New Delhi

The Rimac Nevera's reign as the fastest electric vehicle has come to an end. The newly developed SP600, created by the Japanese technology company Aspark, has now claimed the title of the world's fastest electric vehicle.

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On a recent Saturday, this endurance-style hypercar achieved an astonishing top speed of 438.7 km/h. This remarkable feat surpassed the Croatian competitor by more than 26 km/h. The record-breaking run took place at the same proving ground in Papenburg, Germany, where the Nevera had previously set its own record in 2022. It's worth noting that the Nevera had also established 23 other electric vehicle speed records in a single day at this very location last year.

Behind the wheel of the SP600 was professional driver Marc Basseng, a winner of the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. Basseng is no stranger to high-speed achievements, having set a record lap at the Nürburgring in 2010 while driving a Pagani Zonda R. For those curious about the experience of driving at such extreme speeds, a video captured from inside the car during the record-breaking run is available for viewing.

The Aspark SP600 is a production-intent prototype that draws its inspiration from the Owl, a hypercar with a price tag of 2.9 million euros. The SP600 is manufactured in Italy by Manifattura Automobili Torino (M.A.T.), a company that also handled the virtual and physical testing of the vehicle, as well as wind tunnel optimisations to enhance its aerodynamic performance.

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To achieve its record-breaking speed, the SP600 rides on specially designed Bridgestone Potenza Race tires. In a nod to aerodynamic efficiency, the vehicle does not have side mirrors, which means it is not yet street-legal. The powertrain of the SP600 is truly impressive, featuring four electric motors that collectively produce a staggering 1,984 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. This immense power allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 1.7 seconds, a truly mind-boggling feat.

While the Aspark SP600 now holds the title for the fastest electric vehicle, it's important to note that it is not the overall fastest road-going car in the world. That honour still officially belongs to the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, which achieved a top speed of 490.5 km/h in 2019. However, the competition for the title of the world's fastest car continues to heat up. Both Koenigsegg and Hennessey have plans to challenge this record later in 2024 with their respective models, the Jesko Absolut and the Venom F5.