Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Plaid drive

The recently presented Porsche Taycan has also been well received by Tesla mastermind Elon Musk. First off on Twitter, Musk made fun of the fact that Porsche is also using the name “Turbo” for its electric model, then he added a quick tweet…

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Obviously feeling the rivalry a little keenly, Musk quickly followed up by announcing: “Model S on Nürburgring next week”. Apparently, the Tesla boss doesn’t want to let the record that Porsche set with the Taycan on the Nordschleife in Germany stay unchallenged.

Update 17.09.2019: A Tesla Model S with “Plaid drive” has apparently circumnavigated the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring in 7:23 minutes – about 20 seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan recently managed. According to Auto, Motor und Sport, the time was recorded by an observer at the ring. Instead of Nico Rosberg, experienced Nordschleife racer Thomas Mutsch will be taking the wheel in the Model S.

Update 19.09.2019: After Tesla apparently undercut Porsche’s previous record lap with the Taycan on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring by about 20 seconds with a Model S with “Plaid” drive, Porsche could still have an ace up its sleeve: Porsche’s time was achieved with a Taycan Turbo and not with the more powerful Taycan Turbo S. So it is quite possible that Porsche will try to set a new record. Tesla has meanwhile set up a supercharger at the Nürburgring. Until now, Tesla allegedly had to resort to a diesel generator to charge its Model S.

Update 23.09.2019: There is a new chapter in the competition between Tesla and Porsche at the famous Nürburgring racing track – and this time, it looks a little embarrassing for Tesla. Not only did their Model S stopped dead on the track and have to be towed, but a Porsche Taycan also overtook it. To make matters worse, the whole thing was caught on camera.

In German, we have this great word: “Vorfuhreffekt”. That means, just when you want to show off what you have just learned or done, it is sure to go wrong. It seems poor Tesla experienced a little bit of our German Vorfuhreffekt.

Update 24.10.2019: Tesla is again testing its Model S with “Plaid” drive against Porsche for the Nürburgring record – They now brought some new parts along, such as a large rear wing. The Swedish racing driver Andreas Simonsen took the fast laps a bit too far – and manoeuvred the Tesla into the guard rail according to Auto Motor und Sport. The good news is that the driver is up and well again.

Update 05.11.2019: This may be the final stage in the competition between Tesla and Porsche for the fastest lap time on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. According to Auto Motor und Sport team Tesla has now left without an official new record and will not return to the Nürburgring this year either.

However, rumour has is that unofficially, there may have been a record. Handstopped by an observing reporter, the Model S P100D+ with “Plaid” drive is said to have achieved a time of 7:13 minutes twice, which would not only top the record set by Porsche with the Taycan (7:42), but also Tesla’s unofficial time (7:23) from the previous weeks. Officially, however, the new time has not been recorded. Also, it was enough of Plaid motor testing perhaps?!

twitter.com (Turbo), twitter.com (Taycan record), electrek.co (update 17.09.2019), caranddriver.com, twitter.com (update 19.09.2019), jalopnik.com (update 23.09.2019), auto-motor-und-sport.de (update 24.10.2019), auto-motor-und-sport.de (update 05.11.2019)