Is Porsche wrong for overdoing it?

Porsche takes the Nürburgring record from Xiaomi with a Taycan Turbo GT so extreme it no longer means much.

Porsche has officially reclaimed the record for series production electric cars at the Nürburgring from Xiaomi. Thanks to a Taycan Turbo GT equipped with the Weissach package and a Manthey kit specially developed for the German circuit, the brand achieved a time of 6’55”553 on the Nordschleife.

From a technical standpoint, it’s hard not to be impressed. The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT used for this record boasts an advanced aerodynamic arsenal: massive rear wing, specific chassis settings, optimized tires, and aerodynamic work inspired by motorsport. The Manthey kit almost transforms the electric sedan into a track-ready machine homologated for the road. And this is the problem, because in this guise, the poor Taycan, which is stunning in its civilian version, resembles a poor tuning exercise!

Does Porsche really need this?

This new battle between Porsche and Xiaomi also illustrates the limits of this electric timing war.

For several years now, Nürburgring records have primarily become marketing operations where each manufacturer comes back with an even more extreme version of its model. More downforce, more power, more semi-slick tires… and especially continually rising costs.

In the case of this Taycan Turbo GT, we are very far from a configuration that truly represents the daily life of drivers. Between the Weissach package and the Manthey kit, the car used to beat the Nürburgring record resembles more of a technological showcase in Frankenstein mode than an electric sedan.

And paradoxically, the most impressive advances in the world of electric cars may no longer be those achieved on the circuit.

Today, what truly changes drivers’ lives is the charging speed. Being able to recover 300 kilometers of range in just a few minutes becomes much more tangible than a time under seven minutes at the Nürburgring.

On this point, Xiaomi impresses tremendously with its 800 and 900-volt architectures capable of achieving very high charging powers. Porsche, on the other hand, can capitalize on a century of excellence, sporty comfort, and rich interiors. So why bother playing on Xiaomi’s turf?

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So the Nürburgring remains an incredible technological laboratory and a spectacular showcase for both Porsche and Xiaomi. But in 2026, the real electric revolution will likely play out more at charging stations than on the curves of the Nordschleife.

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