The Nürburgring racetrack in Germany is adored and respected by gearheads from across the world — many drivers make a pilgrimage in their rides during track days. But the appeal of this wild track does not just end with drivers; it extends to automakers too. Carmakers have always used the Nordschleife circuit to test and develop new vehicles — from supercars to pickup trucks. The track has also been used to test the fastest SUVs around to ever run around it.
With many cars heavily relying on lap times to determine their performance levels, the Nürburgring lap time has become a valuable and trusted currency among carmakers and buyers. The following are the top ten fastest production cars around the Nürburgring.
10 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey-Racing – 6:43.300s
The GT2 RS is one of the best Porsche 911 models ever made, and it just brought home a new milestone after rounding the Nürburgring track in 6:43.300s this year. This new record made the GT2 RS the fastest production car around the Nordschleife circuit.
With a new performance kit from Manthey-Racing, the 911 GT2 RS received more modifications, including a thread chassis, magnesium wheels, and optimized brake system tailored to make it the best. Behind the wheel was the remarkable Lars Kern, who previously helped Porsche break several records at different venues.
9 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series – 6:43.616s
The Black Series is the most extreme AMG GT model ever built by the German marque. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is propelled by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with a massive 720 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, this coupe hits 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds while charging a top speed of 202 mph.
In October 2020, the Black Series showed an outstanding performance at the German racetrack. Driven by Maro Engel, the AMG GT Black Series lapped the Nürburgring-Nordschleife with an impressive 6:43.616s — to be precise, 1.36 seconds quicker than its previous record holder, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.
8 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ – 6:44.97s
In 2018, the SVJ helped Lamborghini reclaim its production car lap record at the Nürburgring after the Huracan Performante lost it to Porsche 911 GT2 RS in 2017. Wrestled along the track by the Lamborghini test driver Marco Mapelli, the track-focused Lamborghini SVJ later snatched Porsche's spot with a set time of 6:44.97s — which was less than three seconds faster than Porsche's 911 GT RS's 6:47.3s.
The Italian monster was pushed through the 12.94-mile track by a mind-numbing 6.5-liter V12 engine that cranked out a robust 760 horsepower and 720lb-ft of torque.
7 Porsche 911 GT2 RS – 6:47.3s
Over the years, Porsche 911 has earned its prowess as the ultimate sports car, and that winning streak continues with the latest GT2 RS. At the heart of Porsche's GT2 RS lies a turbocharged 3.8-liter powerhouse that produces a whopping 700 horsepower and accelerates from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds.
Back in 2017, in the hands of Porsche test driver Lars Kern, the GT2 RS recorded a lap time of 6:47.3 sec at the 'Ring, making it the fastest road-legal car at that time. What's more impressive was that it recorded all five flying laps under the 6min 50s marker — which would have been quick to steal Lamborghini's thunder.
6 Lamborghini Huracán Performante – 6:52.01s
As the name suggests, the Performante is a higher-performance version of the standard Lamborghini Huracán and a successor to the Gallardo Superleggera. It comes equipped with a vocal 5.2-liter V10 that puts out 631 horsepower and sprints from zero to 60mph in only 2.9 seconds.
In late 2016, driven by Lamborghini's test driver, Marco Mapelli, Lamborghini Huracán Performante set a new lap record for the fastest production car in 6:52.01s at the infamous German racetrack. Indeed, a beast on wheels, it dethroned the previous holder to the game by 4.39 seconds.
5 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) – 6:56.4s
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Porsche 911 GT3 RS is the third production Porsche sports car on this list, with a notarized lap time of less than seven minutes on the world's most demanding racetrack. Underneath its motorsport-bred chassis is a high-speed naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine that puts out 520 horsepower and accelerates from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds.
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Sitting behind the wheel, Porsche works race driver Kévin Estre performed well, setting a lap time of 6:56.4s which was 24 seconds faster than the Frenchman's best time with the previous GT3 RS.
4 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach – 6:57s
The 918 Spyder is first among the "Big Three" to post an official time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack. It comes equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 combined with two electric motors to put out a massive 875 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque. With this powertrain, the hybrid projects 0-60mph in blistering 2.5 seconds.
In 2013, with the famous Weissach Package and a skilled driver, the Porsche 918 Spyder made a jaw-dropping time of 6:57s, setting a new record for street-legal hypercars, beating some big names in the industry like the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari.
3 Lamborghini Aventador SV – 6:59s
While Italian bulls may be fast and powerful, the automaker never really invested in a dedicated race team or engineering a vehicle designed to break records. But in 2015, all that changed. The Lamborghini Aventador SV managed to post a sub-seven-minute lap time around the Nürburgring during a tire development test with Pirelli.
It set a lap time of 6:59.73s — which is about 3 seconds slower than the more expensive 918 hypercar. As a result, at that time, the 740 horsepower Aventador SV became the fourth-quickest production car on Nürburgring, after the Radical SR8 LM, Radical SR8, and Porsche 918 Spyder.
2 Ferrari 488 Pista – 7:00.03s
The Pista is a Ferrari that puts many supercars to shame. Powered by a potent 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8, it produces an impressive 710 horsepower and 770lb-ft of torque. The Pista makes a thrilling sound with this engine and accelerates from 0-60mph in an impressive 2.8 seconds.
Moreover, the lightweight supercar weighs 3053 lbs., 198 lbs. lighter than its sibling, the standard 488. Driven by the sport auto-Super test driver, Christian Gebhardt, the 488 Pista crossed the finish line with a lap time of 7:00.03s, making it one of the fastest production cars around the "Green Hell."
1 Dodge Viper ACR – 7:01.3s
In 2017, Dodge Viper ACR wrapped up a record-setting run with a lap time of 7:01.3s at the Nürburgring. Though at that time it was shy of making it to the sub-seven minute goal, Viper ACR concurred its previous lap time of 7:03.45s, making it the fastest street-legal Dodge Viper around the "Green Hell."
With a lap time of 7:01.3s, the Viper ACR got the fifth-fastest car overall on the 'Ring, falling just behind Lamborghini Aventador SV with a record of — 6:59.73s, beating competitors like Nissan GT-R Nismo and Mercedes-AMG GT R.