TESLA MODEL S PLAID RECAPTURES EV LAP RECORD AT THE RING

A Tesla Model S Plaid with the recently unveiled Track Package has officially reclaimed its spot atop the Nürburgring lap time list for electric vehicles, besting the Porsche Taycan Turbo S in the process.

Thanks to a video uploaded to the brand’s social channels over the weekend, we can watch as a Tesla Model S Plaid sets an official lap of the Nordschleife in just 7 minutes 25.231 seconds. That’s a mighty feat, smashing the Porsche’s standing record of 7:33.35. What’s even more impressive is the fact that this run was more than 10 seconds faster than the Model S Plaid’s initial record-setting run back in 2021. At that time, a yoke-equipped Model S Plaid posted a time of 7:35.579.

The Track Package certainly played a role in the improvement, bringing important upgrades such as carbon-ceramic brakes with track-ready fluid, a unique set of wheels and tires, and software that fully unlocks the car’s 200-mph top speed. That means while standard Plaid models are limited to 166 mph, this car managed hit speeds as high as 179.5 mph during the lap. It probably didn’t hurt that Tesla decided to equip this car with a proper steering wheel ahead of the second record attempt either.

The Tesla Model S Plaid is a potent machine with or without the track package. The car is bolstered by a tri-motor powertrain which provides 1020 horsepower and 1050 lb-ft of torque, as well as all-wheel drive. Despite that performance on offer, the Plaid’s 100 kWh battery allows it to travel up to 348 miles per charge according to the EPA. The Taycan in comparison is a much less powerful car, currently offering only 671 hp in Turbo S spec. That said, don’t expect this battle to come to a rest any time soon. The two EVs are edging very close to the overall sedan record at the ring, which is a 7:23 set by the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S.

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2023-06-05T15:04:03Z dg43tfdfdgfd