If we gave a news slot to every Nordschleife lap time published, PH wouldn't be much more than a database with
SOTW
even Hyundai
isn't content with testing on the road and must develop a car, then record a time there to tell the world about.
Electric R8 was the lap record holder...
Today's news is a little different, though, as Mercedes has claimed a new production EV Nordschleife record with the
SLS AMG Electric Drive
. Its lap of 7:56.234 beats the previous record of 8:09
set by the Audi R8 E-Tron
in June last year. Moreover, though the R8 E-Tron was production-viable, Audi have now pulled the plug citing, you've guessed it, issues surrounding its range.
The SLS ED's record comes just two weeks after a GT3-spec SLS took victory at the N24, giving Mercedes and AMG plenty of Nordschleife kudos.
The car itself was identical to the customer models that go on sale this month in European markets at £302,000. This means four electric motors (and so 4WD) behind each wheel developing 751hp, 737lb ft of torque and capable of some very advanced torque vectoring trickery. Called AMG Torque Dynamics, it allows for instantaneous distribution of torque to any wheel thanks to the four individual motors and ensures optimal traction and minimal intervention from the driving aids. For a practical demonstration of this, here's the Chris Harris SLS ED video. With lots of skids.
...but luridly hued SLS Electric Drive put boot in
Mercedes claims the SLS ED can hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 155mph, which probably added a couple of seconds to the lap time with the Nurburgring's long straights.
Unsurprisingly, Mercedes didn't use its new record to remind us of the ED's weight; the electric motors are powered by a 60kWh lithium-ion battery pack that weighs 548kg. Despite the admirable weight-saving materials used, the SLS ED is still 560kg heavier than an SLS V8 at 2110kg. So its probably the fastest two-tonne vehicle to lap the Nordschleife also...
Comparing the SLS ED's lap time to cars with conventional engines is fascinating. Its 2,110kg and 751hp give the electric SLS a power-to-weight ratio of 356hp per tonne. A BMW M5 has recorded a 7:55 lap with 299hp per tonne, and the Ferrari 360 CS a 7:56 with 332hp per tonne ten years ago. Perhaps most intriguingly of all is how the SLS ED stacks up against some AMG stablemates. The C63 AMG has posted an 8:01 Nurburgring lap with 264hp per tonne, and the Mercedes SLR McLaren achieved 7:52 back in 2003. Its power-to-weight ratio is 369hp per tonne.
This certainly makes the SLS ED competitive, if ultimately limited by its kerbweight. How about the first electric AMG Black Series to get it under two tonnes?