Bending Physics: Nevera sets new Guinness World Records™ Title – 275.74 Km/h in Reverse

In a year of Nürburgring lap record, over 20 newly set acceleration and braking records and notable drag race wins against top-tier motorsport machinery, the Rimac Nevera has conquered everything. The team broke records and went backwards to finish the year with fun.

In 1967, the Lamborghini Miura became the fastest production car in the world, using the full might of its V12 engine to become the first to nudge through the 270 km/h barrier. Fast forward several decades, and the Rimac Nevera has just achieved the same speed: backwards.

Witnessed by Guinness World Records and verified using data measured by Dewesoft, the Nevera now officially holds The Guinness World Records title for the fastest speed in reverse. Hosted at the Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany, the Nevera returned to the place where – earlier this year – it had broken more than 20 acceleration and braking records in a single day, as well as the site of its record-breaking top speed run to  412km/h.

Adorned in the exclusive Time Attack Edition livery, previously showcased during record-setting runs and limited to only 12 customers worldwide, the Nevera achieved an impressive top speed of 275.74 km/h.

Unlike an internal combustion engine car, or even some electric cars, the drivetrain of the Nevera has no gears – the four individual motors either go backwards or forwards. That means the same powertrain capable of delivering 0-160 km/h in 3.21 seconds or 0-320 km/h in just under 11 seconds forwards could also have similar earth-shattering performance travelling backwards.

Matija Renić Nevera Chief Program Engineer Bugatti Rimac commented on the milestone: “It occurred to us during development that Nevera would probably be the world’s fastest car in reverse, but we laughed it off. After all, the aerodynamics, cooling and stability hadn’t been engineered for travelling backwards at speed. But then, we started to talk about how fun it would be to give it a shot. Our simulations showed that we could achieve well over 241 km/h, but we didn’t know how stable it would be – we were entering unchartered territory.”

In July, at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Nevera set a 49.32 second time during the timed Supercar Shootout, making it the fastest production car to have taken on the famous hill climb. In August, the Nevera took to the Nordschleife to break the previous EV production lap record, beating it by 20 seconds on its debut at the famous and ever-challenging track.

The record-breaking lap, driven by Croatian racing driver Martin Kodrić, was undertaken using Michelin Cup 2 R tires and verified by independent timing data, TÜV SÜD and onboard telemetry.

The Rimac Nevera stands out as a genuinely exceptional electric hypercar, and its uniqueness lies in a combination of groundbreaking technology, record-breaking performance, and innovative engineering. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine cars, the Nevera’s drivetrain operates without gears, creating a seamless and relentless acceleration from a standstill.

The four individual motors, capable of propelling the car from 0-160 km/h in a mere 3.21 seconds, contribute to its extraordinary performance. Moreover, the Nevera’s ability to achieve a top speed of 275.74km/h in reverse, as evidenced by its recent Guinness World Records title, showcases its versatility and prowess.