Porsche beats Tesla with a new electric car lap record at the Nurburgring with Taycan Turbo S. The vehicle was driven by Porsche development driver, Lars Kern. He completed the lap of the German track in 7 min 33.3 seconds. While Tesla Model S Plaid completed the lap at 7 min 35.6 seconds. It was around a 12.92-mile circuit.
Tesla’s record was set last year. According to Porsche, the car was fitted with a new performance kit and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). Besides the mandatory roll cage and racing seats, the vehicle was standard and a street-legal car. Furthermore, the company also said that the Taycan Turbo S used to set the record weighs the same as a series production car. Also, an official was on hand to verify the new EV record.
The attached performance kit has 21-inch RS Spyder design wheels and street-approved Pirelli P Zero Corsa high-performance tires. These are now available for Porsche Taycaon customers. “Their tire compound is similar to that of racing tires,” Porsche said, adding: “Another element of the performance kit is a software update to the Porsche 4D Chassis Control so that it works in harmony with the sports tires.”
Record-breaking
The lap record at Nurburgring was held previously for Tesla Model S Plaid. It is significantly more powerful than Porsche which has 750 hp. Meanwhile, the three motors combined in Model S Plaid have 1,000 horsepower.
For Taycan purchases, There are a few caveats to navigating and purchasing the new performance kit. Porsche explains: “The performance kit is offered through Porsche Tequipment. It is currently only available in Germany and only for the 2023 model year Taycan Turbo S sports sedan. Production of these cars started in late July 2022, while the performance kit itself is expected to be available from the end of the year. The plan is for the retrofit to be carried out after initial delivery, in the Porsche workshops in Zuffenhausen. Transport to and from the factory is included, as is the individual vehicle approval and registration of the Taycan.”
It is likely that Tesla will also come up with some improvements for Plaid and break the records again. Though the automaker usually doesn’t include any external performance add-ons. It is possible as long as it is street-legal. “We’re delighted that the Nürburgring record for electric cars is back in Porsche’s hands,” says Kevin Giek, Vice President of Model Line Taycan. “This lap time not only shows how much potential lies in our new performance kit but also confirms once again the sports car genes of the Taycan.”