A prototype of the updated Porsche Taycan, ahead of its official release, has set an impressive Nurburgring lap time of 7:07.55, surpassing the Taycan Turbo S by 26 seconds in 2022 and outpacing the Tesla Model S Plaid by 18 seconds. Driven by Lars Kern, this achievement places the facelifted Taycan as the fastest four-door electric vehicle around the Nurburgring, coming within 7 seconds of the current production EV lap record set by the Rimac Nevera at 7:00.928.
Despite the remarkable performance, there are some important considerations. The vehicle that set the record is a pre-series model, not in its final production form. Official details about the specific variant are yet to be disclosed, leaving room for educated speculations.
Kevin Giek, head of the Taycan model line at Porsche, highlighted the significance of the lap time, stating, "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."
The consistent lap times over multiple laps suggest advancements in the battery technology of the facelifted Taycan, indicating enhanced durability during rapid power deployment. While the exact variant remains unconfirmed, images provided by Porsche align with expectations for the Taycan Turbo GT. This model is anticipated to boast 1,000 horsepower, a 33% increase over the current Taycan Turbo S with its maximum 750 hp.
Mechanical upgrades, including the possibility of a tri-motor powertrain, are still undisclosed. However, the performance disparities were evident, with the new Taycan showcasing a 15.5 mph increase heading into the Schwedenkreuz section compared to the Taycan Turbo S.
Lars Kern emphasized the intensity of the effort, stating, "I pushed as hard as I could, but that was really all I could do."
Equipped with a roll cage and racing bucket seats for the lap, features like the aggressive front fascia and prominent rear wing are expected to make it to the production variant. As the first GT division-developed production EV from Porsche, the Taycan Turbo GT is anticipated to showcase the full capabilities of Andreas Preuninger and his team.
For those of you waiting, Porsche plans to release a full onboard video of the lap in March 2024, likely coinciding with the unveiling of the updated Taycan lineup.
