Most electric sedans are still chasing credibility on a racetrack. This one just ran 6:55.533 at the Nürburgring and took back the production EV lap record.
It did it with 1,019 hp, a factory-backed Manthey setup, and enough aero to look like a race car wearing plates. The real story is that Porsche is now selling speed like this from the factory.
Why this Taycan changes the EV performance script
I keep seeing EV brands talk about acceleration, but lap records are a different kind of proof. Porsche and Manthey brought the Taycan Turbo GT Weissach to the Green Hell, and the result was a statement lap that reset the conversation around electric performance sedans.
Here’s the catch: this wasn’t just a power bump. The record came from a package of aero changes, suspension tuning, brake upgrades, and chassis calibration that made the car faster everywhere, not just in a straight line.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package and Manthey Kit |
| Power | 1,019 hp with Launch Control |
| Torque | 936 lb-ft |
| Ring lap time | 6:55.533 |
| Record status | Production electric sedan lap record retaken from Xiaomi SU7 Ultra |
| Downforce | 1,631 pounds total |
| Base Taycan Turbo GT Weissach price | $243,700 |
The aero work is doing real heavy lifting
What Porsche and Manthey aren’t saying in a loud way is that the visual drama is only part of the story. The larger rear wing, revised diffusers, carbon wheel discs, and new vents are there to manage airflow, and the result is triple the downforce versus the base setup.
That matters because the Taycan is a heavy, fast EV trying to behave like a track weapon. Wider tires, lighter forged wheels, and additional brake hardware all help keep the car sharp when the speed builds and the corners stack up.
Xiaomi charged in, Porsche answered harder
The rivalry matters because Xiaomi briefly owned the headline with the SU7 Ultra, which set a 7:04.957 lap in 2026. Porsche answered with a 6:55.533, and that gap is not small when the competition is measured against one of the toughest tracks in the world.
That is the real story here. This is not Porsche reacting with a press release and a cosmetic package. It is Porsche using Manthey to turn an already absurd EV into a record-setting machine that also sends a warning to every new performance brand.
What the factory delivery changes
I think the most interesting part is access. For the first time, the Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package can be ordered directly from the factory with the Manthey Kit already installed.
That removes the old barrier between road car and specialist upgrade, even if pricing for the kit has not been revealed. And with a base Weissach already at $243,700, nobody should expect the package to be cheap. This is Porsche making a very expensive point, and making it easier to buy.
How it stacks up
| Model | Power | Lap Time | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Manthey | 1,019 hp | 6:55.533 | Factory-installed record hunter |
| Xiaomi SU7 Ultra | 1,500+ hp claimed | 7:04.957 | Short-lived electric sedan crown |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | 1,020 hp | Track-focused figures vary | Straight-line benchmark, less track focus |
| Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive | 740 hp | 6:50.000 | Historic outlier, still quicker overall |
Why this matters for the next EV war
The performance EV fight is moving beyond launch numbers and into credibility on real tracks. That pushes brands to engineer better cooling, better aero, and better chassis control instead of just chasing headline horsepower.
It also raises the bar for premium pricing. Buyers will keep paying for the fastest badge only if the hardware feels genuinely special, and Porsche just proved that the factory can still deliver that kind of prestige.
If electric performance sedans matter to you, this is the one to watch. I’d keep an eye on what Manthey does next, because this is the template for how Porsche plans to stay ahead.
The verdict
Porsche and Manthey have turned the Taycan Turbo GT into more than a fast EV; they have built a factory-supported record breaker with real track authority. That makes the car a direct threat to every brand trying to sell speed, especially those banking on hype over chassis development.
I see this as a major signal for the performance market in 2026. The next wave of electric halo cars will need more than brutal output, because Porsche just showed that lap times still decide who gets respected.
This is the standard now.
