Tesla Model S Plaid: Track pack finally uprates 760kW sedan’s brakes

Following the Model S Plaid’s release and Nurburgring lap attempt late in 2022, Tesla has finally made the extra track-focused equipment available in an option pack.

The Track Pack will cost US$20,000 (AU$29,500) and is available from June in the United States, with no word yet on Australian arrival.

It adds a carbon ceramic braking system with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers clamping huge 409mm rotors. The brakes are accommodated by new 20-inch ‘Zero-G’ light alloy wheels without aero covers and 285/35 front, 305/30 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 Super 3R rubber.

3

It’s unclear if the circa-760kW Model S Plaid will hit 100km/h any faster than its 2.1 second claim with the additions, but when you’re going that fast already it’s not going to make a huge difference.

What is new is the lifted speed limiter. Previously strangled down to 282km/h, the new brakes see Tesla lift that limited top speed allowing over 320km/h (200mph) in the Plaid.

Tesla will offer the Model S Plaid package in the US from June 2023, with it available as a retrofit for existing Plaid models – Australian plans are unclear, though it’s unlikely given the Model S has been withdrawn from sale locally since at least January 2022.

John Law

Our original story, below, continues unchanged

February 26, 2022: Model S Plaid gets Track mode!

Jordan Mulach

Tesla's flagship Model S Plaid has been given its own Track Mode for 2022, released via an over-the-air update last week.

Just like the Track Mode which has been available on the Model 3 Performance since 2018, the Plaid's circuit-only mapping has allowed Tesla to extract the maximum potential from the high-output model.

Designed by Tesla in its attempts to break the Nürburgring lap record for production electric vehicles, Track Mode deploys the tri-motor setup's 750kw-plus power output while also optimising cooling, torque vectoring and its adaptive dampers to produce the quickest possible lap time.

3

To prepare the car for the high-stress scenario, the battery pack is cooled to its lowest point to ensure it can run harder and longer than usual, while torque vectoring now sends more power to the outside, loaded wheels to assist with cornering, reducing understeer for faster turns.

Regenerative braking is increased as well, allowing the physical brakes to stay within their operating window due to the strain being shared with the electric motors, working in tandem with the vehicle dynamics controller to let the suspension give each tyre the maximum amount of grip available.

Other features include a track-focused user interface which allows drivers to look at important data such as a vehicle thermals monitor, lap timer, G-meter, dashcam video capture and vehicle telemetry, while also allowing for customisable displays.

As Tesla quietly announced the new mode on its blog, CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to announce the company's Full Self-Driving autonomous system would undergo a price rise later this month.

Jumping from US$10,000 (AU$13,920) to US$12,000 (AU$16,700), the increased premium will affect United States customers only, coming into effect from January 17.

In Australia, Full Self-Driving is available for a one-off fee of $10,000, making it one of the few features which is cheaper on local cars than in Tesla's home market.