The BMW H2R set a total of nine new records for hydrogen-powered vehicles with a combustion engine. Its 12-cylinder engine with six-litre displacement produced over 210 kW/285 hp, enough to accelerate the prototype from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in approx. six seconds and on to a top speed of 302.4 km/h (187.88 mph).

These are the records posted by the BMW H2R prototype:

- 1 kilometre with a flying start: 11.993 seconds – 300.190 km/h (186.508 mph)
- 1 mile with a flying start: 19.912 seconds – 290.962 km/h (180.775 mph)
- ⅛ mile from a standing start: 9.921 seconds – 72.997 km/h (45.353 mph)
- ¼ mile from a standing start: 14.933 seconds – 96.994 km/h (60.262 mph)
- ½ kilometre from a standing start: 17.269 seconds – 104.233 km/h (64.760 mph)
- 1 mile from a standing start: 36.725 seconds – 157.757 km/h (98.014 mph)
- 10 miles from a standing start: 221.052 seconds – 262.094 km/h (162.839 mph)
- 1 kilometre from a standing start: 26.557 seconds – 135.557 km/h (84.222 mph)
- 10 kilometres from a standing start: 146.406 seconds – 245.892 km/h (152.77 mph)