Running at an average speed of 40 mph — barely above the 37-mph track minimum — the company was not attempting to set a fastest time, but rather a mpg record.
With an estimated electric-only range of 11 miles, the Prius plug-in would likely have completed the 12.9-mile circuit without using any fuel if it had been flat. The 1,000-foot elevation change, and one long climb in particular, caused the engine to briefly start and consume approximately five tablespoons of gasoline.
Driver Joe Clifford completed the lap in 20 minutes and 59 seconds, achieving an average of 698 mpg thanks to the 1.3 kWh battery pack that provided most of the power needs.
Toyota does have a faster history with electric vehicles at the Nurburgring, setting a 2011 record for EVs with the TMG EV P001. The company returned in 2012 with the TMG EV P002 and lapped the ‘Ring in 7:22.329, 25 seconds quicker than the previous model and slightly faster than a Corvette Z06 lap at the time.
“In a neat link to the record-breaking exploits of the EV P002, the battery cells from that car were used to power up the Prius Plug-in, via Toyota Motorsports’ charging truck,” the company notes.
Leave a Reply