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Tesla rival Porsche Taycan (Mission E) hits Nürburgring for high-speed testing

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The Porsche Taycan, formerly known as the Mission E sedan, was recently spotted doing some high-speed testing at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. As could be seen in a compilation of the all-electric car’s runs, it appears that the Taycan would be able to live up to Porsche’s statement that the vehicle would be capable of being driven hard for extended periods on the track.

The recent video of the Taycan’s high-speed Nürburgring run was uploaded by noted YouTube car enthusiast Automotive Mike, who was able to film the vehicle at multiple points in the 12.9-mile track. True to its pedigreed ICE-powered siblings, the Taycan looks very much at home on the Nürburgring, going through corners at high speed by taking advantage of its low center of gravity caused by its floor-mounted battery pack.

Unlike the recent advertisements for the vehicle, however, Porsche opted to drive a pre-production Taycan prototype around the track. The pre-production units of the Taycan feature several different elements from the original Mission E concept unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Porsche’s Mission E concept car has been received with acclaim, partly thanks to its futuristic design and unique elements such as its rear suicide doors. Compared to the Mission E concept, however, the design of the Porsche Taycan’s pre-production vehicle is rather tame. The Taycan’s rear, for one, has been changed from the concept car’s original design, as it now features a more traditional Porsche 911-esque theme. Fake exhaust pipes are also fitted in the pre-production Taycan, likely as a means to throw off onlookers.

The Taycan is expected to be released at some point next year. Designed as an all-electric all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Taycan is expected to compete in the same segment as Tesla’s flagship Model S sedan. The Taycan features some impressive specs to make it attractive on the market, including a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a range of 310 miles, and a maximum speed of 155 mph. As noted by Porsche VP of Product Line BEV, Stefan Weckbach, the Taycan (dubbed as the Mission E sedan at the time) would establish itself as a track-worthy alternative to the Tesla Model S, an electric car that is quick on the drag strip but flawed on the track. With this in mind, it appears that Porche’s continued high-speed testing sessions on the Nürburgring are an attempt to ensure that when the car does get released, even hardcore Porsche owners can attest to the vehicle’s “soul” and racing pedigree.

While the Porsche Taycan would most definitely perform better than the current-generation Model S on the track, Tesla’s new vehicles could soon give the German legacy automaker some competition in places like the Nürburgring. The Model 3 Performance, for one, is expected to be a capable track vehicle, with Elon Musk stating that it would be 15% faster on a racecourse than a BMW M3. The Model 3 Performance’s listed specs are actually quite similar to the Taycan, with Tesla’s compact electric car having a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a range of 310 miles, and a top speed of 155 mph. Once the production version of the Taycan is ready, it would likely be only a matter of time before auto enthusiasts would start pitting Porsche’s pedigreed electric car against the Model 3 Performance.

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Now as for how the Porsche Taycan would compare to Tesla’s oft-rumored upcoming update to the Model S? Well, that is an entirely different rabbit hole altogether.

Watch the Porsche Taycan (Mission E) take on the Nürburgring in its latest track testing session.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla gets new information request from NHTSA on Robotaxi rollout

Tesla has been contacted by the NHTSA regarding plans for the Robotaxi rollout and how it will handle poor weather.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has been contacted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding its planned rollout of a Robotaxi platform in Austin, Texas.

The agency sent a letter to Tesla Field Quality Director Eddit Gates, seeking more information on exactly how the company plans to operate the fleet in poor weather conditions. The NHTSA wants to know how Tesla’s technology and operational use cases will “assess the ability of Tesla’s system to react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions.”

Additionally, the NHTSA said it would like additional information on Tesla’s development of technologies for use in ‘robotaxi’ vehicles to understand how Tesla plans to evaluate its vehicles and driving automation technologies for public roads.

Tesla has already started operating a supervised version of the Robotaxi platform for employees in both Austin and San Francisco. This limited rollout has completed thousands of rides already, but differs from the version it plans to roll out in the coming weeks in Austin, as it currently has a driver sitting in the driver’s seat.

