Mercedes-AMG is no stranger to chasing records, yet it might have just outdone even itself. The Concept AMG GT XX just circled the globe virtually in just over a week. In the process of setting that record, it smashed 24 others as well. There’s no doubt about it. The AMG.EA platform just proved that it’s not just good for short bursts. It’s capable of long-haul dominance.

At the heart of the GT XX is a trio of axial-flux motors paired with a directly cooled high-performance battery. This is the same kind of tech that AMG says will underpin production cars starting next year. The concept delivers more than 1,360 hp (1,000 kW) and can sustain triple-digit speeds for days. That’s not hyperbole – it’s a certified fact now.

More: Only Two Of These Ferraris Exist And One Just Shattered Records

Essentially, this car circled Germany’s Nardo circuit for 7.5 straight days, only stopping to charge back up. Mercedes brought two GT XX prototypes, and the pair racked up 3,177 laps of the 7.87-mile (12.68 km) track during the record attempt. In the process, they set records for the furthest distance traveled by an EV over 12-168 hours and the fastest EV to go 2,000-40,075 km.

Key EV Distance Records

Inspired by Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eight Days,” Mercedes actually beat that figure. 40,075 km is the distance around the globe at the equator. The AMG GT XX went that far in just 7 days, 13 hours, and 24 minutes. That means that on average, during that time, it was going 137 mph, including when it was stopped to charge.

Of course, that was only possible because of the engineering on tap here. Charging at 850 kW is something only concept cars can do right now, but it enabled the AMG GT XX to add 249 miles (400 km) of range in five minutes.

The axial motors also provide more power density, and Mercedes used F1-inspired direct battery cooling to ensure nothing got too hot. That’s key because Mercedes reports track conditions of 35°C (95°F) at times. While we don’t expect to see EVs keeping up with ICE cars in endurance races anytime soon, this is a big step in that direction.

Time-Based Records – Distance Covered

A new chapter in electric motor design may be underway, and it’s being written in the UK. Yasa Motors, based in Britain and owned by Mercedes, has developed a new electric motor that sets a new benchmark for power density. While there’s no official timeline for production yet, it’s a safe bet that upcoming Mercedes-Benz EVs will be among the first to take advantage of the breakthrough.

The numbers read like something out of a science fiction novel. Yasa claims that the electric motor weighs just 13.1 kg (28.8 lbs), yet it produces a remarkable 738 hp, a figure we usually associate with supercars. That easily outperforms the Equipmake HPM-400 motor from Australia, which is considered the most power-dense in the world, delivering 536 hp and weighing in at a much heftier 40 kg (88 lbs).

Read: This Concept EV Will Morph Into An AMG Super Sedan You Can Buy

Yasa’s new motor also makes the Dark Matter electric motor presented by Koenigsegg a couple of years ago seem relatively portly. That motor weighs in at 39 kg (86 lbs) and produces 800 hp and 921 lb-ft (1,250 Nm) of torque. It’s set to debut in the Gemera, but the contrast in weight suggests a shift in how high-performance EV components are engineered.

Speaking with Autocar, Yasa revealed that its new industry-leading motor does not contain any exotic materials like cobalt-iron laminations and litz wire. “What we’ve achieved here is not just a number – it’s a demonstration of scalable, production-ready innovation that raises the bar for electric motor design. And the most exciting part? We’re just getting started,” said Tim Woolmer, Yasa’s CTO and founder.

Yasa Motors Headed for the Road

The most recent car to premiere with Yasa motors is the Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept. It uses three axial flux motors to deliver more than 1,341 hp (1,000 kW) and will soon spawn a production model. Yasa also supplies Lamborghini with electric motors, including the Revuelto and most recently, the Temerario, the successor to the Huracan.

That setup uses two axial flux motors on the front axle, each producing 148 hp (110 kW) and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm), and weighing 17.3 kg (38 lbs) apiece. Impressive, but still overshadowed by the output-to-weight ratio of Yasa’s latest design.

Porsche has already set plenty of speed records with its EVs, including a 1 minute 33.8-second lap of Road Atlanta achieved last month by a Taycan Turbo GT. But the latest ride from Weissach to set a record did it while moving around half as quickly as that Taycan – just 57 mph.

The record-setting EV in this case wasn’t a Taycan or any Porsche electric road car, but it is equipped with the same duel-motor powertrain you’ll find in the brand’s Macan Turbo Electric. It’s the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom sports boat and it just wasted a field of rivals at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

Related: Porsche’s Latest EV Is A $600,000 Boat With A 536 HP Macan Turbo Powertrain

Measuring 8.67 m (341.3 inches) long, the wheelless Porsche is the result of a joint venture between the Stuttgart sports car company and Austrian boat builder Frausche. It pairs the hull shape of Frausche’s 858 Fantom with the motor setup and battery from the hottest Macan EV.

