Alright, stick with us here because we're about to get super inside baseball: In Europe, there's a country called Germany, and in Germany, there's a village called Nürburg. Now, built around Nürburg is the Nürburgring, which is one of the deadliest race tracks in the entire world. The serpentine course spans nearly 15 miles of hairpin turns and arrow-straight straights, and is used by supercar giants like Ferrari and Lamborghini to test the mettle of their latest creations. "The Ring" (as car-folk call it), is home to an annual GT and touring car endurance challenge called the 24 Hours Nürburgring, where teams of drivers from all over the world take shifts racing one car around the track for 24 continuous hours. This year's 24 Hours ended earlier today, with Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi and his team claiming a first-place class victory with their Nissan GT-R. Similar to a "Best of Breed" award at a dog show, a class victory means that even though the team may not have placed first over-all, they were still first out of cars of their type. This win comes on the heels of the team's recent victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they grabbed second in-class. Drift past the brake for an exceedingly German video of the car/driver in question, and see if you can spot one of the many boners graffitied around the track. [Thanks, Marco!]
Peugeot EX1 sets new lap record for electric cars at Germany's Nürburgring circuit
Some concept cars may just be for show, but not Peugeot's all-electric EX1. It made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and has continued to be fine-tuned by the automaker ever since -- work that has now paid off in the form of a new lap record for electric vehicles at Germany's Nürburgring circuit. Despite "unfavorable" weather conditions, the car managed to post a lap time of 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds (with an average speed of 85.9 miles per hour), which handily beat the previous record of 9:51 set by a modified Mini E last year. Unfortunately, that record doesn't mean Peugeot is any closer to actually selling one of these -- the car was primarily created to celebrate the automaker's 200th anniversary.
New Gran Turismo 5 trailer shows Toyota FT-86 concept driving through your dreams
It's time for another edition of Expensive and Awesome Stuff That You'll Never Be Able to Do! Over at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010, Polyphony Digital showed off a "GPS-track day unit," which is a little box with a card slot in it that you install in a very expensive car like, say, the Toyota FT-86G Concept, as seen above in the new trailer for Gran Turismo 5. That unit will then record your likely very expensive real-life run around a driving track like the famous Nürburgring lap, at which point you'll be able to pull a card out, plug it in your PS3, and then see the real-life run simulated inside the video game itself, where you can watch or even ghost race against it. It was also mentioned at the Auto Salon that there will be a 3D version of GT5 out "as soon as 3D TVs become available on the market," so presumably later this year. Thanks for watching! Next time on Expensive and Awesome Stuff That You'll Never Be Able to Do: land your very own helicopter on your very own superyacht. [Thanks, Steliosco!]
