The Tesla Model S Plaid reached a maximum speed of 279kmph during the lap runCourtesy of Tesla

Tesla Model S Plaid sets a new production car lap record for EVs around the Nurburgring

The Tesla Model S Plaid beats the previous record for production EVs by 7 seconds!

It’s a good day for Tesla as it manages to steal bragging rights from Porsche, by setting a new lap record around the Nurburgring in the Tesla Model S Plaid. It car was driven by Swedish driver Andreas Simonsen who set a time of 7:35.579 minutes on the 20.8-kilometre long Nurburgring Nordschliefe while hitting a maximum speed of 279kmph, thus beating the Porsche Taycan’s record of 7:42 minutes and becoming the new record holder for the fastest lap by a production-spec electric car at the Green Hell.

The tri-motor setup produces 1006bhp of peak powerCourtesy of Tesla

The Tesla Model S Plaid houses a tri-motor electric setup which produces a peak output of 1006bhp, and while torque figures remain unknown for now, the Model S Plaid nails a 0-100kmph run in a claimed 1.99 seconds. Tesla says it is capable of hitting a top speed of 321kmph, but only when equipped with ‘proper wheels and tyres’ which will be available internationally later this year. Currently, it is available with 19-inch wheels and 21-inch wheels.

Elon Musk specifically confirmed the Tesla Model S Plaid used for the lap run was in completely stock form, and that a modified Model S Plaid is next in line to be tested, which will feature aero surfaces, carbon brakes, and track tyres but with the help of third party sources. The Model S that set the record was running Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres available from the factory, while the Taycan’s record was set on Pirelli PZeros, which are a high-performance aftermarket tyre.

Tesla has been contemplating an India launch, but it hasn't been able to materialize those plans yetCourtesy of Tesla

Tesla has been contemplating an India move for quite a while now, and while certain models have been spotted testing, we cannot really confirm exactly which model will be headed our way. However, we can expect the competition in the luxury EV segment to get so much more interesting once Tesla does reach our shores. The electric luxury segment currently consists of the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and the Mercedes-Benz EQC. With the Audi e-tron GT also headed our way, things are certainly looking up in the luxury EV segment.

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