The Nürburgring document for American vehicles was final effectively and actually set by Chevrolet’s Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Who did Chevy snatch the document from? Ford’s Mustang GTD. So it was solely a matter of time earlier than Ford got here again for vengeance. However I don’t assume many individuals would have put cash on a Ford Transit.
That’s proper – the identical cargo van you’d often see hauling items.
Besides, this explicit Transit that Ford simply lapped Nürburgring Nordschleife on was no odd Transit. Ford calls it the Transit SuperVan 4.2, and it shares nearly nothing with its namesake. For starters, it’s an all-electric van that produces practically 2,000 horsepower, having already damaged information at legendary venues like Bathurst and Pikes Peak.
Supervan 4.2 Nürburgring lap – 6:48.393 | Ford Efficiency
The SuperVan accomplished a timed lap of the Nürburgring and got here out completely smashing the Inexperienced Hell document with a time of 6:48.393. Which, by the best way, is the eighth all-time quickest lap in any automobile ever.
It took the document off the C8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X’s fingers, which clocked at 6:49.275. That was only some seconds sooner than the mighty Mustang GTD‘s lap time of 6:52.072 with Dirk Muller behind the wheel.
Romain Dumas was the motive force behind the blazing run. Dumas, as everyone knows, is not any stranger to the Nürburgring; he additionally drove the Volkswagen ID.R, which set the quickest lap by an EV in 2019.
Ford
“We’re very happy with our exceptional SuperVan, however we by no means relaxation,” mentioned Ford. “There’s extra to come back, not least with the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck that was additionally on the Ring on the identical day. For now, we’ll rejoice this achievement and likewise bear in mind Sabine Schmitz and her half on this wonderful story. She’s going to by no means be forgotten.”
The SuperVan 4.2 is an evolution of the identical title, which first appeared in 1971 with a moderately radical design. The second era debuted in 1984, adopted by the third in 1993, which got here with an F1 engine. After a spot of virtually 20 years, Ford unveiled the SuperVan 4 in 2022 as a 2,000-horsepower EV, which quickly after developed into the 4.2 after tweaks to its general weight and energy.
As spectacular as this feat is, take into account that the SuperVan isn’t a manufacturing automobile. It’s a customized race automobile with slick tires that occurs to be formed like a van. So, you may’t actually examine it to the likes of the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X and Mustang GTD, which accomplished their official laps with road-legal tires.
Ford
Now I get it – the thought of a monstrously quick, high-flying industrial van sounds fanciful, however the SuperVan is not meant for manufacturing. It serves as a testomony to Ford’s EV ambitions, with applied sciences developed for the idea being transferred to Ford’s next-generation electrical automobiles.
Supply: Ford
