Thursday 12th September 2019

'Plaid' level Model S revealed with lap record

Tesla has used a four-door sedan record at Laguna Seca to confirm a forthcoming performance grade

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You can expect a rash of this sort of thing now. Porsche's record-setting Taycan lap at the Nurburgring was partly intended to put Tesla's nose out of joint; the latter's newly revealed lap record at Laguna Seca, barely two days after its rival's public debut, is meant as a lively riposte. Not just in minutes and seconds either - the achievement also announced the incoming 'Plaid' designation.

Passing mention of the range-topping specification has been made before. Elon Musk himself alluded to it when 'Ludicrous' mode became a thing (and as any Space Balls fan will tell you, 'gone to plaid' definitely represents a superior level of performance). What precisely it means for the Model S - and other Tesla models, apparently - remains to be seen. Tesla says the enhancements aren't due for production till next year.

Plainly though, they include modifications to both the powertrain and chassis. The former is Tesla's go-to solution, although given the Model S already develops 762hp in Ludicrous guise, where it goes from there is anyone's guess. Of course the Taycan's primary achievement is delivering its own 761hp consistently enough to get from bridge to gantry in 7mins 42 secs without waving a white flag.

Going full pelt for 1min 36 secs is obviously less onerous, but we'd imagine any improvement in straight-line performance has been accompanied by commensurate gains in endurance. Moreover, any work done retuning the Model S's suspension is likely to go hand-in-hand with evermore sophisticated ways of deploying said power to the road surface (assuming that Tesla's experimentation with 'Track' modes did not stop at making a Model 3 drift). Either way, the relatively recent phenomena of manufacturers besting each other with lap times looks unlikely to recede as electric-only models take hold.

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Tempted? Find a Model S here.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Hmmm. Not a fan of EV's personally, but it looks like the introduction of some real competition for Tesla is going to create fast improvements. Finally a real, competitive marketplace!

[AmosMoses]

Musk has his sights set on a ring record, but Tesla doesn't have the chassis development Porsche do, will be interesting to see what happens.

[J4CKO]

Tesla are pretty busy defending their position/lead, they have a new update out that improves range and performance called the "Raven" update, not seen any mention of it on here,

https://thedriven.io/2019/06/26/spotted-tesla-rave...

these kind of updates are the switch over to electrification in progress, incremental improvements in range and other areas that will make them viable for more and more people, 370 mile range is pretty impressive.

Also, Tesla have bought a battery manufacturer called Maxwell technologies that gives them scope to double battery capacity, initially add 30 percent, and that isnt even a solid state battery.

Not a fanboy here either, just mentioning what I have read, as I am interested even if I will stick to IC engines for the forseeable future, possibly permanently, but I cant just say "no range, too expensive etc" and write them off, can see it happening, more coming out every week and improvements starting to come through.

[Terminator X]

That "noise" reminds me of something



TX.

[MikeGoodwin]

I'd probably consider ev if they were cheap enough but only for a st car, something to get to work in or to the shops but I'd have to have a toy to go with it. Lotus or caterfield for example just to offset the utter boredom of an ev. But I'm not someone with the money to afford a Tesla

Interesting comment above about rivalry between Porsche and Tesla as well.

[Dave Hedgehog]

MikeGoodwin said:

I'd probably consider ev if they were cheap enough but only for a st car, something to get to work in or to the shops but I'd have to have a toy to go with it. Lotus or caterfield for example just to offset the utter boredom of an ev. But I'm not someone with the money to afford a Tesla

3-4 years a M3P will be 20k, Tesla are going to flood the market with them

[Veeayt]

Imagine that with an LS V8 engine

[Maldini35]

MikeGoodwin said:

I'd probably consider ev if they were cheap enough but only for a st car, something to get to work in or to the shops but I'd have to have a toy to go with it. Lotus or caterfield for example just to offset the utter boredom of an ev. But I'm not someone with the money to afford a Tesla

Interesting comment above about rivalry between Porsche and Tesla as well.

This pretty much sums up my feelings too

[Sandpit Steve]

J4CKO said:

Tesla are pretty busy defending their position/lead, they have a new update out that improves range and performance called the "Raven" update, not seen any mention of it on here,

https://thedriven.io/2019/06/26/spotted-tesla-rave...

these kind of updates are the switch over to electrification in progress, incremental improvements in range and other areas that will make them viable for more and more people, 370 mile range is pretty impressive.

Also, Tesla have bought a battery manufacturer called Maxwell technologies that gives them scope to double battery capacity, initially add 30 percent, and that isnt even a solid state battery.

Not a fanboy here either, just mentioning what I have read, as I am interested even if I will stick to IC engines for the forseeable future, possibly permanently, but I cant just say "no range, too expensive etc" and write them off, can see it happening, more coming out every week and improvements starting to come through.

370 miles is a real game changer, that’s London to Glasgow with little more than a splash and go, and will work for 99% of people 99% of the time - if they can do it for a £300 a month lease.

The problem is that the US market demands longer range than the U.K. market, in the latter they’d be better off working on getting the price down from this point, I guess the 370mi S is going to be north of £100k, so over a grand a month to lease.

The other big issue is charging infrastructure, in cities where people need to park overnight on the street.

[J4CKO]

Sandpit Steve said:

J4CKO said:

Tesla are pretty busy defending their position/lead, they have a new update out that improves range and performance called the "Raven" update, not seen any mention of it on here,

https://thedriven.io/2019/06/26/spotted-tesla-rave...

these kind of updates are the switch over to electrification in progress, incremental improvements in range and other areas that will make them viable for more and more people, 370 mile range is pretty impressive.

