A couple of days ago the Internet was set ablaze by the news we proudly admit to being the first to deliver: apparently, a Tesla Model S prototype with the upcoming “Plaid” drivetrain has simply mopped the floor with the Porsche Taycan Turbo Nurburgring time.
Contrary to Internet speculations, the Tesla time was achieved over the entire distance of 20.832 kilometers of the Nurburgring, not bridge-to-gantry.
Just like we mentioned in the original news article, Tesla went ahead and attempted an official lap record on Wednesday night, in the performance slot of the industry pool and with obviously a lot less traffic.
Both prototypes (red and blue car) had a go at it but without managing to improve the lap time set during the public track day. The red car was the fastest, with a hand-timed lap of 7:24 minutes, while the blue prototype only managed 7:40 minutes.
Our spy photographers on location say that the red Model S was again running the grippy Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport RS tires, which aren't yet available for retail but are road legal semi-slicks.
The interesting bit is that both prototypes seemed to have a completely stripped out interior, as you can see in some of the new photos. Apart from a safety cage, the dashboard and the driver's seat there doesn't seem to be much there.
Manhandling the fastest prototype is Thomas Mutsch, who has won the Nurburgring 24 Hours for the last three years. Another attempt to set a record should happen on Saturday this week, during the next industry pool.
According to sources, Tesla will stay at the Nurburgring for quite a while, testing both the Plaid drivetrain, which is set to debut in the Fall of 2020 and attempting an official lap record for a four-door electric car in the process.
More proof to support that is found in Elon Musk's latest announcement on Twitter, where he shows a Tesla Supercharger that has just been installed at the Nurburgring.
We installed a Supercharger at Nürburgring. Makes it feel like home, you know? pic.twitter.com/x1tPjI7bi0
Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News