Jul 03, 2012 11:42 AM EDT
Audi R8 e-tron Sets World Record At Nurburgring

Described as the "Wonder Car," Audi's R8 e-tron sets a new world record for an electric car, going 8:09.99 in a lap at Nurburgring.

Audi's Le Mans winning race driver, Markus Winkelhock was behind the wheel. He piloted the car around the demanding 20.8 km specially built race track.

The current lap record is 07:11.57 minutes by an Audi V8 powered by 700 PS Gumpert Apollo Sport, a non-electric car. According to Audi, the R8 e-tron can go 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in 4.6 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 125 mph (200 kph). The electric car has two electric motors and both of make 308 PS of power and produce 820 NM of torque. The R8 e-tron will cover 133 mph (215 kph) on just a single charge.

"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," Winkelhock told reporters. "But with its low center 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."

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?

 PREVIOUS POST
NEXT POST 

EDITOR'S PICK    

Hyundai to Invest $16.1 Billion for EV Business; Sets Annual Sales Goal of 1.87M Electric Cars by 2030

World's Most Expensive and Most Heavily-optioned Porsche 928 GTS is Coming Home to the U.S.

Major Boost as Tesla Giga Berlin Facility in Final Phase of Approval Process; Delivery Event Set This Month

Audi Looking for e-tron Electric Vehicles to Spur Car Brand's Growth in India in 2022

Toyota Offers Free EV Charging to Owners of 2023 bZ4X After Partnership Agreement with EVgo

2022 Suzuki Baleno Finally Unveiled in India: What are the Specs and Features of this City Car?