Audi has just set an electrifying laptime around the infamous Nurburgring in an Audi R8 e-tron. With a time of 8:09.099 minutes the R8 e-tron has set a world record for a production vehicle with an electric drive system on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Driving the all-electric-drive sports car was racing driver Markus Winkelhock. Commenting on their achievement Michael Dick, AUDI AG Board Member for Technical Development said: “The R8 e-tron has given a magnificent demonstration of its potential on the toughest race track in the world, the record-setting drive confirmed that we are on the right track. To us, electric mobility has never been about sacrifice, but rather is about emotion, sportiness and driving pleasure.”
The drive system of the Audi R8 e-tron that Markus Winkelhock drove to the world record corresponds in every detail with that of the production model that will come on the market at the end of the year. Both of the car’s electric motors generate an output of 230 kW and 820 Nm of torque; more than 4,900 Nm (3,614.05 lb-ft) are distributed to the rear wheels nearly from a standing start. The Audi R8 e-tron accelerates from zero to 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.6 seconds. Its top speed is normally limited to 200 km/h (124.27 mph); 250 km/h (155.34 mph) was approved for the record-setting lap.
