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Tesla announces it has a Model S with a "powertrain Plaid" and a new "chassis prototype", which had allowed to beat a record on the Laguna Seca circuit.
Earlier in the day, Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, said he broke the fastest lap record for 4-door vehicles with a Model S at the Laguna Seca racetrack, and that they are going to publish a video about it soon.
The automaker has now released the video, but we learn that the vehicle has been modified.
Tesla said the Model S has a "Plaid Powertrain", which suggests a new powertrain over the "Ludicrous" powertrain, as well as a new "chassis prototype".
With this new version of the Model S, Tesla clocked a time of 1: 36.555, achieving a new record lap for a four-door sedan:
* ~ Some personal news ~ *
Laguna Seca, we have @WeatherTechRcwy in 1: 36,555 during advanced research and development testing of our powertrain prototype and Plaid body chassis
(It's a second faster than the record of a four-door sedan) pic.twitter.com/OriccK4KCZ
– Tesla (@Tesla) September 12, 2019
This is a big improvement over the previous best time with a Tesla Model S P100D.
Last year, Tesla's development team finished with a record 1:43 on the Laguna Seca production record.
Tesla has not yet released details on the new powertrain or new chassis, nor on plans to provide customers with the new version of the Model S.
Update: Musk said they would publish "soon" more details on the "Plaid powertrain" and announced plans to offer it for the Model S, Model X and the new Roadster:
"Yes, to be clear, Plaid's powertrain is in about a year from production and applies to S, X and Roadster, but not to 3 or Y. It will cost more than our current offerings, but less than our competitors. "
Musk had previously stated that Tesla reserved "Plaid mode", a reference to Spaceballs, as Tesla's other performance modes, to the new generation of Roadster.
Electrek's Take
This is an interesting way to announce a new powertrain, or at least a new powertrain mode, especially after Elon has declared that there will be no other major upgrade to the Model. This year.
Since Elon had previously stated that 'Plaid' was destined for the Roadster, Tesla could test the new Roadster powertrain in the Model S, but I think that is unlikely.
Anyway, it's an impressive time.
However, I think Tesla may have a little stripped inside, because this video has a very strong sound inside the car. This is what happens when you strip the inside of a car.
It is possible that this new "powertrain Plaid" is even more powerful.
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