Tesla remains the top EV marque to this day, but it doesn’t mean it will stay that way forever. Competitors are gradually gaining ground and will eventually outperform its machines. This seems to have started earlier than expected when Porsche established a new record at the Nürburgring aboard the Taycan Turbo S – seven minutes and 33 seconds.
In 2021, the American carmaker completed a spectacular run on what many deem “the most challenging racetrack in the world.” The Tesla Model S Plaid finished with a lap time of seven minutes and 35 minutes. This was an outstanding achievement for a production EV back then, but nobody expected another to surpass it in barely a year.
Behind the wheel of the record-breaking Taycan Turbo S was Porsche development driver Lars Kern. In its standard trim package, the zero-emission sports car is no slouch when it comes to performance. In Overboost mode, it can easily output 750 horsepower and 774 lb-ft of torque. Nevertheless, there were some tweaks to make the feat possible.
The German car manufacturer notes that the upgrade involves 21-inch RS-Spyder wheels. These rims are shod in Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber, which uses a special race-ready compound but is street legal. The most crucial part of their strategy is the software update for the Taycan Turbo S’ 4D Chassis Control.
This platform monitors braking and suspension systems and makes adjustments in real-time. There are plans to make this advanced performance package available for the 2023 model year versions of the Taycan Turbo S. Now that the heat is off Tesla’s back, Porsche is squarely in the sights of rival EV brands.
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Images courtesy of Porsche
