Tesla Model S Plaid with Active Rear Spoiler Is World’s Fastest Production Car

Photo: The Kilowatts/Twitter

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, the Model S Plaid also is the first production car ever to achieve 0-60mph in under 2 seconds and run a quarter-mile in just 9.23 seconds, which is a new world record.

Drive Tesla Canada reported yesterday that the Tesla Model S Plaid has set a new record for the fastest quarter-mile run of any production vehicle in the world. Unfortunately, the article was later deleted, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk liked several articles based on the information of the blog, which can be a direct confirmation of the authenticity of the data. The record of 9.23 seconds with a trap speed of 152.16 miles per hour was set on May 11, 2021, at the Autoclub Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.

Such a result means that the Tesla Model S Plaid broke the record of the 9.4-second quarter-mile time set by the $3.3 million Bugatti Chiron Sport. Thus, a family electric car—the cost of which is 27 times less (!!!) than the Bugatti Chiron Sport—is the fastest production car in the world. It should be noted that during the run, Tesla left absolutely all the interior elements in place, in contrast to rivals who stripped down their cars for the race.

The list of leaders, according to the data of Сlean Technica:

1. 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid - 9.23 seconds
2. 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport - 9.4 seconds.
3. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - 9.7 seconds
4. 2015 McLaren P1 - 9.8 seconds

On May 14, the red and black Model S Plaid (possibly Plaid +) were spotted and filmed on Laguna Seca Raceway by The Kilowatts/Twitter. The guys noticed that the red car is different from those they saw before. While it was passing through the track, it was noticed that it has an active rear spoiler.

BREAKING: Tesla is CURRENTLY attempting lap records in a couple of Model S Plaid (possibly a Plaid+) prototypes at Laguna Seca Raceway!
They just secured a 1:30:XX (unconfirmed time)
This is a developing story - more photos and videos to follow. pic.twitter.com/BqxPdK4k43

— The Kilowatts 🚗⚡️ (@klwtts) May 14, 2021

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—which is 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).

Tesla continues to amaze observers with its Model S Plaid and Plaid +. We are sure these are not the only innovations the company has in store for us with these new models.

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

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