Mercedes SLS AMG sets new electric 'Ring record

Mercedes-Benz has set a new Nurburgring lap record for wholly electric-driven production vehicles, with the new SLS AMG Electric Drive completing the 20.8km Nordschleife in 7:56.234.

Mercedes’ time eclipses the 8:09.099 set by Audi’s R8 e-tron prototype last year, and Audi’s initial “wholly electric-driven production vehicle” record boast has since been nullified by the subsequent development halt on the model.

Arriving in European showrooms this month, the left-hand-drive-only SLS AMG Electric Drive uses four electric motors to drive each wheel, with combined outputs of 560kW and 1000Nm, and promises 0-100km/h acceleration of 3.9 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Under normal road conditions, the SLS Electric drive delivers an official 250km European-cycle range from its 60kWh battery system.

These figures trounce those mooted for the still-born R8 e-tron, which was set to produce 230kW/820Nm, with a 4.6 second 0-100km/h time and a limited top speed of 200km/h (which was removed for the ring lap). The R8 e-tron was set to deliver a range of 215km from its 49kWh.

The Electric Drive’s ‘ring time is still about 12 seconds shy of the regular petrol-powered 420kW/650Nm SLS GT however, largely due to the battery-laden Electric Drive’s extra 550kg weight.

The Electric Drive’s ‘ring lap is also about a minute shy of the expected times for the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, and LaFerrari supercars, but each of their hybrid drivetrains will rely on healthy doses of petrol engine performance, unlike the wholly-electric SLS Electric Drive.

Previous notable (but non-production) electric-driven Nordschleife efforts include the Peugeot EX1 concept’s 9:01.338 lap in early 2011, which was smashed shortly after by the  7:47.794 lap of the Toyota-backed EV P001 prototype.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn