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In May 2026 a Manthey‑prepared Porsche Taycan Turbo GT lapped the Nürburgring in 6m 55.533s, a time that underlines how specialist tuning can reshape the performance ceiling for electric saloons. The run not only shaved a full 12 seconds off Porsche’s previous best for the model but also nudged the Taycan back ahead in the race to be the fastest electric executive car.
The car that posted the new benchmark is a Weissach‑equipped Taycan Turbo GT upgraded by Manthey, and it was driven by professional hot‑shoe Lars Kern. Manthey’s work focuses heavily on aerodynamics and systems optimisation rather than purely cosmetic changes, a point that matters to anyone watching how battery‑electric vehicles are being adapted for serious track use.
What Manthey changed
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Manthey’s package is billed as a “comprehensive aerodynamic update” and includes several targeted body and underbody revisions. The company also re‑calibrated electrical systems to lift on‑track performance rather than simply increasing peak numbers on paper.
- Aero upgrades: enlarged rear wing with bigger endplates, a revised front diffuser, a high‑performance rear diffuser with extended fins, and larger underbody air deflectors.
- Power and controls: battery, control unit and pulse inverter tuning that raise output to about 805bhp and deliver a modest torque increase.
- Track features: lighter 21‑inch wheels, enlarged brakes and increased use of exposed carbon‑fibre components.
- Attack Mode: a selectable overboost that delivers maximum power for a ten‑second burst on demand.
Those aerodynamic changes translate into a major step up in downforce. Compared with the standard Taycan the Manthey car produces roughly three times the vertical load: roughly 310kg at about 124mph, rising to around 740kg at 193mph. That additional grip is central to improving lap times at a place like the Nordschleife.
How the new time stacks up
The Nürburgring result eclipses Porsche’s earlier Weissach‑pack‑equipped effort by approximately 12 seconds and is some nine seconds quicker than the production‑spec Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, which briefly held the title of fastest electric executive car. In short: on this occasion Porsche, with Manthey’s help, has reclaimed that particular crown.
The headline figures in one place:
- Lap time: 6m 55.533s
- Improvement vs previous Taycan GT (Weissach): ~12 seconds faster
- Difference vs Xiaomi SU7 Ultra: ~9 seconds faster
- Peak power: ~805bhp
- Downforce: ~310kg at 124mph; ~740kg at 193mph
- Driver: Lars Kern
“The Manthey kit turns the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package into the ultimate track tool,” Kern said after the run, highlighting that the upgrades are aimed at extracting performance in demanding, high‑speed corners rather than just improving straight‑line speed.
The package is being offered to owners of Weissach‑spec Taycan Turbo GTs, which means these are not one‑off race conversions: buyers who already have the factory track‑oriented option can opt for Manthey’s enhancements if they want a more focused circuit car.
Why this matters now
Electric vehicles are increasingly part of the high‑performance arms race, and this result illustrates two trends. First, specialist tuners like Manthey are finding ways to exploit the electrical architecture of EVs for track performance. Second, manufacturers are tolerating—indeed collaborating with—third‑party upgrades that push production models closer to race cars.
For owners and enthusiasts the practical takeaway is straightforward: electric saloons can be radically improved for circuit work without losing their identity as road cars. For the industry, the lap underlines a growing ecosystem where factory options and aftermarket expertise combine to advance EV performance.
At the Nürburgring the margin between success and ordinary performance is measured in seconds and in engineering details. With Manthey’s aerodynamic and control‑system work, Porsche has shown that even subtle, technical changes can deliver a significant competitive advantage on the track.
