SPYSHOTS: Modified Tesla Model S testing near Nurburgring; lap record attempt, special edition soon?

It appears that Tesla is now getting serious about its Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record attempt, following the seven-minute, 42-second lap time set by a pre-production Porsche Taycan, which makes its the quickest four-door electric vehicle around the famed German circuit, according to Porsche.

The Model S seen here at a facility near the Nurburgring certainly isn’t a standard-issue road-going model, its most prominent additions being the wheel arch extensions to accommodate the wider wheel and tyre combination for more grip. Rubber has been reported to be Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, which are among the more track-focused performance tyres for road cars.

Bodywork revisions for the performance test include a revised front bumper with a slightly larger air intake for additional cooling, while a rear boot-mounted spoiler lip has been added for downforce. There also appears to be a ‘+’ added to the P100D badge on the car’s bootlid, though it remains to be seen if this will translate into an actual production variant.

A ‘source on the ground’ has informed Road & Track that Tesla’s lap time attempt could be held next week, and although circuit management representatives have told the website that the track is fully booked for the season, the source has since said that a 30-minute window has been carved out of a booked public slot for Tesla’s private running.

The seven-minute, 42-second lap time set by the pre-production Taycan makes it quicker than other passenger cars like the Mercedes-AMG E63 S estate, Volvo S60 Polestar and the FK8 Honda Civic Type R, though still falling short of the times by the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R, F90 BMW M5 and the Porsche Panamera Turbo around the 20.8 km-long circuit, according to the website.

(Update: A newer batch of spy images from the Nurburgring have been sent in, and here a P100D+ fitted with German registration plates can be seen with what appears to be ceramic brakes, along with an even larger rear spoiler extension.)

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