Tesla Unveils Model S Plaid Track Package With Updated Software for Peak Performance

Tesla introduces the Model S Track Package

Tesla

Tesla has once again raised the bar in electric vehicle performance with the release of the Model S Plaid Track Package, designed for the ultimate track experience. This comprehensive package delivers high-speed stability, maximum cornering force, and repeatable stopping power during high-performance driving while unlocking an impressive top speed of 200 mph.

Starting in June 2023, the Track Package comes with several excellent parts to make your car perform better and last longer, both on the racetrack and on regular streets:

• Aluminum forged wheels: These wheels are made from strong and lightweight metal, which helps your car go faster and use less energy.
• Track-ready tires: Special tires designed for better grip on the racetrack, making your car more stable when you drive fast or take sharp turns.
• Brake fluid: A special liquid that helps your car's brakes work smoothly and efficiently, so you can stop quickly when needed.
• Carbon-silicon carbide rotors: These are special brake discs made from a mix of materials that make them strong and good at handling heat, which helps your brakes last longer.
• One-piece forged calipers with high-performance pads are powerful clamps that squeeze your brakes for better stopping power. They're made from a single piece of metal, which makes them more robust, and they have special pads for better performance.

The Model S Plaid has already been showered with accolades for its speed and performance. A quick YouTube search will reveal hundreds of videos showing the Model S leaving super cars in the dust, or blowing past cars on the Autobahn.

Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit: A Game-Changer for Braking Performance

The Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit is the heart of the Track Package, featuring continuous-fiber technology and a unique 3D matrix to add strength and manage heat more effectively. The kit includes 410 x 40mm front and 410 x 32mm rear carbon-silicon carbide rotors, 6-piston and 4-piston one-piece forged calipers with high-performance brake pads, integrated caliper-mounted parking brakes, and track-ready brake fluid. In addition, a ceramic friction layer covers the entire rotor surface to reduce brake dust, corrosion, and wear while improving the pedal feel for daily driving.

What's all that mean? The kit has big, fancy brake discs and powerful clamps that squeeze the brakes for better stopping power. There's also a special coating on the brake discs that helps keep them clean and lasts longer. This all helps make the brakes work well not only on the racetrack but also for everyday driving.

Wheel and Tire Components for Enhanced Handling

The package also features 20X10J and 20X11J Zero-G wheels with 285/35R20 and 305/30R20 Goodyear Supercar 3R tires, TPMS, Zero-G center caps, tire nut valves, and lug nut covers. These wheel and tire components have been carefully selected to enhance handling and grip, ensuring your Model S Plaid is ready for the racetrack.

Tires are essential because they are the only part of your car that touches the road. Good tires help your car stick to the road better, especially when driving fast, turning, or stopping. In this package, the special Goodyear Supercar 3R tires and other wheel parts have been chosen to ensure the Model S Plaid has the best possible grip and control on the racetrack. So, having the right tires can make a difference in how well your car performs and how safe it is to drive.

Updated Track Mode

Tesla's list of included components also lists 'Updated FW tuned for peak performance," hinting at an updated Track Mode that will give drivers more insight into how the vehicle is performing.

Tesla briefly teased the improved Track Mode feature in a video they shared on Twitter. Your vehicle's speed is now front and center on the illustrument cluster, with tire pressure appearing to the left. Tesla doesn't go into details on what's new or impoved, but it looks like Plaid owners can expect some changes to Track Mode if they have the Track Package installed.

While it is unclear if this feature will be exclusive to the Track Package or available via an OTA update for Model S Plaid vehicles, it is an exciting potential addition that could further elevate the Tesla track experience.

Tesla introduces the Model S Track Package

Tesla

The Model S Plaid Track Package is compatible with Model S Plaid vehicles produced in 2021 and later. To achieve the top speed of 200 mph, vehicles must be fitted with the Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit and proper wheels and tires. The kit is not compatible with 19" Tempest wheels but works with 20" Zero-G and 21" Arachnid wheels (sold separately). Please note that Goodyear Supercar 3R tires are not recommended for winter use or in temperatures below 40℉ (5℃).

Unleash the full potential of your Model S Plaid with the Track Package, and dominate the racetrack like never before.

Plaid Track Package in Action

Tesla let AutoTopNL have an early look at their new Track Package and below is their video review.

