NextEV Supercar Does COTA Lap Autonomously (2 Minutes & 40.33 Seconds)

NextEV’s very impressive supercar, the NIO EP9, recently set a new “production car” lap record at the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin — completing the lap in just 2.11.30 — according to recent reports.

I put “production car” in quotes since I don’t know who the company thinks that it’s kidding — there were only 6 NIO EP9 supercars made, and they were only made available to major company investors.

Either way, though, impressive times. What’s probably more interesting, however, is that the NIO EP9 in question also did a lap completely autonomously in just 2.40.33 — only around a half minute or so slower than “good” drivers can manage.

https://twitter.com/NIOSocial/status/836223208894279680

Autoblog provides some background:

“The megawatt-producing, 1,342-horsepower EP9 accelerates to 124 mph in 7.1 seconds and it can go all the way to 194 mph. Its COTA top speeds were 170 mph with a driver and 160 mph autonomously. The manufacturer will introduce the supercar for the United States market next month in Austin. …

“Unveiled late last year, NextEV’s ambitious NIO EP9 electric supercar has been setting some impressive laptimes. The manufacturer says the EP9 is the fastest electric car in the world, with a 7:05.12 Nürburgring Nordschleife lap and a 1:52.78 Circuit Paul Ricard lap under its belt.”

Impressive when taken all together, but not of much meaning to the everyday lives of … really, anyone. Hopefully the company sets its eyes on offering an affordable electric SUV (~$30,000) or something like that. That’s what would be interesting to me — not another luxury offering like Faraday Future is planning to release.