Compared with the SUV, which claims 577 hp (584 PS / 430 kW) in normal use and up to 630 hp (639 PS / 470 kW) with launch control overboost, the boat is slightly less potent. It makes 536 hp (544 PS / 400 kW), and while the Macan can hit 162 mph (260 km/h), the boat maxes at around 56 mph (90 km/h / 49 kn) in Sport Plus mode. That’s what Porsche’s spec panel says, at least, though the Fantom averaged 57 mph (92 km/h / 50 kn) in the Monaco race which takes an average of two 1 km (0.6 miles) runs.

Range is another area in which the boat has to give second best to the Macan. It’s good for just 62 miles (100 km) at slow speed and 28 miles (45 km) at its optimal 26 mph (41 kmh / 22 kn) cruising speed, whereas the SUV can go for 367 miles (590 km) per the WLTP cycle.

The record-setting Oakgreen Metallic Fantom was what Frausche calls a Runabout, meaning it has a classic look with the close foredeck and cabin below. But buyers also have the option of speccing the boat in Air configuration, which brings a center-mounted wheel and open lounge area at the front. It looks stunning but so it should: at €571k ($664k) it costs around five times more than a Macan Turbo Electric.

Porsche

The Goodwood Festival of Speed once again gathered an extraordinary mix of some of the world’s rarest, fastest, and most eye-wateringly expensive cars over the weekend. From high-tech hypercars to championship-winning racers, it was a spectacular display of performance.

Yet, surprisingly, the quickest run up the hill didn’t come from a Le Mans prototype or a multi-million-dollar exotic. Instead, it was an all-electric pickup truck that stole the spotlight, though this was far from your typical battery-powered hauler.

Read: Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck Has Three Motors And 1400+ HP

The vehicle in question is Ford’s insane F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. Unveiled in mid-2024, it quickly took out top honors at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and this past weekend, experienced racing driver Romain Dumas jumped behind the wheel to tackle the Goodwood hillclimb. Last year, he piloted the Ford SuperVan 4.2 to victory, setting a blistering time of 43.98 seconds.

Ford’s SuperTruck Delivers a Blistering Run

Ford’s SuperTruck proved to be even quicker. During his final run of the weekend, Dumas set a time of 43.23 seconds. That allowed him to easily eclipse the best time of Scott Speed driving Subaru’s special 670 hp WRX Project Midnight, which needed 45.03 seconds to run up the hillclimb.

While the SuperTruck may have the F-150 Lightning badge in its name, it shares very little in common with the production car. A trio of electric motors allows it to pump out upwards of 1,600 hp. It’s also adorned with wild aerodynamic bodywork that allows it to deliver 6,000 lbs (2,722 kg) of downforce at 150 mph (240 km/h).

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Production Car Record

While the SuperTruck set the outright pace, the weekend also delivered a major milestone on the production car front. Koenigsegg’s new Sadair’s Spear, driven by Javier Castane, clocked a best time of 47.14 seconds. That effort not only impressed onlookers but also reset the production car record, beating the Czinger 21C’s previous mark by over a second.

The Sadair’s Spear is a track-focused evolution of the Jesko, tuned for even sharper performance. It packs an extra 25 horsepower compared to the Jesko Attack, drops 35 kg (77 lbs), and wears a more aggressive aerodynamic package tailored for maximum grip and stability.

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Rimac and world records go together like jelly and peanut butter. Two years after the Nevera set 23 performance records in a single day, the Croatian brand has outdone itself yet again, this time setting world records in 24 categories with the Nevera R. Th flagship version of the all-electric hypercar was unveiled last year with more power and aero and less weight.

Read: 1,989 HP Rimac Nevera R Is Harder, Faster, Lighter And Limited To 40 Units

Perhaps the most important record of all was the sprint to 0-400-0 km/h (0-249-0 mph). The original Nevera had held this record at 29.93 seconds, snatching it away from the Koenigsegg Agera RS that set a time of 31.49 seconds back in 2019. However, last year, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut snatched this record away from the Nevera, setting a time of 27.83 seconds.

Nevera R Takes the Crown Back

Now, the Nevera R is the 0-400-0 km/h king with a blistering time of 25.79 seconds. That’s 2.04 seconds quicker than the Jesko and beats the standard Nevera by 4.14 seconds. Additionally, the R beat out the Nevera’s 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 1.74 seconds, completing the sprint in 1.66 seconds and 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.72 seconds.

