A souped up, new version of the Tesla Model S has smashed all 4-door records at the Laguna Seca track, and you can now see it happen in a video posted today.
On Wednesday (Australian time), CEO and founder Elon Musk announced that even before the Tesla Model S takes to the track at Nürburgring with Nico Rosberg behind the wheel, it had already set a new time for the 3.6 kilometre long Californian road racing mecca.
Model S just set record for fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca, video tmrw
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2019
That video has now been released, showing the Model S with an advanced drivetrain now known as “Plaid” that will be made available in the future for premium versions of the Model S, Model X and Roadster.
The time – 1:36:555 – is a second faster that than the previous four-door sedan record that was, incidentally, held by a privately owned Tesla Model 3.
*~ Some personal news ~*
We lapped Laguna Seca @WeatherTechRcwy in 1:36.555 during advanced R&D testing of our Model S Plaid powertrain and chassis prototype
(That’s a second faster than the record for a four-door sedan) pic.twitter.com/OriccK4KCZ
— Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2019
But what is this new technology? According to subsequent tweets by Elon Musk, it is a new mode that uses not one, not two, but THREE motors.
Yes. To be clear, Plaid powertrain is about a year away from production & applies to S,X & Roadster, but not 3 or Y. Will cost more than our current offerings, but less than competitors.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 12, 2019
It’s a level up from the recently released “Raven” upgrade of the Model S and Model X that was first announced in April with longer range, improved adaptive suspension and a reworked Model 3 motor on the front axle.
This is the new tech that we reported must be the reason behind Musk’s announcement to take the Model S to the infamous 20.8 kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife track in Germany this week.
At first it was believed that Musk was challenging the Porsche Taycan’s record-setting lap at the gruelling track, however confirmation from the track organisers indicated that Tesla had in fact booked in to take part in the annual Industry Pool laps where vehicles are but through their paces to test and tweak developments.
This has since been further confirmed by Musk, who said that the EV maker already has a Model S on the ground in Germany and would not be trying for a lap record – yet.
But we probably won’t try for best lap time this week, as we need to review & tune Model S thoroughly for safety on Nürburgring, especially Flugplatz section
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2019
With a lot of speculation as to whether or not the Model S is up to smashing Porsche’s electrifying record with its recently launched Taycan sportscar, it could just be that any niggling doubts are now overcome.
In typical Musk fashion, the new name for the upcoming souped-up Tesla tech is something of a tongue-in-cheek downplay on Tesla’s fully-charged Ludicrous mode: “The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid”.
The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 12, 2019
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.