Yet another salvo fired in the EV performance wars as Tesla claims it’s secured a production lap record at the Laguna Seca Raceway. We’re not so sure.
Quick? Yes. Record-setting? No.
We may never know for sure exactly what started the EV performance wars of 2019, but the arrival of the Porsche Taycan on the scene really stirred things up. When that car set a new Nurburgring Nordschleife EV lap record of 7:42, Tesla’s Elon Musk was quick to respond that their own ‘Ring attempt was coming (an attempt that Porsche eagerly welcomes). We’re still waiting on the results there, but Musk is now claiming that his company has secured the sedan lap record at California’s Laguna Seca Raceway.
The EV wars are heating up and Germany’s vaunted Nurburgring Nordschleife is the new battleground. The new Taycan set a better-than-commendable 7:42, and Porsche welcomes the competition.
The epic Nurburgring Nordschleife has been a performance benchmark for decades. Largely unchanged since the 1920s, this 12.9-mile stretch of undulating asphalt is a must-visit destination for any performance car worth its salt. Lately, with the rise of performance-oriented electric cars, the track has earned new significance not just thanks to its difficulty, but its length.
EVs are remarkably good at delivering ridiculous acceleration in short bursts, but sustained performance is … More
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is prepared to prove his Tesla Model S, while long in the tooth, can beat Porsche’s new Taycan at setting records — and this on Porsche’s home ground.
Musk plans to do this by sending a race-prepped Model S to race at Germany’s legendary track at Nürburgring to set a record. This special Model S is said to have reached Germany on Sept. 2.
“Model S on Nürburgring next week,” tweeted Musk on Sept. 6 … More
Porsche’s first fully electric car is here, and depending on whom you ask, it could be the most serious competition the Tesla Model S has faced yet. It’s called the Porsche Taycan, and it is an all-electric sport sedan promising up to 750 horsepower, acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, and a fast-charging 800 volt battery with 280 miles of range based on the European WLTP cycle.
I spoke in detail with Porsche’s engineers about this electric powerhouse, and I learned it’s a wild piece of technology unlike any Porsche that’s come before it. Here’s everything you wanted to know … More