Tesla Model S Plaid + Prototype with Active Aero Wing Perfectly Demonstrates Itself on the Nurburgring Nordschleife

Image: statesidesupercars/YouTube

Tesla Model S Plaid is a truly unique car, which has no equal on the market and probably won’t for some time. While it is a four-door electric vehicle capable of seating up to 7 people, Model S Plaid also is the first production car ever to achieve 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds and run a quarter-mile in just 9.23 seconds, which is a new world record.

Recently, the Deep Blue Metallic Tesla Model S Plaid+ was spotted at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. This car differed from the standard Model S Plaid in that it had an active rear spoiler. The video shows how it moves depending on the speed and movement of the car, creating a truly mesmerizing show. In addition, the car had a front bumper skirt. Analyzing the video, we can say with confidence that Model S Plaid + is very maneuverable and copes well with turns, qualitatively distinguishing it from many other cars that were tested that day and captured on the video (below).

It should be kept in mind that, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the company will not release Model S Plaid +, although it remains unknown why the manufacturer continues to test the model with an active spoiler. This is not the first time a Model S with an active rear spoiler has been spotted being tested by the company.

On May 14, before Tesla announced that the Plaid + would not be produced, a Red Multi-Coat Model S Plaid+ with an active spoiler was spotted and filmed at the Laguna Seca Raceway. It didn't come as much of a surprise then. However, now that Plaid + is not planned for production, it remains extremely interesting why Tesla continues to test it.

An active spoiler is one that dynamically adjusts while the vehicle is in operation based on conditions presented, changing the spoiling effect, intensity, or other performance attribute. Found most often on sports cars and other passenger cars, the most common form is a rear spoiler that retracts and hides partially or entirely into the rear of the vehicle, then extends upwards when the vehicle exceeds a specific speed. In most cases, the deployment of the spoiler is achieved with an electric motor controlled automatically by the onboard computer or other electronics, which is triggered usually based on vehicle speed, driver setting, or other inputs.

Active spoilers can offer additional benefits over fixed spoilers. Cosmetically, they can allow a cleaner or less cluttered appearance when the vehicle is parked or traveling at low speeds, when the car is most likely to be observed. Hiding a spoiler at low speeds can improve aerodynamics as well. At low speeds, a fixed spoiler may actually increase drag but does little to improve the handling of the vehicle due to having little airflow over it. A retractable front spoiler can reduce scraping of the car on curbs or other road imperfections, while still reducing drag at high speeds (Wikipedia). 

© 2021, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

_____________________________

We appreciate your readership! Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter

Follow @EvaFoxU