The records don’t stop there. The Nevera R ran from 0-100 mph (160 km/h) in 2.96 seconds, an improvement of 0.25 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 3.95 seconds, (0.47 seconds faster), and did the 0-300 km/h (0-186 mph) run in just 7.89 seconds, or 1.33 seconds quicker than before. It also takes the Nevera R just 17.35 seconds to run from 0-400 km/h (0-250 mph), which is a massive 3.96 seconds quicker than the standard car.

Rimac’s new Nevera R also set a new EV top speed record, hitting an impressive 268.2 mph or 431.45 km/h.

Where the Extra Speed Comes From

Whereas the standard model delivers 1,888 hp from its four electric motors, the Nevera R ups that to 1,989 hp. It also weighs 35 kg (77 lbs) less, comes standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and produces 15 percent more downforce thanks in part to a large rear wing.

“When we first introduced Nevera it almost seemed like the pinnacle of hypercar performance had been reached,” Mate Rimac said. “In a single generation, we had created a performance jump that previously would have taken decades. But now, through relentless innovation, Nevera R goes even faster, while still maintaining much of the comfort and practicality that makes the Nevera a real, useable daily car.”

Range anxiety and electric vehicles go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, the situation has been improving thanks to new battery technology and growing charging infrastructure

Those are welcome developments, but how far can an EV really take you? A whopping 748.8 miles (1,205 km) in the case of the Lucid Air Grand Touring.

More: Lucid Promised Luxury But All This Owner Got Was Regret And Nightmares

That’s a remarkable distance, and it recently set a new Guinness World Records title for the “longest journey by an electric car on a single charge.” The record-breaking feat was achieved last weekend when an Air traveled between St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Munich, Germany without stopping to recharge. That makes the record even more impressive as the trip included a mix of alpine passes, highways, and secondary roads.

Lucid beat the previous record by 99.4 miles (160 km), and the company’s chief engineer noted it’s a “significant milestone” and “another clear demonstration of the technological edge that defines Lucid.” Eric Bach went on to say, “Lucid products combine world class vehicle efficiency with the most advanced drive units, ultra-high voltage architecture, and battery management technology available today.”

Speaking of the powertrain, the Euro-spec Air Grand Touring has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces 820 hp (611 kW / 831 PS) and 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).

Powering all that is a 117 kWh battery pack, which provides a WLTP range of 596.5 miles (960 km). This means the record-breaking car exceeded that figure by an impressive 152.2 miles (245 km).

Photos Lucid

Xiaomi clearly isn’t content with simply being one of the fastest cars to ever lap the Nurburgring. It just went and made that record even faster. Less than a year after securing a top-five finish for its prototype and taking the number one spot for production electric cars, the company returned for another round. This time, not only did the team succeed, but they shaved nearly 24 seconds off their previous time at the hands of driver David Pittard.

Read: Xiaomi SUV’s Tesla-Beating Pricing Sparks Frenzy With 289,000 Orders In An Hour

For reference, that record was 6:46.87 for the SU7 Ultra prototype. If you’re scratching your head a bit, don’t worry; it’s not just you. Xiaomi has been setting separate record times for both the prototype SU7 and the production version of the same car, which can certainly make things a little tricky to follow.

The production car arguably has an even more impressive record, despite going slower (7:04.957) because it’s the sole leader in the production EV category. To achieve that, it beat the Porsche Taycan and none other than the Rimac Nevera. Yes, the bonkers hypercar was slower than this four-door Chinese sedan. All of that said, this new prototype record is no joke.

The New Record: 6:22.091

The not-for-sale stripped-down SU7 Ultra managed a 6:22.091 lap. That usurps the Lotus Evija X prototype that did it in 6:24.04. Now, the SU7 Ultra sits in third place, and that’ll likely be where it stays. Bumping the second-place finisher, the VW ID.R down would mean going faster than 6:05.33. First place is out of reach for just about everyone. That’s the record set by Timo Bernhard of 5:19:546.

Special Editions: Track Package and Nurburgring Edition

Still, Xiaomi’s performance here is deserving of praise, provided everything is above board. That said, the brand is celebrating the new record with two new special editions. The first, simply called the Track Package, will cost 100,000 yuan (approximately US$13,950 at current exchange rates). It adds a track-grade high-power battery pack, upgraded cooling, optimized brakes, Nurburgring-tuned suspension components, and a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h).

An even more exclusive version is on the way, dubbed the Nürburgring edition. This special model comes with unique underbody panels, a new roll cage replacing the rear seats, and aerodynamic tweaks on the exterior to set it apart from the rest of the SU7 lineup.

Priced at 814,900 yuan in China (around $114,000), Xiaomi will produce just 10 examples for 2025, with total production capped at 100 to “ensure exclusivity.” Sure, that’s a hefty sum no matter where you are, but the level of performance you’re getting in return is undeniably impressive.

