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Multiple Porsche Taycan prototypes rip through Nurburgring for track testing
German carmaker Porsche appears to be putting the pedal to the metal with regards to the Taycan’s track capabilities, with multiple pre-production prototypes recently being spotted on the Nurburgring. As could be seen in a video taken earlier this month, several of Taycan’s test mules were spotted taking on the iconic track’s turns and straights in true Porsche fashion.
The video, which was taken by auto enthusiast Automotive Mike, shows at least seven Taycan prototypes being track tested on the Nurburgring. Based on clips of the vehicles, particularly the way some prototypes accelerated after navigating a turn, Porsche seems to be refining and testing the track capabilities of the Taycan’s different variants. While all of the Taycan test mules featured impressive acceleration as they hugged the track very well, some of the prototypes seemed to have slight differences in terms of performance.
The prototype fitted with the LB EF 2925 plate, for one, seemingly featured electric motors that were a bit more audible than the other test mules, as seen in 0:31 in the video. The prototype with the LB EF 923 license plate, on the other hand, almost appeared like it was moving in a more deliberate manner (2:04 in the video). While these differences might simply be due to the varying driving styles of the Taycan prototypes’ drivers, the non-uniform behavior of the test mules could also correspond to the different, upcoming performance trims of Porsche’s first all-electric car.
Porsche, after all, has not announced the specific price of the vehicle, though the Taycan’s model-line director, Rober Meier, noted to Automotive News that the company is expecting a price “somewhere between a Cayenne and a Panamera.” This means that while the Taycan would likely start at $75,000 (considering that the Cayenne starts at $66,000 and the Panamera starts at $85,000), there will certainly be versions of the vehicle that feature more performance for a higher price.
The continuous track testing of the Taycan test mules in the Nurburgring shows Porsche’s dedication in releasing an electric car capable of extended high-speed driving. Earlier this year, Porsche VP of Product Line BEV Stefan Weckbach noted that the Taycan (dubbed the Mission E sedan at the time), would be a track-capable alternative to the Model S, which is impressive in straight line races but handicapped in closed circuits. Porsche also promoted the Taycan as a vehicle that would have a “soul,” just like the company’s other cars like the iconic 911.
Porsche has released the specs and features of the Taycan, with the legacy carmaker stating that the vehicle would be fitted with two permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) that produce a combined 600 hp (440 kW), allowing the electric car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155 mph. The vehicle is also equipped with an 800-volt battery, which gives the car 310 miles of range per charge. Porsche has further noted that one of the Taycan’s key features would be its charging speed, which could replenish 248.5 miles worth of range in roughly 15 minutes, thanks to a 350 kW charging system.
Pre-orders for the Taycan have been opened in the United States, and so far, Porsche has stated that the reception to the upcoming all-electric vehicle has been very positive. The Taycan is expected to enter production sometime in 2019.
Watch Automotive Mike‘s sighting of the Porsche Taycan prototypes in the video below.
Tesla just told us twice that the Model Y L is coming to the U.S., and two social media posts definitely just tipped the company’s hand, as if they wanted it to be any other way.
The two social media posts basically confirm that the slightly longer version of the Model Y will be heading to the United States soon, and many have speculated that the company could launch the vehicle as soon as this weekend.
The first post was directly from Tesla, and it showed an incredibly long Dachshund, with words above that said, “Looking forward to the long weekend.”
Looking forward to the long weekend pic.twitter.com/URzH6zOUdn
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 1, 2026
Anyone who knows Tesla knows the company loves to troll its fans and have fun, and this is a perfect example of that. While not a direct acknowledgement, Tesla is very involved on social media, especially CEO Elon Musk’s platform X, and the company is well aware of what is being discussed within the community.
With recent sightings of Model Y L test mules in California, peeks of the vehicle at Giga Texas, and a large call for the car to come to the U.S., Tesla is simply stoking conversation with this.
However, the company also made another move that was recognized on social media. Tesla has a large gallery that includes photos of its products so media and others can use them. This gallery applies to the U.S. market specifically, unless otherwise specified.
Tesla uploaded a Model Y L to the Gallery last night:
This looks like a Model Y L https://t.co/TpnBwrLmH9
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 2, 2026
This seems to be another indication that the Model Y L is coming to the United States.
Musk said last year that the Model Y L could make its way to the United States late this year, but it was not something that was set in stone by Tesla. The company definitely needs to establish something in the SUV market that is larger than the Model Y, and the Model Y L might be the answer.
Even still, there are consumers out there who would love Tesla to develop something even larger, like a competitor to the Tahoe or Expedition. Tesla has not really given much of an indication that it will go in that direction.
