Porsche beats Tesla: Taycan Turbo S sets new Nürburgring electric car lap record

There’s nothing “entirely standard” about an electric car that can hustle its bulk through one of the world’s scariest racetracks in record time, but here we are. It’s 2022, and Porsche has just claimed a new Nürburgring lap record.

Because its “entirely standard” Taycan Turbo S – admittedly fitted with the new performance kit and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control – romped its way home to a time of 7m 33s – two seconds faster than that pesky Tesla Model S Plaid.

Porsche also fitted “the required roll cage and racing seats”, but aside from that – and the aforementioned kit, and PDCC – standard. Lars Kern, a man familiar with scary fast hot laps, oversaw the Not-A-Real-Turbo S Taycan’s progress through the Green Hell. It was the full 20.8km circuit.

Remember, Porsche actually held the electric car lap record when a Really Standard Taycan did a 7m 42 back in 2019. Last September, Tesla hit back with the Model S Plaid.

And now this. “We’re delighted that the Nürburgring record for electric cars is back in Porsche hands,” said the Taycan’s model line VP Kevin Giek. “This lap time not only shows how much potential lies in our new performance kit, but also confirms once again the sports car genes of the Taycan.”

The Taycan Turbo S makes 616bhp in 'standard' running, with 750bhp and 774lb ft available in overboost. Porsche claims 0-62mph in 2.8s and a 10.8s quarter mile, too. For this record run, the performance kit included 21 RS Spyder-design alloys wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsas (available at all good outlets now!), plus a software update to the chassis control “so that it works in harmony with the tyres”. Those poor, poor tyres.

“In the past, only thoroughbred super sports cars got in the 7m 33s range,” said Kern. Now it's... well, standard.

Your move, Tesla.

TEXT Vijay Pattni