Skip to main content

Koenigsegg will try again for a Nürburgring lap record

Koenigsegg Agera R
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Last year, Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg announced plans to set a lap record at the Nürburgring, the treacherous German racetrack that has become a yardstick for production cars. But speed limits imposed by the track’s management nixed that plan.

The speed limits were lifted last month, so Koenigsegg will try again. Preparations will begin soon, but that doesn’t mean a record-breaking lap will actually be attempted this year, a company blog post said. Koenigsegg still needs to find a driver and a car to use in the actual record attempt, apparently.

“We won’t be doing a lap record in the immediate term, but we will be there [emphasis original],” the blog post stated. Koenigsegg knows its cars will be spotted at the track, and doesn’t want people to make assumptions about what it is doing during what is expected to be months of prep time. The company has tried to be as transparent as possible when it comes to the Nürburgring, hoping this will help further legitimize any records it sets.

The speed limits that put an end to Koenigsegg’s previous record attempt were put in place after a crash during a race in March 2015 that killed a spectator. They restricted cars to 155 mph on certain sections of the track, but this turned out to only be a temporary measure. Track operator Capricorn made some safety modifications, including more barriers and new restrictions on where spectators can stand, and lifted the limits.

However, that means Koenigsegg essentially has to reset its record attempt. The company originally planned to set a record with the 1,341-horsepower One:1, but now all seven copies have been sold to customers. Koenigsegg says it will announce which car it will use at a later date, and is in the process of picking a driver too. Factory test driver Robert Serwanski will be on hand, but likely won’t make the record attempt.

The time Koenigsegg will have to beat is 6:57, set by the Porsche 918 Spyder in 2013. McLaren has claimed its P1 lapped the Nürburgring in under seven minutes as well, but has never released an actual time.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more