Tesla takes back electric car Nurburgring record from Porsche

Tesla has stolen the record for the fastest electric car around the Nurburgring Nordschleife from Porsche.

The brand posted on Twitter confirming a Model S equipped with the Track Pack – which has a higher top speed, better brakes, and stickier tyres than stock – has lapped the 20.832km circuit in 7:25.231.

That’s more than eight seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S managed, and around 10 seconds faster than the Model S managed on its first attempt.

The Track Pack is priced from between US$15,000 to $20,000 (A$22,127 to $29,503), and is designed to address a number of criticisms of the fastest Tesla on the track.

Tesla says the package is designed to improve high-speed stability, cornering force, and repeatable stopping power, and it includes upgraded brakes, tyres and other tweaks.

The Track Package adds a carbon ceramic brake kit, with 410 x 40mm carbon-silicon carbide rotors and six-piston forged calipers up front and 410 x 32mm rotors and four-piston forged calipers at the rear.

There are also two integrated, caliper-mounted parking brakes, plus “track-ready” brake fluid.

The package also adds 20X10J Zero-G wheels wrapped in Goodyear Supercar 3R high-performance summer tyres – 285/35R20 up front, 305/30R20 at the back – which are optimised for track use. They aren’t recommended for winter use.

The top speed is bumped up to 322km/h.

Tesla confirmed last month the Model S, along with the Model X, won’t be returning to Australia.

Our market had yet to receive the tri-motor Plaid flagship variants of both, and the company has said the Model S and Model X won’t be offered in right-hand drive anymore “due to changes to the vehicle program”.

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