Tesla says Model S Plaid is new fastest production EV around Nürburgring

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The Tesla Model S Plaid has apparently just set a new record for the fastest production EV around the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife course in Germany, and by some margin, too.

With a lap time of 7:35.579, it completely obliterated the 2019 number set by the former record-holder, the Porsche Taycan Turbo, by about seven seconds! A video posted on the official Nürburgring YouTube channel shows Swedish pro driver Andreas Simonsen at the wheel as the car set out on its record-breaking run.

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Tesla says Model S Plaid is new fastest production EV around Nürburgring Back to video

Recently, the 12.9-mile Nürburgring racing circuit has emerged as a kind of battleground where carmakers go to explore the limits of their vehicles, and, hopefully, come back with bragging rights. Right now, as far as production EVs are concerned, the momentum has swung in Tesla’s favour.

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Elon Musk shared the impressive record on his Twitter profile and also made a point of stating this was a stock Model S Plaid, fresh from the factory. [Some internet sleuths have their doubts as to how exactly how stock the car may be, of course; we’ll update this piece if they’re onto something. —Ed.] His tweet also showed a lap time of 7:30.909, though that was achieved on a slightly different track configuration.

In stock form, the EV boasts a tri-motor drivetrain that totals 1,020 hp. That figure is significantly higher than the 670 hp peak power made by the Porsche Taycan Turbo, back in 2019. It makes one wonder what might happen if Porsche sent its more powerful variant, the 750-hp Taycan Turbo S, for some runs run around the race circuit.

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Tesla is not done with the Nürburgring Nordschleife, though. Musk has already outlined the next steps , which involves fitting the Model S Plaid with carbon-ceramic brakes, track tires, and an aero package. There is every possibility the Model S Plaid can go even faster, improving on its record in the process.

It may not matter much at the end of the day. Why? We are all aware of a certain 1,914-hp hyper-EV, waiting in the wings , just raring to be unleashed on the ‘Green Hell’. Over to you, Rimac.