Tesla is using the vehicles’ internal microphones to improve build quality, Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy revealed recently.
It’s no secret that Tesla is always finding ways to make its manufacturing operations more efficient, accurate, and valuable. Constantly trying to make its cars better, the company has never placed any restrictions on what it will do to improve everything from panel gaps to paint.
As Teslas have been driving autonomously on the property of the Gigafactory Texas plant for a while now, Moravy revealed to Herbert Ong in a new interview that cars rolling off production lines now autonomously navigate themselves through a bumps, squeaks, and rattles (BSR) portion of the line. This helps to identify any loose or improperly installed internal parts.
The cabin’s microphones, which are used for a variety of things in ownership, simultaneously monitor any noises inside the vehicle while it rolls through the BSR portion of the production line. Moravy actually revealed that Tesla is trying to build “Full Self-Hearing,” an AI system that will detect minor imperfections so they can be corrected before delivery.
It’s no secret that build quality is something that Tesla struggled with as it scaled to a fully massive production operation that manufactures over 1.6 million vehicles per year. However, in recent years, especially, there have not been as many complaints. Tesla has truly improved upon its build quality and paint quality over the past several years, especially in the U.S.
Tesla’s ‘megacasts’ are key to massive build quality improvements
While those improvements have been evident, there are still some complaints; no automaker is perfect with this. But this step will now ensure that every single car that rolls off the production lines at Gigafactory Texas will be void of any creaks, squeaks, or squeals when it leaves the factory.
This measure is one of the most unique we’ve seen in terms of a strategy to avoid build quality issues, but it is not exclusive to Tesla.
Ford uses acoustic analysis AI to find abnormalities in seat motors, climate control units, and other components. Suppliers and OEMs will also use microphone arrays or particle velocity sensors in end-of-line stations.
The full interview with Lars Moravy is available below:
🚨 If you’re a Tesla investor, this is one interview you don’t want to skip. The full video posted below.
Jeff Lutz @thejefflutz and I sat down with Tesla VP of Engineering Lars Moravy, and it was packed with insights!
A few of the biggest takeaways:
• Cybercab is expected to… pic.twitter.com/fhYSr2dCqP
— Herbert Ong (@herbertong) July 1, 2026
Investor's Corner
Tesla crushes Wall Street expectations, beats delivery estimates by over 15 percent
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) beat Wall Street expectations of 406,000 vehicles delivered in Q2 by reporting 480,126 deliveries for the three months ending in June.
Tesla reported it delivered 467,762 Model 3 and Model Y units, while 12,364 Model S, Model X, and Cybertrucks switched hands during the quarter. The Model S and Model X were officially sunset this past quarter and will no longer be part of the company’s Production & Delivery reports moving forward.
🚨 BREAKING: Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles in Q2, ANNIHILATING Wall Street expectations of 406,000. Production was reported at 451,758.
Deliveries:
Model 3/Y: 467,762
Other Models: 12,364Production:
Model 3/Y: 442,936
Other Models: 8,822 https://t.co/TTHwQAsKt8 pic.twitter.com/7qI4Zj6FE5— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 2, 2026
The quarter is a pleasant surprise and a good rebound from Q1, when Tesla slightly missed the Wall Street consensus of 365,645 cars by reporting 358,023 deliveries for the first three motnhs of the year.
Energy storage deployments also provided some strength in Tesla’s delivery report, hitting 13.5 GWh for Q2. This is a particular division of Tesla’s business that has been overwhelmingly robust over the past few years, truly being a strong point of the company’s overall model.
For the year, Tesla analysts still predict deliveries to trend in the 1.69 million unit region, a modest 3 to 5 percent increase from the 1.64 million cars the company delivered last year. Tesla will likely return to more sequential and noticeable year-over-year growth as the Cybercab project starts to ramp up considerably in the next few years.
Tesla has some other potential catalysts to spur vehicle deliveries, too. Not only is it expecting Cybercab to truly start making a change in the next few years, but other vehicles could be entering the company’s lineup.
Tesla sends production Cybercab with no steering wheel, pedals to on-road testing
The slightly longer Model Y L has been a highly speculated release candidate in the U.S. It has already done incredibly well in China, and U.S. buyers have been wanting slightly more interior space than the Model Y. Now that the Model X is gone, it is more needed than ever.
Q2 highlights a pretty stable automotive division within Tesla, and no true concerns arise from these figures, especially considering it managed to beat expectations convincingly.
Tesla just told us twice that Model Y L is coming to the U.S.
Tesla is using vehicle microphones to improve build quality: here’s how
