Moment Tesla's Model S Plaid sets world speed record for production EVs

Moment Tesla’s Model S Plaid sets world speed record for production EVs as it knocks 11 seconds off previous Nürburgring track fastest time in Germany

  • Tesla’s Model S Plaid set a new world speed record at Germany’s  Nürburgring Nordschleife track, which is 13 miles long
  • The Model S Plaid finished a lap in  seven minutes and 35.579 seconds
  • The previous best time was seven minutes and 42 seconds by a Porsche Taycan Turbo in 2019
  • The Model S Plaid was  ‘completely unmodified, directly from factory,’ according to Elon Musk, when it raced around the track Thursday


Elon Musk announced Thursday that a ‘completely unmodified, directly from factory’ Tesla Model S Plaid set a new world speed record for production electric cars.

The Model S Plaid completed a full lap on Germany’s 13-mile-long Nürburgring Nordschleife track in seven minutes and 35.579 seconds.

The time surpasses the previous best of seven minutes and 42 seconds that was recorded by a Porsche Taycan Turbo in 2019.

The German track is a destination for car makers to test the performance of new vehicles against competitors.

With Musk’s comment that the tri-motor 1,020 horsepower red sedan was unmodified suggests it only included stock tires.

However, the CEO plans to test a modified Model S Plaid on the track that will boast ‘aero surfaces, carbon brakes & track tires.’ 

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Elon Musk announced Thursday that a ‘completely unmodified, directly from factory’ Tesla Model S Plaid set a new world speed record for production electric cars. The Model S Plaid completed a full lap on Germany’s 13-mile-long Nürburgring Nordschleife track in seven minutes and 35.579 seconds

Elon Musk announced Thursday that a ‘completely unmodified, directly from factory’ Tesla Model S Plaid set a new world speed record for production electric cars. The Model S Plaid completed a full lap on Germany’s 13-mile-long Nürburgring Nordschleife track in seven minutes and 35.579 seconds

Musk, along with Tesla’s lead designer, Franz von Holzhausen, introduced the near $130,000 car earlier in June, proudly sharing it goes zero to 60 in under two seconds.

However, to achieve the top speed of 200mph, drivers need ‘proper wheels and tires’ for an undisclosed additional cost, which according to the website, will not be available until fall 2021.

‘Faster than Porsche but safer than Volvo,’ Musk said during the event livestream.

And following Thursday’s test, Musk’s statement seems to be correct.

The Model S Plaid whipped around the windy road, with its fastest speed clocking in at 103mph

The Model S Plaid whipped around the windy road, with its fastest speed clocking in at 103mph

The Model S Plaid whipped around the windy road, with its fastest speed clocking in at 103mph, Inside EVs reports.

The electric car, according to Tesla, can complete a quarter mile in just 9.23 seconds and going from zero to 60mph in just 1.99 seconds, all of which Musk said allowed the prized vehicle to set a new world record in Germany. 

Tesla previously unleashed the Model S plaid in Colorado Springs in June, where it saw the vehicle race in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb race. 

However, this time the car was modified to trek up the 12,780-foot mountain – the track is 14,000 feet, but  poor weather cut the track short.

The Model S Plaid won the Exhibition class of the race and had a finishing time of 6:57.220, placing it 10th overall. 

The electric car, according to Tesla, can complete a quarter mile in just 9.23 seconds and going from zero to 60mph in just 1.99 seconds, all of which Musk said allowed the prized vehicle to set a new world record in Germany

The electric car, according to Tesla, can complete a quarter mile in just 9.23 seconds and going from zero to 60mph in just 1.99 seconds, all of which Musk said allowed the prized vehicle to set a new world record in Germany

Tesla began shipping the Model S Plaid on June 11, which is a new iteration of the nine-year-old luxury sedan.

According to the company’s website, the tri-motor Model S Plaid has a 390-mile range, a top speed of 200mph and 1,020 horsepower.

With a dual motor configuration, it can go 412 miles on a single charge and Musk said that it is capable of traveling 187 miles on just a 15-minute charge.

Plaid is a reference to Musk’s love of the movie ‘Spaceballs,’ updating the Model S with ‘ludicrous speed’ in the past, a nod to the 1987 Mel Brooks comedy. 

  

source: dailymail.co.uk