Share Tweet Email Whatsapp

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.