Tesla has once again claimed the title for the fastest production electric vehicle (EV) lap at the renowned Nürburgring race track. Equipped with the highly anticipated Track package, the new Model S Plaid has cemented its dominance on this battleground previously contested by Porsche and Tesla.
The rivalry between the two automakers intensified when Porsche introduced its groundbreaking Taycan electric car to the Nürburgring in 2019, setting out to break records. Not to be outdone, Tesla CEO Elon Musk seized the opportunity to showcase the performance capabilities of the electric automaker’s latest offering on this iconic proving ground.
Early prototypes of the Model S Plaid were put to the test at the track, demonstrating impressive lap times. However, due to delays, the vehicle didn’t hit the market until two years later.
In 2021, Tesla brought the production version of the Model S Plaid to the Nürburgring and surpassed Porsche’s record with a remarkable lap time of 7 minutes and 35.579 seconds.
A year later, Porsche reclaimed the throne with its Taycan Turbo S, shaving off an additional two seconds from Tesla’s time. It’s worth noting that the Porsche utilized a specific “performance kit” to achieve this feat.
Tesla enthusiasts eagerly anticipated the moment when the company’s long-awaited “Track Package” would become available, allowing the Model S Plaid to potentially outshine its rivals.
Model S Plaid with track pack just set new lap record for a production EV at Nürburgring 💪 pic.twitter.com/jrUCkt95jw
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 3, 2023
As anticipated, Tesla recently made the brakes and tires package accessible to customers. Confirming the high expectations, Tesla announced that the Model S Plaid equipped with the Track package not only surpassed Porsche’s record but did so with a significant eight-second margin.
Beat previous record by >8 seconds! pic.twitter.com/BLtZV9WGYM
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 3, 2023
Upon the initial announcement of the Model S Plaid, Tesla boasted a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) for its flagship electric vehicle. However, the first deliveries last year fell short of that promise, featuring a top speed limited to 163 mph (262 km/h).
In response, Tesla introduced a “Track Mode” for the Model S Plaid in 2022, which pushed the top speed to 175 mph (282 km/h). It became evident that the brakes were the limiting factor preventing Tesla from unlocking higher speeds while ensuring the vehicle’s ability to decelerate effectively.
Although Tesla offered customers a brake upgrade with a carbon ceramic kit priced at $20,000 last year, the installation of these enhanced brakes on the Model S Plaid has yet to be implemented by the automaker.
