The new Tesla Model S Plaid has set the fastest laptime for a production-spec EV at the Nurbürgring, according to company CEO Elon Musk.
According to Musk on twitter, the new 1006bhp range-topper lapped the 12.8-mile Nordschleife circuit in 7mins 30.909secs - 12 seconds quicker than the previous record lap set by the Porsche Taycan Turbo in 2019. The Tesla's average speed was 103mph.
Tesla Model S Plaid just set official world speed record for a production electric car at Nurburgring. Completely unmodified, directly from factory. pic.twitter.com/AaiFtfW5Ht
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2021
A modified Tesla Model S Plaid will now seek to cut that laptime further, with "added aero surfaces, carbon brakes and track tyres" among the enhancements suggested by Musk. He said Tesla does not need to be "in the loop" for this next attempt, suggesting it has partnered with a tuning company in the pursuit of setting more lap records.
The Plaid powertrain arrives as part of the most substantial update for the Model S since it went on sale in 2012. It is also available in the larger Model X SUV, which has also been refreshed for 2021.
The Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid take 1006bhp from a tri-motor electric powertrain, which in the Model S is good for a claimed 0-60mph time of 1.99sec, 0-155mph in a quarter of a mile and a 200mph top speed "with the right tyres," according to CEO Elon Musk.
The larger Model X Plaid needs 2.5sec to complete the 0-60mph sprint, but that still gives it the "quickest acceleration of any SUV".
However, the 1100bhp Plaid+ version of the Model S, which would have bumped range up from an estimated 390 miles to more than 520 miles (on the US EPA test) - more than any EV currently in production - and further cut the 0-60mph time, has been officially cancelled.
Taking to Twitter earlier this year ahead of the Plaid's launch, Musk said: "Plaid+ is canceled. No need, as Plaid is so good."
He called the standard Plaid the "quickest production car ever made of any kind" and confirmed a sub-2.0sec 0-60mph sprint time. To officially claim that title, the Model S Plaid will need to beat the new Rimac Nevera hypercar's 1.85sec 0-62mph time.
Model S goes to Plaid speed this week
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 6, 2021
The Plaid+'s cancellation came following a month of speculation, since Tesla quietly stopped taking pre-orders for the 2022 model in May. It hasn't been publicly disclosed how many customers had placed deposits.
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That was already the quickest lap for an EV, but the Tesla was ready to put in an even quicker lap when all of a sudden Autopilot saw a parked emergency vehicle and immediately crashed into it....
Sorry the Telsla Model S 1006bhp Tartan edition is faster than a 751 bhp Porsche Taycan, wow thats like saying A VW Golf R is faster than a Ford Focus 1.0 ecoboost. I am fairly certain if Porsche decided to turn the power up to match, the story would be very different. I wonder if he will be as smug once the Lotus Evija gets released.