Tesla Model S Plaid hits 300km/h on the Nurburgring

A modified Tesla Model S has managed to reach more than 300km/h during a lap around Germany’s iconic Nürburgring race track – but it sapped almost half its battery capacity in doing so.

Driven by YouTube personality Misha Charoudin, the high-performance electric vehicle had undergone some modifications to get it ready for its hot lap.

The vehicle that performed the high-speed run was equipped with a Tesla-endorsed ‘Track Package’ upgrade which was released for the Model S Plaid earlier this year. 

This package unlocks a claimed top speed of 322km/h and addresses the sedan’s initial short-comings on the track by replacing the standard brakes with larger six-piston callipers up front and four-piston callipers on the rear and upgrading the rotors to 410mm carbon-silicon units. 

A set of 20-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tyres are also included in the Tesla Track Package.

Charoudin notes at the beginning of the video the Track Package tyres have been swapped for a set of even stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S due to the cold weather bringing down the tarmac temperature.

On the inside, the standard Tesla seats have been replaced with a set of Recaro race-style seats, and the rear seats have been removed to save weight.

Beyond of these modifications, the power output of the Tesla Model S Plaid used in the hot lap is reportedly still standard, with its original tri-motor powertrain. 

With two electric motors on the rear axle, and one on the front axle, the combined output is rated at 760kW and 1424Nm, which propels the sedan from 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.1-seconds.

As expected, this all makes for a rapid 2.2-tonne electric vehicle around the 20.832km Nurburgring circuit. 

However, the video also reveals how quickly the 100kWh battery depleted from 97 per cent charge to 52 per cent during the hot lap. 

Given the track was busy with other privately owned vehicles, a time wasn’t provided for Charoudin’s lap, but the sedan managed to hit a displayed 306km/h at one point, according to the video footage posted online.

Following the lap, Charoudin tells his YouTube audience how much better the ceramic brakes in the Track Package are compared to the standard steel rotors.He says he hopes Tesla makes an even faster upgrade kit so he can try the hot lap stunt again.