It already is. After many speculations about the real performance level of the Tesla Model S Plaid on the legendary German circuit, the Nürburgring, we now have an official time to clear up any doubts.
7min 30.909s was the time reached by the most powerful of the Model S, making it the fastest high-production electric in the world, but let's not forget the 6min45.90s of the very special and rare NIO EP9 (supersport) made in 2017 that was produced, believe us up, in six units.
More significant is the fact that the Model S Plaid beat what is considered its biggest rival, the Porsche Taycan, by a whopping 12 seconds, with a final time of 7min42.3s obtained in 2019.
Tesla Model S Plaid just set official world speed record for a production electric car at Nurburgring. Completely unmodified, directly from factory. pic.twitter.com/AaiFtfW5Ht
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2021
Both times correspond to the old way of measuring times on the Nürburgring, equivalent to a distance of 20.6 km. However, in the tweet shared by Elon Musk (above), there is a second time, from 7min 35.579s , which must correspond to the time according to the new rules, which considers a distance of 20.832 km.
How is the Model S Plaid electric equivalent to combustion models?
The Model S Plaid electric motor has three electric motors, one on the front axle and two on the rear axle, which deliver a total of 750 kW or 1020 hp, for nearly 2.2 t. The little more than seven and a half minutes achieved are remarkable.
But when we compare the time of the Model S Plaid with that of other sports saloons, but equipped with combustion engines, they manage to be faster, but with less “firepower”.
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S, with 630 hp, managed a time of 20.832 km in the 7min 29.81s (almost 6s less), a record that was improved by rival Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4 Portas, of 639 hp, at the end of last year, with a final time of 7min 27.8s at the same distance (almost 8s less).
Faster still was the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, with 600 hp, which managed a time of 7min 23.164s , although the British saloon brings a level of preparation closer to a competition model — it doesn't even come with rear seats.
According to Elon Musk, the Tesla Model S Plaid used to obtain this time is fully stock, that is, it has not received any alterations, having come directly from the factory, not even lacking the strange steering wheel that looks like an airplane stick.
The next step, says Musk, will be to bring another Model S Plaid to Nürbrugring, but modified, with new aerodynamic elements, carbon brakes and competition tyres.
And Porsche, will it respond to the provocation?