Audi R8 E-Tron Sets Nürburgring Production Electric Car Record

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
has set the Nürburgring Nordschleife production electric car lap record with an R8 E-TronAudi R8 e-tronGermany, 2011 > present3 photos
at 8:09.099. This is not quite enough to beat the overall electric car lap record set by the Toyota PV001 of 7:47:790.

Audi's time was set by ex-Formula 1 driver Markus Winkelhock. He was also a member of the driving team that won the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours. 

For frame of reference, Germany's Sport Auto magazine lapped the Nordschleife with both the V10Audi R8 5.2 Coupe quattroGermany, 2011 > present1 photo
and V8 R8sAudi R8 4.2 Coupe quattroGermany, 2010 > present3 photos
. It got a time of 8:04 with the V8 R8 and 7:44 with the V10 R8. 

The R8 E-Tron has 280kW (376hp) of power and 820Nm (605lb-ft) of torque. It will accelerate to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds. Its actual top speed is 250km/h, but the version that will go on sale will have a 200km/h limiter. From its 49kWh battery the car has a total range of 215km (133.59 miles).

“Within just a few weeks we’ve taken on some big challenges and in the process we’ve shown that we are at the forefront with all of our drive concepts. We won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in May in the Audi R8 LMS ultraAudi R8 LMS UltraGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
with a ten-cylinder engine. In mid-June we triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Audi R18 e-tron quattroAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
2 videos
– the first overall victory for a hybrid-electric vehicle in the toughest race in the world. And now we’ve set another record with the all-electric-drive R8 e-tron on the most demanding track there is,” said Michael Dick, Audi Board Member for technical development. 

While, Audi calls the R8 E-Tron a production car that argument seems tenuous. Interested buyers cannot just call up Audi, write a check and be driving later that day. However, Audi does intend on building the R8 E-Tron, and it makes the argument that the car used to set the record is completely street legal, unlike the PV001. 

The car used to set the record, had its 200km/h {124mph) top speed limiter removed. After setting the 8:09 time, Winkelhock drove two laps in an R8 E-Tron with the limiter in place and managed 8:30.873 and 8:26.096 lap times. 

*Updated with 2nd Video* Toyota Brings Electric Race Car to Pikes Peak