Tesla says it has launched ride-hailing Robotaxi teaser to employees only

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They are there to supervise the vehicle and ensure safety early on in the program.

The letter that was sent to Tesla on May 8 is part of a greater investigation that was opened by the NHTSA on October 17, titled “FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions.”

The agency said the purpose of the “Preliminary Evaluation of FSD” was to assess:

  • The ability of FSD’s engineering controls to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions;
  • Whether any other similar FSD crashes have occurred in reduced roadway visibility conditions and, if so, the contributing circumstances for those crashes; and
  • Any updates or modifications from Tesla to the FSD system that may affect the performance of FSD in reduced roadway visibility conditions. In particular, this review will assess the timing, purpose, and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact.

Tesla is required to respond to the NHTSA’s request by June 19.

INIM-PE24031-62887 by Joey Klender on Scribd

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Potential affordable Tesla “Model 2/Model Q” test car spotted anew in Giga Texas

The recent footage featured an apparent test car that looks very similar to a vehicle that was spotted in the Fremont Factory last month.

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Credit: @JoeTegtmeyer/X

Tesla has been very secretive about the “more affordable models” that it intends to start producing in the first half of 2025, but the company does seem to be quite busy testing something interesting in the Giga Texas complex. This was, at least, as per recent aerial footage from a longtime Giga Texas watcher.

The recent footage featured an apparent test car that looks very similar to a vehicle that was spotted in the Fremont Factory last month. 

New Giga Texas Sighting

In a post on X, longtime Giga Texas watcher and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer noted that he recently spotted a rather unique test car in the factory complex. The vehicle was under a car cover, but it was evidently missing its body panels and roof. Interestingly enough, it seemed to be shaped like a Model Y (it even had Model Y wheels), though it looked a bit more compact than another Model Y that was parked next to it.

Interestingly enough, a rather similar test car was spotted at another Tesla plant, the Fremont Factory in California, last month. Tesla watcher Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years, shared some footage from a drone flyover in mid-April. One of the vehicles captured in the flyover was an apparent test car that was parked next to fully-built Model Y and Model S vehicles. The test car in this sighting also looked like a compact crossover, and it was also missing its roof and body panels. 

Tesla’s Affordable Cars

In the Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” In the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy stated that Tesla’s affordable cars would resemble the company’s existing vehicles, though they will be more affordable.

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These comments suggested that Tesla’s affordable cars, which have been informally dubbed by the EV community as the “Model 2 or Model Q,” will look a lot like its two mass market vehicles, the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover. “Models that come out in the next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moray stated.

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Elon Musk invited to attend investment summit in Saudi Arabia: report

Musk’s reported invitation comes on the sidelines of United States President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East.

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Joel Kowsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A planning note reported viewed by Reuters has indicated that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been invited to a Saudi-U.S. investment forum in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The event is expected to be held on Tuesday.

Musk’s reported invitation comes on the sidelines of United States President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East.

Musk’s Invitation

As per Reuters, the upcoming investment forum is expected to be attended by some of the most distinguished people in the investment world. These include the CEOs of high-profile companies such as Blackrock, Citigroup, IBM, Boeing, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, among others, the publication noted. 

Considering the other attendees of the event, Elon Musk would likely fit right thanks to his leadership of companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, as well as his close ties with the Trump administration through his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk and Saudi Arabia

Elon Musk’s relationship with Riyadh have notably improved since the start of Trump’s second term as United States president. Highlighting this improvement was Tesla’s launch in Saudi, which was held in April. Tesla’s launch was a notable event based on videos posted of the occasion, with the company showcasing some of its most exciting products, including Optimus, the Cybertruck, and the Cybercab, its self-driving robotaxi.

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Tesla’s launch in Saudi Arabia, as well as his reported invitation to the upcoming investment forum, suggests that the CEO’s feud with Yasir Al Rumayyan, head of the $925 billion Public Investment Fund, has ended. The PIF Head was among the people involved in Elon Musk’s infamous “funding secured” tweet in 2018, which resulted in hefty fines and his removal as Tesla’s Board Chair. The PIF also sold its Tesla holdings and invested in another EV company, Lucid Group Inc.

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