Also, Tesla have bought a battery manufacturer called Maxwell technologies that gives them scope to double battery capacity, initially add 30 percent, and that isnt even a solid state battery.

Not a fanboy here either, just mentioning what I have read, as I am interested even if I will stick to IC engines for the forseeable future, possibly permanently, but I cant just say "no range, too expensive etc" and write them off, can see it happening, more coming out every week and improvements starting to come through.

370 miles is a real game changer, that’s London to Glasgow with little more than a splash and go, and will work for 99% of people 99% of the time - if they can do it for a £300 a month lease.

The problem is that the US market demands longer range than the U.K. market, in the latter they’d be better off working on getting the price down from this point, I guess the 370mi S is going to be north of £100k, so over a grand a month to lease.

The other big issue is charging infrastructure, in cities where people need to park overnight on the street.

Yeah, they arent perfect by any means, yet.

But the pace of development is picking up, the prize is there. With IT you have the "Killer App" and with EV's we are waiting for the equivalent.

Its only a matter of time before it appears, 400 mile range, looks funky, sub 30k (£300 a month), goes like the clappers and no waiting list, Model 3 is the nearest currently.


With regards to charging, if it does 400 miles, that would do me, personally for a couple of weeks, like I dont need to get fuel every night now I am sure in that period I could find somewhere to charge it, more charging points are popping up.

[fernando the frog]

am I alone in thinking the noise this makes is actually really cool? i'd love to blast this around a track

[Gandahar]

Apparently the lap record is not official as not sanctioned by Laguna Seca, also it is obviously not a production car.

Tesla at the Nurburgring also seems to be using a heavily modified car, with some quite nice looking "fender flares" , plus presumably the plaid motor update ( an extra one, so up to 3 now, rumour has it ). And new suspension.

Elon Musk also says it has 7 seats.

All that talk of EV saving the planet and sustainability and then it all crumbles down to "my one's faster than your one ..."

[UnderSteerD]

Gandahar said:

All that talk of EV saving the planet and sustainability and then it all crumbles down to "my one's faster than your one ..."

It's just a bit of fun though, isn't it?

Surely no one REALLY takes these sorts of things seriously? Especially for something that most of would pick to sit in a traffic jam in...

[Gandahar]

UnderSteerD said:

Gandahar said:

All that talk of EV saving the planet and sustainability and then it all crumbles down to "my one's faster than your one ..."

It's just a bit of fun though, isn't it?

When you have two tribes and as much tropical fruit to throw ........

[Niffty951]

This competition can only be a good thing and does in fact reinforce Elon's primary stated aim of kick starting the industry into action.

[modeller]

Rosberg has offered his services to Tesla for the Ring laps

[unsprung]

J4CKO said:

Sandpit Steve said:

J4CKO said:

Tesla are pretty busy defending their position/lead, they have a new update out that improves range and performance called the "Raven" update, not seen any mention of it on here,

https://thedriven.io/2019/06/26/spotted-tesla-rave...

these kind of updates are the switch over to electrification in progress, incremental improvements in range and other areas that will make them viable for more and more people, 370 mile range is pretty impressive.

Also, Tesla have bought a battery manufacturer called Maxwell technologies that gives them scope to double battery capacity, initially add 30 percent, and that isnt even a solid state battery.

Not a fanboy here either, just mentioning what I have read, as I am interested even if I will stick to IC engines for the forseeable future, possibly permanently, but I cant just say "no range, too expensive etc" and write them off, can see it happening, more coming out every week and improvements starting to come through.

370 miles is a real game changer, that’s London to Glasgow with little more than a splash and go, and will work for 99% of people 99% of the time - if they can do it for a £300 a month lease.

The problem is that the US market demands longer range than the U.K. market, in the latter they’d be better off working on getting the price down from this point, I guess the 370mi S is going to be north of £100k, so over a grand a month to lease.

The other big issue is charging infrastructure, in cities where people need to park overnight on the street.

Yeah, they arent perfect by any means, yet.

But the pace of development is picking up, the prize is there. With IT you have the "Killer App" and with EV's we are waiting for the equivalent.

Its only a matter of time before it appears, 400 mile range, looks funky, sub 30k (£300 a month), goes like the clappers and no waiting list, Model 3 is the nearest currently.


With regards to charging, if it does 400 miles, that would do me, personally for a couple of weeks, like I dont need to get fuel every night now I am sure in that period I could find somewhere to charge it, more charging points are popping up.

Thanks for all that, this sort of sub-thread.

And for taking the time to post the link. Very helpful.

[Gull Slayer]

For me to go EV I would like a quoted 600 miles range or more. Then if its freezing cold and raining I would still have enough range with wipers, heaters and lights etc. on, with a diversion thrown in for good measure, and still not tickle my battery anxiety. Long while to wait I suspect!

[Walter Sobchak]

I couldn’t afford one but have had the pleasure of a drive in a Model S and thought it was great, if I could afford to spend that much on a car I hate to say it but I’d probably pick the Tesla over an ICE equivalent.

[Ares]

Gull Slayer said:

For me to go EV I would like a quoted 600 miles range or more. Then if its freezing cold and raining I would still have enough range with wipers, heaters and lights etc. on, with a diversion thrown in for good measure, and still not tickle my battery anxiety. Long while to wait I suspect!

600 miles, or more? Would you like a unicorn co-driver to give you a foot massage as well?

No fast/interesting car has genuine 600mile range without driving like a 1980s taxi driver.