EZZ

Of course this is temporary until RIMAC decides to make their quarter mile run official. At $120k, this is pretty accessible to many upper middle class people and they get access to 1,050hp. Insane.

Tesla Model S Plaid achieves new quarter-mile world record in 9.2 seconds

Fred Lambert

- Jun. 3rd 2021 6:28 am ET




After several months of delays, Tesla is apparently finally going to start deliveries of the new and updated Model S next week, including the new top performance Plaid version.

The automaker announced some impressive specs with 390 miles of range, 200 mph top speed, and 1.99 second 0-60 mph acceleration.

Over the last few months, Tesla was spotted bringing prototypes to racetracks around California to test those specs, like pictured above (via The Killowatts), and it has been expected to break some records with its new top performance car.

Now Jay Leno, who is one of the few car reviewers that Tesla still works directly with, says that one of those records is now official.

On a new episode of the Spike’s Car Radio podcast, the comedian-turned-car show host says that he went down to the Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield last month to watch Tesla break the quarter-mile record.

Leno said that he saw the Tesla Model S Plaid run the quarter-mile in 9.247 seconds at 152 mph, and a National Hot Rod Association official was there to make it official.

There are not many production vehicles that can achieve a 10-second quarter-mile and especially not family-size four-door sedans.

One electric car has achieved that this week however. The $2+ million dollar Rimac Nevera with 1914HP motors crushed a Ferrari in a drag race and set an unofficial world record quarter mile time of 8.6 seconds. But that’s a 2-seater hypercar and Tesla’s Plaid Model S is a 7-seat sedan.
It would actually make the new Tesla Model S Plaid the fastest production vehicle ever based on the quarter-mile metric.

Here’s the list of the top 10 fastest production vehicles ever based on quarter-mile runs (via Wikipedia):

Tesla is likely going to announce the Model S Plaid’s new record at a delivery event set for June 10.

spwolf

How is the world record if it is 9.2s and Rimac does it in 8.6s?

EZZ

The RIMAC's is unofficial. RIMAC just needs someone official there and then do the run. Its just a matter of time

mcomer

That is not a virtual roll cage in that photo!

EZZ

That photo they had was from the Plaid Plus model that was running hot laps at Laguna Seca. That version will run high 8s quarter mile runs and won't be available until next year. Only the slow Plaid version is available this month

LeX2K

Crazy thing is this is the slow Plaid version which still uses the creaky old 18650 cells.

EZZ

Its Porsche's turn to turn up the heat and bring something faster! The better question is, are they willing to make the Taycan faster than their 911 Turbo S which is their halo sports car? I think in 5 years, you'll see nothing but EVs on the fastest quarter mile times list.

spwolf

this is also unofficial until posted. What you are posting is "jay lano saw it"... while we all saw the video of Rimac.

Plus Rimac was on not prepared surface too, it will end up being quicker for sure.

And Wiki page that you posted is also definitely "unofficial", it is from various mags, etc, just like... carwow is.

EZZ

Sure...i'm not disputing but if the article is accurate, they've done their runs and it will be official. Rimac isn't in production yet. I think they will have to get at least 15 vehicles produced (or some number like that) to qualify as a production car. So if you think the Plaid can't do it, then we can only wait and see later this month if that? I'm sure they did the runs to announce what the official time is publicly when they do their launch event next week and to plaster it all over the website as marketing.

I have no doubt the Rimac is faster as i stated its just a matter of time until Rimac gets an official time and the world record. I'm a big fan of the Nevara and can't wait for more videos of it murdering other ICEs

swajames

So has the Tesla bashing on here finally reached such levels of insanity that some seem unwilling to give credit that a Tesla is able to turn in levels of performance that require a car costing 2.4m to beat it?

Toys4RJill

There is no bashing. Someone corrected the false and misleading headline.

mmarshall

No. It is not Tesla-bashing that has reached levels of insanity, but truly insane 0-60 times, as if the world revolves around G-crushing acceleration on street-legal cars.

EZZ

How is it misleading? This is probably what Tesla will plaster over their website when the officially release the Plaid next week. The Rimac isn't production. The 8.6s they ran in the quarter was done by a Prototype. When Rimac actually starts to ship then they will break it. It is what it is.

EZZ

Its a sports sedan. Why are there Hellcats and Lambos and various other nonsensical cars that have no practical value? Same with the Plaid...its a toy for rich people.

Toys4RJill

Headline should say fastest production car..