In preparation for its production debut later this year, the all-electric Audi R8 e-tron has set a world record for a production vehicle with an electric drive system on the Nürburgring Nordschleife – which is regarded by many as the toughest test track in the world.
Racing driver Markus Winkelhock piloted the high-performance, all-electric sports car around the demanding 12.92-mile track in 8:09.099 minutes, which means that Audi has achieved yet another milestone in its history, following overall wins at the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Le Mans.
“The R8 e-tron has given a magnificent demonstration of its potential on the toughest race track in the world,” said Michael Dick, Audi AG board member for technical development. Dick, who completed a fast lap himself in the R8 e-tron, 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 with the current record lap driven by a production car with a conventional combustion engine shows just how impressive the 8:09.099-minute time really is. The record time of 7:11.57 minutes was achieved by a Gumpert Apollo Sport, which is powered by a 700PS Audi V8 petrol engine.
The drive system of the Audi R8 e-tron that Winkelhock drove to the world record is identical to that of the road-going model that will enter production towards the end of the year. The car’s electric motors generate a combined output of 280kW and 820Nm of torque; more than 4,900Nm (is distributed to the rear wheels virtually from a standing start.
The Audi R8 e-tron accelerates from zero to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds. Its top speed is normally limited to 124mph but 155mph was approved for the record-setting lap.
The R8 e-tron’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery stores 49KWh of energy – enough for a distance of about 133miles. Its “T” shape allows it to be installed in the centre tunnel and in the area between the passenger compartment and the rear axle. It is charged by energy recovery during coasting and braking.
The ultralight body of the Audi R8 e-tron is made primarily of aluminum, along with CFRP components; this is the main reason why the high-performance sports car weighs just 1,780 kilograms, despite the large battery.
In order to further underscore the production-relevance of the R8 e-tron and the capability of its drive technology, Audi has set another record on the Nordschleife in addition to the single lap record time. Immediately afterwards, Winkelhock drove two fast laps in one go in a second R8 e-tron that was limited to 124mph. At 8:30.873 and 8:26.096 minutes, both laps were well under the important nine-minute threshold.
