Tesla has reclaimed the manufacturing EV lap report on the well-known Nürburgring race observe with a brand new Mannequin S Plaid outfitted with the Observe bundle.
Nürburgring has been a preventing floor for Tesla and Porsche over the previous few years.
After Porsche introduced its brand-new Taycan electrical automobile to the Nürburgring racetrack to interrupt a report in 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk determined to make use of the well-known proving grounds for the electrical automaker’s personal newest efficiency automobile.
Tesla started testing early Model S Plaid prototypes at the track and achieved some spectacular lap occasions. Nonetheless, the automobile was delayed, and it didn’t launch till two years later.
In 2021, Tesla introduced its then brand-new manufacturing model Mannequin S Plaid to the Nürburgring observe and beat Porsche’s report with an impressive 7:35.579 lap.
A yr later, Porsche regained the quickest manufacturing EV lap on the observe with a Taycan Turbo S managing the shave 2 seconds off Tesla’s time.
Albeit technically a manufacturing automobile, the Porsche with a really particular “efficiency equipment” that helped it obtain this report.
Tesla was anticipated to have the ability to beat it when its personal long-delayed “Track Package” grew to become obtainable.
Certain sufficient, the brand new brakes and tires bundle is now obtainable and Tesla confirmed that it was in a position to beat the Nürburgring manufacturing EV report with a Mannequin S Plaid outfitted with the bundle:
It not solely beat Porsche’s report, however it did it by a major 8-second distinction.
Right here’s a video of the lap that did it:
When Tesla first introduced the Mannequin S Plaid, its new top-performance flagship electrical automobile, the automaker promised a high velocity of 200 mph (322 km/h). Nonetheless, when it was first delivered final yr, the automobile “solely” featured a high velocity of 163 mph (262 km/h).
Final yr, Tesla launched a new “Track Mode” for the Model S Plaid that pushed the highest velocity to 175 mph (282 km/h).
It appeared that the brakes had been the limiting issue. Tesla didn’t need to unlock increased high speeds with out the electrical supercar having larger brakes that will have the ability to gradual it down after attaining this new high velocity.
Tesla began to supply to improve the brakes with a carbon ceramic kit for $20,000 final yr, however the automaker has but to put in the brand new brakes on Mannequin S Plaid.
Final summer season, we reported on a Tesla Model S Plaid breaking a 200 mph top speed for the first time after being hacked by the proprietor to take away Tesla’s velocity limiter. It truly achieved a high velocity of 216 mph (348 km/h); it regarded prefer it might have gone quicker, however they had been operating out of tarmac and braking area – regardless of having upgraded the brakes themselves with third-party brakes.
Now Tesla’s personal ceramic brakes, new race tire, and wheel upgrades are all obtainable, Tesla is predicted to permit Mannequin S Plaid homeowners to unlock these capabilities underneath “observe mode”.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.