The Rimac Nevera has gained recognition as the fastest car in reverse. Rimac secured the acknowledgment from Guinness World Records as the Nevera achieved a speed of 171.34 miles per hour while moving backward. This achievement surpassed the prior record set more than two decades ago by a Caterham 7 Fireblade, which reached a speed of 102.58 mph.
The Nevera’s distinctive drivetrain played a crucial role in achieving this record. The electric vehicle is equipped with four custom permanent magnet, oil-cooled electric motors—one for each wheel. This setup enables the Nevera to seamlessly move in both forward and reverse directions with full power. Rimac has linked the front and rear wheels to a pair of single-speed gearboxes, resulting in a reverse speed faster than the Ford Mustang Dark Horse’s forward speed, which boasts a top speed of 161 mph.
The power system generates an astonishing 1,914 horsepower and 1,740 pound-feet of torque. These impressive figures result in some truly remarkable performance metrics. The electric vehicle can achieve 60 mph in a mere 1.74 seconds. It completes a quarter-mile race in just 8.25 seconds, reaching an impressive top speed of 258 mph (moving ahead).
Matija Renić, the lead engineer overseeing the Nevera’s development at Bugatti Rimac, mentioned that the team recognized the potential for the EV to be among the fastest cars in reverse during its creation. While the Nevera’s aerodynamics, cooling, and stability were not initially designed for such a scenario, simulations indicated that the car could attain speeds exceeding 150 mph in reverse.
The team couldn’t predict the stability factor. Goran Drndak, Rimac’s test driver, mentioned the driving encounter required adjustment but affirmed that Nevera handled it effortlessly. He ensured a steady car balance, smoothly steering to maintain course, and monitored braking points throughout the trial.
The remarkable achievement took place at the well-known ATP testing site in Papenburg, Germany. Earlier this year, the car manufacturer established 23 accomplishments at the location, one of them being the swiftest 0-249-0 miles per hour run. The Nevera accomplished this feat in 29.84 seconds, but the Koenigsegg Regera seized the title from Rimac a couple of months later with a time of 28.82 seconds.
This recent accomplishment is merely the most recent for the vehicle, which broke the Nurburgring lap record for the quickest production electric vehicle around the renowned circuit. It covered the track in 7 minutes and 5.298 seconds. In comparison, the Tesla Model S Track Pack required 7 minutes and 25.231 seconds for its performance. Additionally, it clinched the record for the speediest production EV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Source and Images: Motor1