Audi R8 e-tron has set up a world record for any production vehicle equipped with an electric drive system at the Nurburgringrace track, one of the toughest racing tracks in the world. Race car driver Markus Winkelhock drove the all-electric drive high performance sports car around the rough 20.8 Kilometer track in a record 8:09.099 minutes. With this record timing, Audi grabbed yet another milestone in the history, following the overall wins at the twenty four hour races at the Nurburgring and Le Mans.
Michael Dick, Audi AG Board Member for technical development said that R8 e-tron has given a glorious demonstration of itscapacity on the toughest racing track in the world. Dick, who also completed the first lap himself, added that the record setting drive inveterate that they are moving in the right direction as a company.
A comparison with the combustion engine production car shows how impressive the 8:09.099 minute performance is. The record time of 7:11.57 minute was achieved by the Gumpert Apollo Sport which is powered by a 515kW, 700 hp Audi V8 petrol engine.
The Audi R8 e-tron drive system that made the record matches every bit with the actual production model, which will ultimately be made available in the market by the end of this year. The car has two electric motors and both of them deliver a combined output of 230 kW and a peak torque of 820 Nm.
The Audi R8 e-tron can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in just 4.6 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 200 kmph. However, 250 kmph was approved for the record run.
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of the R8 e-tron stores within it 49 kWh of energy, which is more than enough to take the car for a distance of 215km or 133.6 miles.The battery is charged by energy recovered during braking and coasting. The ultra-light body made mainly of Aluminum and CFRP makes the car weigh just 1,780 kg despitehaving a large battery.
