Porsche is readying an updated version of its Taycan electric car that will land during 2024, yet it has already found time to put a pre-production version of it around the Nürburgring Nordschleife - and discovered it's a whole lot faster than the model it's about to replace.
In the hands of the German company's development driver Lars Kern, the 2024 Taycan smashed round the 20.8km lap in just seven minutes 7.55 seconds, lopping a huge 26 seconds off his previous best in the Porsche EV (electric vehicle) - when he took a Turbo S saloon around in August 2022.
More than a kilometre ahead
The huge uplift in performance can be best understood in terms of the fact that when the new Taycan was crossing the line to complete this record-breaking near-seven-minute lap, the current Turbo S on its fastest lap would be 1.3km further back down the track.
The new car was also, as an example, carrying an additional 25km/h into the daunting, high-speed left-hander known as Schwedenkreuz, about a quarter of the way around the lap.
In racing terms, 26 seconds on a lap - even one as abnormally long as the Nordschleife - is huge and represents the intriguing possibility that the prototype which has just set the record might not just be a replacement for the 761hp Turbo S flagship, but even a new halo variant with even more power and performance.
'Half an eternity'
At any rate, it certainly pleased Kevin Giek, head of the Taycan model line, who 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."
The test car for the lap was fitted with a roll cage and racing bucket seats, to fulfil safety requirements, but otherwise was in production trim. For his part, Kern almost sounded apologetic, explaining: "I pushed as hard as I could, but that was really all I could do."
More electric Porsches heading our way
Like all manufacturers, Porsche has an increased focus on electric power and electrification, and 2024 is a big year for the company. Having just heavily tilted its Cayenne large SUV range towards plug-in hybrid power, an all-new, second-generation Macan compact SUV will launch in the coming 12 months with electric propulsion only.
The Panamera, like the Cayenne, is similarly majoring on hybrid drivetrains, while towards the end of the year the electric replacement for the 718 Boxster and Cayman twins should also be confirmed.
Porsche is planning a fully electric Cayenne for 2025, as well.