Ford’s Electric Beast Shocks Nürburgring: SuperVan 4.2 Sets Blistering Lap Time
The Nürburgring Nordschleife—better known as the “Green Hell”—has long been the stage where automakers prove the worth of their fastest machines. From lightweight sports cars to hardcore supercars, the circuit is the ultimate benchmark. But this week, Ford returned to the legendary track with something no one could have predicted: not a Mustang, not a GT, but an electric van. And not just any van—the E-Transit SuperVan 4.2.
A Record-Breaking Run
Behind the wheel was Romain Dumas, a driver already known for taming monsters at Pikes Peak and Le Mans. His task: push a 2-ton, 2,000-horsepower electric van around the toughest circuit in the world. The result? A jaw-dropping lap time of 6 minutes 48.42 seconds.
That number is shocking when you consider that it puts the SuperVan ahead of some of the most respected production cars on Earth, including the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the Ford Mustang GTD, and even the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. For a vehicle whose silhouette still resembles a delivery van, this is nothing short of outrageous.
Prototype vs. Production Reality
Of course, context matters. The SuperVan 4.2 is not a showroom model you can buy. It’s a rolling prototype, engineered specifically to test the limits of Ford’s electric technology. With full slick competition tires, extreme aerodynamics, and no compromise for comfort or practicality, it’s essentially a race car in disguise. Comparing it to production sports cars is unfair—but it makes the achievement no less impressive.
What matters here is what it represents: the potential of electric powertrains to do things previously unimaginable. The sheer acceleration, the torque delivery, and the stability around corners showed that even a two-ton EV van can humiliate traditional track machines under the right conditions.
Inspiration from a Legendary Top Gear Moment
Ford’s decision to unleash the SuperVan on the Nürburgring wasn’t just about technology—it was about history. The project pays tribute to the late Sabine Schmitz, known as the “Queen of the Nürburgring.” In one of Top Gear’s most iconic episodes, she drove a standard diesel Ford Transit around the Green Hell in just over 10 minutes. It became a moment etched in motorsport entertainment, blending humor with genuine respect for the track.
Now, decades later, Ford has written a new chapter in that story. What started as a quirky TV stunt has transformed into a headline-grabbing engineering statement: EVs can be not only practical, but also blisteringly fast.
The Noise, The Spectacle, The Future
Ironically, while the SuperVan 4.2 roared with aerodynamic whooshes and tire squeals, its soundtrack divided fans. Some found it thrilling, others admitted they couldn’t watch the whole lap because the electric “whine” was too much. But that’s part of the conversation—the future of performance isn’t just about speed, it’s about how we experience it.
Still, one thing is clear: Ford didn’t just build an electric van. They built a statement. The SuperVan 4.2 is proof that EVs can shock, inspire, and even entertain in ways we never expected.
