Audi R8 e-tron Sets a World Record on the Challenging Nürburgring

Audi has once again proved that environment-friendly electric versions hold a great potentiality for the future car world. The R8 e-tron has established a new world record in the category of production car with an electric drive system on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, considered to be the toughest test track in the entire world. The credit should also go to racing driver Markus Winkelhock, who with the all-electric-drive sports car covered the testing 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) track in only 8:09.099 minutes. With this unique feat, Audi has added another feather to its racing cap, following overall wins at the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Le Mans.

Commenting on the performance of the electric car, 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.” He further added: “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.”

A comparison between e-tron’s lap performance and that of combustion engine-driven production car underlines the futuristic value of the electric car. Its impressive 8:09.099-minute feat sits confidently beside the overall record time of 7:11.57 minutes clocked by a Gumpert Apollo Sport, powered by a 515 kW (700 hp) Audi V8 gasoline engine.

The drive system of the Audi R8 e-tron that descended upon the Nürburgring Nordschleife track out an out reflects the features of the production model that is in the pipeline to hit the market towards the last leg of the current year. Engine output of 230 kW, 820 Nm of torque; and 4,900+ Nm (3,614.05 lb-ft) power have marked the capacity of both the cars.

The Audi R8 e-tron’s superb acceleration level takes the car’s speed from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.6 seconds. With a top speed 200 km/h (124.27 mph) this electric car will surely hold a prominent position in the future car world. It is to be noted that the record-setting vehicle touched 250 km/h (155.34 mph) on the Nürburgring track. The R8 e-tron’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery preserves 49 KWh of energy, which ensures peace of mind as it enables to cross a distance of about 215 kilometres (133.59 miles). Its “T” shape is convenient enough to be placed it in the centre tunnel and in the space between the passenger compartment and the rear axle. Energy recovery mechanism during coasting and braking charges the battery. The ultra-light car weighs only 1,780 kilograms (3,924.23 lb), thanks to purely aluminium body and CFRP components.

Further highlighting the production-significance of the R8 e-tron and the ability of its drive technology, Audi etched an additional record at Nordschleife when Markus Winkelhock drove two fast laps in one go in another R8 e-tron that was limited to 200 km/h (124.27 mph). The timing for the two laps clocked at 8:30.873 and 8:26.096 minutes respectively, thus the car successfully finished the target well within nine-minute benchmark.

Following the performance, an elated Markus Winkelhock said: “The record drives were a fantastic experience for me...Of course, the R8 e-tron is a production car, not a racing car with the assistance of aerodynamics. But with its low centre of gravity and rear biased weight distribution, it brings with it a lot of sporty qualities. The torque with which the electric motors propel the car uphill beats everything that I know – even if they make hardly any noise in the process, which at the start was really a completely new experience for me. In places where I really need traction, the torque vectoring – the displacement of the torque between the powered wheels – really helps me.”

Michael Dick while commenting on the record-setting feat at the Nürburgring, declared: “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.” He further added: “We won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in May in the Audi R8 LMS ultra with a ten-cylinder engine. In mid-June we triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro – 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.”