Electric Nio EP9 sets new road-legal Nurburgring lap record

The all-electric Nio EP9 hypercar has broken the Nürburgring lap record set in 2009 by the Radical SR8LM.

Setting a time of 6minutes 45.90seconds, the EP9 broke the Radical's long-standing 'Ring record for a road-legal car by 2.1sec. Radical's time was 6m 48.0sec.

Nio previously set a lap time of 7:05.12 in October last year – almost 20 seconds slower than its latest record-breaking attempt – but still enough to place it sixth overall, as well as garnering it the accolade of the fastest electric vehicle around the Nordschleife.

It's still almost 35sec slower than Stefan Bellof's 6:11.13 –  the fastest ever Nürburgring lap by any car – set in 1983 from behind the wheel of a Porsche 956.

The EP9 has a power output of one megawatt; the equivalent to 1361hp, and a top speed of 312kph. The model can reach 100kph in 2.7sec and 200kph in 7.1sec.

In claiming the overall 'Ring record, the Nio has reaffirmed its electric 'Ring record, as well as snatching the four-wheel drive lap record for a road-legal production car.

Only 20 examples of the EP9 will be made, despite the company having previously capped production at six, at a cost to customers of $1.48million (around Rs 9.35 crore).