Tesla Model S Plaid, which set a record of 7:35.579 on the North Loop of the Nürburgring in Germany in September, was recently spotted testing on the track by netizens.
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Two Model S Plaids were seen during the test, one of which appeared to be in standard configuration, while the other blue one was fitted with an oversized front lip and the largest active rear wing currently available on a four-door sedan. It may have been in a comparative test.
In September, when the Model S Plaid broke the record for four-door electric sedans on the North Loop, Musk said:
Next will be modified Plaid with added aero surfaces, carbon brakes & track tires (all things that can be done without Tesla being in the loop.)
He was referring to the involvement of aftermarket tuners in the Plaid’s track testing. However, as seen in the video, it appears to be an official action.
The huge electric active rear wing in the video appears to be similar to the large “air brake” wing found on supercars that increases the attack angle and enhances the aerodynamic drag before entering a curve, providing additional braking stability and grip. The oversized front lip also helps increase the speed of airflow under the car to increase downforce at high speeds.
In fact, this is not Tesla’s first test of an active rear wing. As early as May this year, Tesla was reportedly testing this type of wing at the famous Laguna Seca circuit in the United States.
The configuration of Plaid Plus model may not have been cancelled, instead it may be sold as an optional track pack, or in the form of tuned parts sold by certified modification companies with close relations with Tesla, such as Unplugged Performance.
After all, as a rival to Porsche in Nurburgring, Tesla is also cooperating with Manthey Racing, a Porsche tuning company, to sell the 911 GT2 RS MR kit at its dealerships.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.