New Porsche Taycan Turbo GT smashes Nurburgring lap record with huge margin over Tesla Model S Plaid
The incoming 2024 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT has posted a new lap record for an all-electric sedan smashing the record set by the Tesla Model S Plaid by an astonishing 28 seconds.
Setting a time of 7min 7sec around Germany’s Nurburgring, the hot lap clocked by the 2024 Porsche Taycan was so quick it saw it come tantalisingly close to usurping the 7min 5sec time set by the 1408kW Rimac Nevera.
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It’s an incredible effort since the Taycan – a four-door sedan – came so close to becoming the world’s quickest EV around the notorious 20.6km public road course.
In any case, the new lap is quick enough for the Porsche EV to take the crown for the fastest production EV.
Porsche hasn’t revealed the exact model that set the new record but it’s widely believed to be the Taycan Turbo GT that’s tipped to be introduced in 2024 as part of mid-life tweaks for the entire Taycan line-up.
As well as being quicker than the Tesla, the new model was 26 seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S that features a mighty 560kW dual-motor powertrain.
That suggests the new car will pump out epic power, perhaps as much as 750kW, with the new Taycan Turbo GT variant coming with a new triple- or quad-motor powertrain.
Behind the wheel for the latest record lap was Porsche chief test driver Lars Kern who claimed to set the rapid time he “pushed as hard as he could” for multiple laps on the gruelling Nurburgring.
Commenting on the Taycan’s time, Porsche product boss Kevin Giek said: “Twenty-six seconds is half an eternity in motorsport.
“Lars’ lap time of 7:07.55 minutes on the Nordschleife is sensational, putting the Taycan in the same league as electric hypercars.
“And the impressive thing about it is that over several laps, Lars clocked almost exactly the same time.”
Looking heavily upgraded from the already lightning-quick Taycan Turbo S, the car that set the lap featured a huge rear wing, a new front bumper, large front splitter and new rear air intake.
The unnamed Taycan flagship also sported a pair of revised headlamps that are set to be adopted by the entire range of facelifted sedans.
Also identified on the fastest-ever production EV to lap the Nurburgring was a set of optional lightweight 21-inch wheels and stickier Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres that will be offered on the new Turbo GT.
Porsche has yet to announce when the 2024 Porsche Taycan, or the new Turbo GT, will make its debut but given the images and testing schedule it’s clearly due soon, suggesting an arrival time in Australia towards sometime in 2024.