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Musk Teases New Model for Early 2025 That Will Use a Mix of Next-Gen and Current Platforms

“We have updated our future vehicle line-up to accelerate the launch of new models ahead of our previously communicated start of production in the second half of 2025”. This was one of the key sentences that were part of Tesla’s deck shared on Tuesday directly before its financial results.

Since Reuters’ report a few weeks ago saying Tesla had “scrapped” the highly expected cheaper model— which Elon quickly denied on X —retail and institutional shareholders started asking for more details on Tesla’s product roadmap for 2024 and beyond.

In the earnings conference call, Elon Musk reiterated that Tesla expects to launch the next model in “early 2025, if not late this year”.

“We've updated our future vehicle lineup to accelerate the launch of new models ahead of previously mentioned start of production in the second half of 2025. So, we expect it to be more like the early 2025, if not late this year. “

Over concerns of temporary production halts to update the factories for these new models, Musk said that Tesla will produce new models with certain aspects from their next-generation platform and current models. This will reduce the number of changes needed on production lines and allow Tesla not only to ramp up production faster but also to get the vehicles to market quicker.

Model Y Redesign

Tesla appears to hit that their next-gen vehicle will be less “next-gen” than they were initially aiming for, but to get a new vehicle out the door by late 2024, the process would already have to be in motion. Tesla may likely be referring to the redesigned Model Y, which is expected to reuse many parts from the new Model 3. Earlier this year, Tesla said that the redesigned Model Y will not be released this year, so it makes sense that they’re looking to speed up that production.

Tesla CEO concluded by saying that these measures will allow Tesla to reach a capacity of over 3 million units. Tesla produced 1.84 million vehicles in 2023. However, this year they’re ramping up Cybertruck production and introduced the new Model 3 into new markets.

And we think this should allow us to get to over 3 million vehicles of capacity when realized to the full extent.

Tesla reported on Tuesday its earnings results followed by a conference call where it teased its upcoming Robotaxi and its next-generation platform saying its “purpose-built Robotaxi product will continue to pursue a revolutionary ‘unboxed’ manufacturing strategy”.

Earlier in the day, Tesla announced the new Performance variant of its sedan Model 3 with deliveries in the United States starting already next month. The new version starts at $45,490 (after applying the $7,500 Federal EV tax credit) and goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.9 seconds.

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Tesla on FSD: Close to License Deal With Major Automaker, Announces Miles Driven on FSD v12

On Tuesday Tesla reported its earnings results followed by a conference call that brought several updates on the company’s roadmap for future vehicles, autonomous driving, Optimus and much more.

While answering a question from Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney about updates on the licensing of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, Elon Musk said they’re talking to one major auto manufacturer and there’s “a good chance” the company signs the first deal before year-end. However, he went on to say that it would probably be three years before the necessary changes are integrated into the car.

I think we have a good chance we do sign a deal this year

Brings Benefits to Tesla

The technology would require other automakers to start using the same cameras and hardware as Tesla, meaning that Tesla may not only generate money from licensing FSD but also from selling the hardware itself. However, there would be other benefits as well. When licensing FSD, Tesla would likely own the data gathered with the system well, further helping them with data and edge cases that need to be solved to reach full autonomy.

people don't understand all cars will need to be smart cars… Once that becomes obvious, I think licensing becomes not optional.

Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja commented pointing out that future partners “take a lot of time in their product life cycle” resulting in a gap between the deal signing and the arrival in the market of Tesla’s FSD software.

Miles Driven With FSD

On the conference call, Musk added that Tesla now has over 300 million miles that have been driven with FSD v12 since it was launched just last month. He added that it's becoming “very clear that the vision-based approach with end-to-end neural networks is the right solution for scalable autonomy”.

Tesla said it will continue to increase its “core AI infrastructure capacity in the coming months” adding that in the first quarter, it completed the transition to hardware 4.0 with China now receiving the upgraded FSD computer and cameras.

Over the weekend, Tesla reduced the price of FSD dropping it from $12,000 to $8,000 for customers in the United States and from CA$16,000 to CA$11,000 in Canada.

Earlier this month, Tesla implemented a 50% price reduction for FSD subscriptions in the U.S. and introduced the subscription model in Canada at a great value of CA$99 per month.

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