The Toyota Prius TRD Just Clocked A Nurburgring Record

Yes, you read that correctly, the Toyota Prius is now a bona fide Nurburgring record holder. But, it’s not a record based on time and speed, it’s based on fuel economy. The Prius you can see in these images - the same car that was festooned in TRD bits by Toyota GB recently - has gone round the Nurburgring and averaged an incredible 698mpg.

The plan was to give the car a full charge, and send it round for a lap driven carefully enough that the engine kicks in as little as possible, if at all. Of course, driving 12.9 miles (the length of the Nordschliefe) in day-to-day driving would normally be perfectly achievable with the Prius’ electric only range, however, it wouldn’t be simple here. Firstly, a lap of the Nurburgring will see you netting an economy-sapping 1000-foot elevation gain, and secondly, with a 60km/h (37mph) minimum average speed rule for anyone taking part in public sessions at the ‘Ring, the driver wouldn’t be able to just trundle around the circuit.

With motoring journalist Joe Clifford behind the wheel, the Prius clocked a leisurely lap of 20 minutes and 59 seconds at an average of 43mph. The engine kicked in only once, using about five tablespoons of fuel in the process, and giving an absurd fuel economy figure of 698mpg. It’s the first time a record of this kind has been set, and we’re expecting it to be difficult to beat.