Porsche holds many lap records at the Nürburgring, including the fastest outright lap with the 919 Hybrid Evo, the fastest street-legal car with a GT2 RS MR, and now the fastest production electric car with a Taycan Turbo S, swiping the record held by Tesla’s Model S Plaid for the last few months. Last September Tesla sent Andreas Simonsen to the legendary test track in a brand new Model S Plaid—named after a throwaway joke in the 1987 comedy film Spaceballs—where they set a staggering 7:35.579, a faster time than a 991 Carrera S or a 997 Turbo! Not one to sit back and let some newcomer threaten their title, Porsche set about developing a performance kit for the Taycan Turbo S to re-gain its record. On August 10th of this year, Porsche did what it came to do, unleashing test driver Lars Kern on a flying lap where he set a mind-boggling 7:33.35 lap time. Impressive!
So what does this performance kit include? Well, Porsche fitted the Taycan Turbo S—which is already an impressive performance machine boasting 750 horsepower at max attack—with 21-inch RS Spyder design wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, plus a software update to the car’s Chassis Control system to work with the new sticky tires. The performance kit will be available for all 2023 Taycan Turbo S models through Porsche Tequipment eventually, but is currently only being rolled out to German customers through a specific Zuffenhausen workshop so the factory techs can keep an eye on things before global rollout. If you happen to be a German prospective Taycan Turbo S buyer, the performance kit will cost you an extra €13,377.32 to have fitted, but then you’ll know your EV is the fastest EV out there.
“In the past, only thoroughbred super sports cars got into the 7:33 range,” says Kern. “With the new performance kit I was able to push even harder, and the car was even more precise and agile to boot.”
“We’re delighted that the Nürburgring record for electric cars is back in Porsche hands,” says Kevin Giek, Vice President Model Line Taycan. “This lap time not only shows how much potential lies in our new performance kit, but also confirms once again the sports car genes of the Taycan.” The considerable power of the Turbo S, of up to 460 kW (625 PS), was a key factor in its success. With Launch Control active, the car maxes out at 560 kW (761 PS) from a standstill.