Updated Tesla Model S Plaid spotted at Nürburgring challenging Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Tesla eyes a record with potential updates.
The Tesla Model S Plaid and its ongoing competition with the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. You know that Elon Musk has a special kind of obsession with Porsche. It probably started with a Porsche 911 Turbo from 2012. In 2019, he made fun of the Porsche Taycan, and then tried to beat it at the Nürburgring with the Model S Plaid. This competition has been quite interesting, and it seems that Tesla is back in the race.
The Tesla Model S Plaid has had a bit of a bumpy ride at the Nürburgring. It had a bit of a rough start. But, in the end, it set a record time. However, Tesla did not get the publicity win that Musk wanted, as Porsche later took back the record. Now in 2025, it looks like Tesla is trying again, first with the Model Y Performance and now with this face-lifted Model S Plaid.
The Model S that has been spotted could come with minor updates for the 2026 model year. The changes seem to be so minor that it just gets some light camouflage on the front and rear. Things we can see include a small lip spoiler below the existing front bumper, a more pronounced diffuser, and updated wheels. It’s hard to guess, but we think the wheels could be slightly larger than the current ones. This makes sense, as Tesla would want to increase grip, and more rubber on the road is the first step to that.
It’s entirely possible that some mechanical changes have also been made to the suspension and steering. These changes will help attract those who still want a new Model S. Also, if Tesla still wants to compete directly with the Porsche Taycan, these changes will help. The attempt to take the record this time at the Nürburgring may be more due to the pride of the engineering team than Musk’s stubbornness.
So guys, the reappearance of the Tesla Model S Plaid at the Nürburgring is directly related to its competition with the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. It shows that Tesla is still keen to stay on top in this electric performance segment. Even though the Model S is now a 12-year-old platform, with these updates, Tesla is hoping that it can challenge the Porsche Taycan, which has been described as redefining electric performance.
Source: YouTube CarSpyMedia
Sophiya’s passion for cars ignited before she was three, and she would identify every vehicle on her street. That enthusiasm fueled her pursuit of a mechanical engineering technology degree and a career covering the auto industry. A four-time Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards winner, Sophiya now serves as president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
