Audi R8 e-tron Sets the Electric Car World Record at Nürburgring
Audi seems to be all in rage to be the best across the world. Once again Audi is overjoyed with their performance. This time it’s a production vehicle with an electric drive system, Audi R8 which has brought laurels to the parent company. The R8 e-tron has set a world record by clearing the Nürburgring’s demanding 20.8kms track in 8:09.099 minutes. This track is considered to be the toughest track in the world. The man behind the wheel was Markus Winkelhock, a racing driver. Audi had also won at the 24-hour races at the same track and at Le Mans. This world record is an added honour that Audi has achieved. On this achievement Audi AG Board Member for Technical Development, Michael Dick stated that this record is a proof and a reassurance to the team Audi that they are on the right track with their technological developments and enhancements. Michael Dick also mentioned that for Audi, electric mobility has always been about sportiness and driving pleasure.
What makes this accomplishment even bigger is that the time in which R8 completed the track is quite close to the record time that a combustion engine has achieved on this track. The record time of 7:11.57 minutes was achieved with a Gumpert Apollo Sport, which is powered by a 700bhp Audi V8 gasoline engine. Further, to emphasize the capability of the R8, Markus Winkelhock drove the car on Nordschleife. He drove two fast laps in a single go. For this the speed was limited to 200kmph and it completed the laps in 8:30.873 and 8:26.096 minutes, both laps were well under the important nine-minute threshold. Audi R8 e-tron accelerates from 0-100 in 4.6 seconds and can achieve a limited top speed of 200kmph although 250 kmph was approved for the record-setting lap. Audi R8 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which can last for about 215kms. The body of the car is extremely light due to the aluminum components along with CFRP components used to build it. The overall weight of the car is close to 1780kgs.
To hear it right from the man who played an integral role in this entire drive, Markus Winkelhock stated that the torque with which the electric motors push the car uphill was unmatched and driving the R8 was a completely new and pleasant experience.
We are compelled to ask Audi…what’s next?
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