Right now, everyone is keeping an eye on Tesla’s team on the Nurburgring as they try to set a new lap record. So far, they have reportedly already set a 7min 23sec lap time, which is 20 seconds faster than what Porsche did with the Taycan.
Tesla has been running tests on the Nurburgring with at least two Model S “chassis prototypes” that’s said to be fitted with their next-gen “Plaid” powertrain.
We’ve heard that the cars come with a gutted, completely empty interior, featuring just the driver’s seat, the dashboard and a safety roll cage, but the heavily tinted windows prevented our spies from verifying it – until now.
Also Read: Tesla Model S Prototype Allegedly Demolishes Porsche Taycan’s ‘Ring Lap Record
Our photographers were able to snap a few shots that expose the stripped cabin through the tinted glass. We can clearly see that the blue Model S comes indeed with just the driver’s seat, while part of the roll cage is also visible through the rear glass.
With the help of a stopwatch by a bystander, the red Model S prototype was the quickest of the two during their time on the track, achieving a 7min 24sec lap over Nurburgring’s entire 20.8 km distance, not just Bridge-to-Gantry as speculated earlier. Using the same method, the blue car managed a 7min 40sec time.
Both prototypes were fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport RS tires as before, while the driver of the red one was Thomas Mutch, a German racing driver and Nurburgring expert.
It’s pretty obvious that we still can’t draw any conclusions about Tesla’s quest on beating Porsche in their own turf. The two prototypes will eventually morph into a production version towards the end of next year, but their totally stripped interiors means that they are enjoy a significant weight advantage over the Porsche Taycan, which is a normal, series-production model.
On the other hand, Elon Musk himself has said that they will try to set a lap record with a seven-seat Model S, so you can bet Tesla will return with a fully equipped car. For now, though, the Taycan is the electric four-door saloon king of the Nordschleife.
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