2022 Tesla Model S breaks the lap record set by Porsche

2022 Tesla Model S breaks the lap record set by the VIR Taycan Turbo S.Recently, a Tesla Model S Plaid completed a circuit of the Grand Course at Virginia International Raceway in 2:50.7 seconds, according to the company. In comparison, it took the Taycan Turbo S 4.5 ticks longer to complete our ’21 Lightning Lap.

Cupani’s ‘22 Model S Plaid on stock Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres lapped VIR’s Grand Course in 2:50.7, according to a video on his YouTube channel. A professional driver was behind the wheel, and the front brakes on the car had some extra parts.

A 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S that set a record for last year’s Lightning Lap set a time of 2:55.2. The Plaid’s time beat that by three seconds – which isn’t so impressive until you find out what car they were driving – A Tesla Model S P85D! This is because the Tesla is 4.5 ticks faster than the Porsche and has more horsepower yet it couldn’t even finish one lap under full power, let alone set the record! Eric Van Plaid’s first-place finish was not only due to his impeccable driving but also thanks to his car being equipped with an algorithm called Track Mode which helped keep the battery and electric motors cool while they drove round after round without ever stopping during each 20-minute race. With this in mind, no wonder he broke the record – he had an advantage over other competitors who may or may not have been racing in Economy Mode or Sport Mode all day long!

The day before the race, Car and Driver held a track-day event in which people were allowed to race their own cars on the VIR Grand Course. My friends – like Cupani – looked forward to racing against me at every turn (though I had no idea they weren’t) as well as trying out some new tricks they had been working on. They didn’t give up either. Even though they were racing against my best times, they would drive off into the horizon, taking breaks every few hours only long enough to make sure that I can keep up with them.

Schwartz does a great job driving the Model S Plaid around the Grand Course. There was even a moment when disaster almost happened. In order to avoid losing control of his vehicle, he takes his hands off the steering wheel and eases up on the accelerator pedal just enough so that it gently tilts over onto its side while still maintaining some traction on all four tires (see video). With only one tire spinning then everything else stopped moving due to static friction. His stunt would’ve been wasted had there been no friction, but thankfully his intuition saved him as well as his precious time!

It talks about the changes Cupani made to Tesla in a 3-minute video posted on YouTube today. If you have Unplugged Performance’s carbon-ceramic front brake kit installed, it has smaller diameter rotors and smaller size brake calipers than Tesla’s $20,000 carbon-ceramic brake package. In the video, it is also said that the rear calipers and rotors are all stock parts. Wheels and tyres are said to be stock as well with 21-inch Arachnid wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires which cost around $4500 for a Model S when they’re purchased together.

Tesla plaids can now be had for about $130,000 depending on the model, but who knows if that price will ever change? This is the first Tesla with three electric motors – one in the front and two in the back – which produce 1020 horsepower and 1050 pound-feet of torque. This car hit 60 mph in 2.1 seconds and finished the quarter-mile in 9.4 seconds at 151 mph, making it quicker than all of our other comparable contenders (a 2021 turbo s starts off at around $187,000).

Lap Record Set by the VIR Taycan Turbo S

How does this new Tesla Model S stack up against the Taycan Turbo S? This year’s VIR lap record-setter? Here are the facts, followed by a side-by-side comparison of the two cars and their stats, to help you decide. Let’s leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

The Good

The 2022 Model S is a masterpiece of technology, delivering the highest performance of any electric vehicle on the market today. Although it weighs nearly 5 tons, its lightweight frame and Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires give it unmatched handling. The air suspension gives drivers the option to choose between multiple ride heights for optimal road grip, as well as maximum passenger comfort at high speeds. With no engine or transmission to worry about, the high-performance lithium-ion battery gives the car an impressive range of up to , which can be topped off in 20 minutes at one of Tesla’s company-owned fast chargers located around America’s major cities.

The Bad

The current record holder, the Taycan Turbo S, completed a lap around the track in 2:09.66. While that’s a fantastic time on its own, it’s not exactly impressive when you consider that multiple Tesla Roadsters were able to break the two-minute mark when they first came out in 2010. The 2022 Model Stakes back the crown of the fastest production car in the world with a time of 1:59.51… and yes, that was aided by an electrically-powered launch system (not only is every other competitor gas-powered but also several are limited to rear-wheel-drive only) but does point out just how far battery technology has come over the past 10 years.

The Ugly

Tesla’s stunning success in the electric vehicle space has been overshadowed lately by the news that’s less than stellar. The company has canceled plans to build a Gigafactory 3, Musk is facing criticism for allegedly skipping SEC subpoenas and the company recently endured a costly recall. Nonetheless, there remains immense excitement for Tesla’s future and the cleantech race to bring the first commercially viable electric car to market. In fact, Tesla itself may not be able to sustain its position as king of EVs if it doesn’t work out its current kinks in time—and Porsche is aiming at taking that crown with its upcoming Taycan model.


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