
Contributor
The fastest Tesla Model S is about to get faster.
Elon Musk has confirmed deliveries for the tri-motor Model S Plaid will start late in 2021, and revealed the car’s eye-popping performance figures.
The Model S Plaid will do the 60mph (97km/h) sprint in less than two seconds, and the quarter mile sprint in less than nine seconds thanks to its tri-motor all-wheel drive system.
Claimed top speed is north of 320km/h, and the powertrain lays down 820kW of power. Despite the wild performance, Tesla is promising a range of 835km between charges.
Mr Musk says the Plaid lapped Laguna Seca in 1:30.3, making it faster than the Lucid Air that stole the electric vehicle record from a Model S Plaid prototype earlier this year.
The goal for the Plaid is to better the 1:27.62 set by Randy Pobst in a McLaren Senna at Laguna Seca.
“We’re confident the Model S Plaid will achieve the best track time of any production vehicle ever, of any kind – two-door or otherwise,” Mr Musk said.
“You can order it now, and it’s available basically at the end of next year.”

The late-2021 delivery date represents a significant delay for the highest-performance Model S, which was originally meant to launch this year.
In Australia, the Model S Plaid will be priced from $189,990 before on-road costs, making it cheaper than the entry-level Porsche Taycan 4S.
Scott Collie is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Scott studied journalism at RMIT University and, after a lifelong obsession with everything automotive, started covering the car industry shortly afterwards. He has a passion for travel, and is an avid Melbourne Demons supporter.
You might also like


Josh Nevett
2026 GAC Aion UT review: Quick drive
7 Hours Ago


Damion Smy
The fuel excise has been cut, so why aren’t petrol and diesel prices cheaper?
11 Hours Ago


Damion Smy
Ford Ranger PHEV prices cut by up to $10,000, other Rangers get $4000 fuel offer
11 Hours Ago


Max Davies
Nissan Z Heritage Edition prices: Special edition revives iconic JDM hero colour
12 Hours Ago


William Stopford
Xpeng launches its own Aussie operation amid messy legal battle with distributor
12 Hours Ago


Ben Zachariah
Jaguar to relaunch with electric luxury sedan within months
13 Hours Ago
Related
Don't let Google decide who you trust
Add CarExpert as a Preferred Source on Google so your search results prioritise writing by actual experts, not AI.