Under the slinky Porsche-esque design, you’ll find three electric motors that make a combined 1,527 hp (1,138 kW) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque. It’s one thing for a brand to claim that it’s capable of building fast cars and a very different thing to put hypercar makers on notice.

Credit: Nurburgring

Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT is on a mission to claim back some bragging rights in the electric car arena. After Xiaomi’s recent announcements about snatching the record at the Nurburgring and Shanghai, Porsche has wasted no time making sure its own electric sedan gets the spotlight.

Also: There’s A Porsche Program Even Rarer Than Paint To Sample

Last month, the all-electric sedan was taken to Road Atlanta and, with Patrick Long behind the wheel, set a storming best lap of 1:27.15. That easily toppled the Taycan Turbo S that had once held the EV record, and proves just how focused the Turbo GT is.

For the record run, Porsche used a Taycan Turbo GT with the optional Weissach Package, which removes the rear seats, transforming the four-door sedan into a four-door two-seater. The car was also fitted with ultra-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS NF0 performance tires developed specifically for it.

In recording a best lap of 1:27.15, the Turbo GT smashed the Turbo S’s previous record of 1:33.88 by a massive 6.73 seconds – an age around a circuit. Porsche says the lap was recorded with the tire pressures set at 37 psi, the battery charged at 97%, and most of the track dry, although there were a few damp patches.

The Taycan Turbo GT is still some way off the production car lap record of 1:22.80 set by the new 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 earlier this year, but no one in their right mind would expect an electric sedan to get close to that. The Taycan’s time is a little closer to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS’s 2019 1:24.88 run, which, at the time, was a record. Porsche’s EV also came close to upsetting the 991 GT3 RS which has posted a 1:26.24 lap at the same track.

Speaking after the record run, Long said, “I expected the steering feel, connection, and feedback, but I didn’t expect how powerful the Active Ride suspension would be in counteracting pitch, roll, and squat.”

Read: Porsche Orders UK Dealers To Stop Selling Some Taycans

Earlier this year, the Taycan Turbo GT set a new EV lap record at Interlagos and, in 2024, did the same at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca track and the Shanghai International Circuit. It also previously held a record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

However, in recent months, Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra has snatched away the Taycan’s records in Shanghai and at the ‘Ring. It seems like Porsche is not happy with the Chinese stealing the limelight and is on a mission to show just how quick the Taycan can be.

Breaking speed records isn’t just reserved for hypercars these days. Xiaomi, better known for smartphones than for chasing lap times, caught out attention last year when a prototype of its SU7 electric sedan clocked a 6:46.874 at the Nurburgring. Now it’s back with something more official. The production version has secured the title of fastest electric vehicle at the Green Hell, posting a verified lap time of 7:04.957.

More: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Smashes Taycan Turbo GT’s Lap Record At Shanghai Circuit

Despite being a full 18 seconds slower than the stripped-out prototype that came with more aggressive aero, the production Xiaomi SU7 Ultra was faster than the Rimac Nevera hypercar (7:05:298) and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (7:07:55).

Faster Than a Rimac. Yes, Really

While the new time is a full 18 seconds slower than the earlier prototype run, which featured stripped-out weight savings and more aggressive aerodynamics, the production SU7 Ultra still managed to outpace all the heavy hitters. It not only beat the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT’s time of 7:07.55, but also edged out the Rimac Nevera, which previously clocked a 7:05.298.

Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed who was behind the wheel for the Nurburgring run, but it did clarify that the car used was a production-spec model fitted with the optional track package.

CEO Lei Jun added that this won’t be the last we see of Xiaomi at the ‘Ring, suggesting the company is settling in for the long haul. To back it up, Xiaomi released an onboard video of the lap, which was also picked up by the official Nurburgring website and YouTube channel.

The video shows that the EV reaching 345 km/h (214 mph) on the long straight, just shy of its claimed top speed of 350 km/h (218 mph). Powering that performance is a tri-motor setup delivering a combined 1,527 hp (1,138 kW or 1,548 PS) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque. That’s enough to send the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in just 1.89 seconds.

More: Xiaomi’s First SUV Looks Like A Ferrari But It’s Priced Like A Tesla

Interestingly, SU7 Ultra owners don’t get the full 1,527 hp right out of the box. By default, the car delivers around 888 hp (900 PS or 662 kW). To unlock the rest, drivers need to complete a qualifying lap on a Xiaomi-approved track. The car’s onboard Qualifying Mode logs and verifies the lap time, proving whether the driver can handle the extra power.

Hypercar Numbers, Mid-Range Price

Despite offering performance and specs that rival hypercars, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is surprisingly affordable. The performance flagship starts at ¥529,000 (about $73,600) in China, making it significantly less expensive than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which starts at ¥1,998,000 ($278,000) locally.

Xiaomi