The Tesla Model S v. Porsche Taycan badminton game continues. In the latest volley, Tesla seems to be a point up; this month, the automaker sent a stock Model S Plaid to the famous Nurburgring (there’s an umlaut in there somewhere) and emerged with a lap time of 7 minutes and 35.579 seconds. The performance was officially recorded and announced formally by the track.
That’s a new record for a production EV. The previous record was held by the estimable but peculiarly named Porsche Taycan Turbo, which was shown up with seven seconds to spare. All of this of course puts Tesla in the driver’s seat on Porsche’s home turf a little over a year after Michael Steiner, Porsche’s R&D chief, dismissed Tesla.
Tesla responded by making the Model S faster, and introduced the Plaid version a few months later. The variant’s powertrain can deliver over 1,000 horsepower, and the car can move from 0-60 in less than two seconds. Its range is 390 miles. The Model S Plaid is, however, priced far below the Taycan Turbo; the former stickers at $130K, the latter at $151K. Speculation abounds as to whether the $185K Taycan Turbo S can beat the record Tesla just set.
The driver of the Tesla Model S Plaid at the recent Nurburgring (still no umlaut) lap performance promo was professional racer Andreas Simonsen.
Next will be modified Plaid with added aero surfaces, carbon brakes & track tires (all things that can be done without Tesla being in the loop)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2021
