As if being the world’s greenest brand weren’t enough, Toyota is now pushing the zero-emissions envelope even further, trying to best the current EV lap record at Germany’s 12.9-mile Nürburgring race course.
The 100 percent electric vehicle expected to break the record was built by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), a German-based division of Toyota that has been involved in rally and Formula 1 racing over the years. The two-seater’s high-performance powertrain employs two electric motors, generating as much as 280kW of power.
TMG is hopeful that its EV, with a maximum speed of 162 miles per hour and weighing in at 2,138 lbs., will break the lap record for an electric vehicle. The current record stands at 9 minutes 1.338 seconds, set earlier this year by the Peugeot EX1. The race is set for August 29.
“We are extremely confident we can break the record by some distance, which is an indication of how EV performance is continuously improving,” Rob Leupen, TMG’s Director of Business Operations, said in a statement.
To the prospective EV consumer, tales of EVs’ increased racing performance may not mean much. But TMG said it plans to begin selling its electric powertrain commercially by next year. So with what could be the next generation of EV motors on display, for EV enthusiasts of all stripes, next Monday’s race may be one to watch.
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