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Porsche Taycan Turbo GT makes its entrance with new lap record at Laguna Seca

Credit: Porsche AG

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Porsche is expanding its Taycan lineup with the introduction of two new high-performance models — the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package. Both variants prioritize performance with increased power output, enhanced aerodynamics, and lightweight construction elements.

The Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package established itself as a record holder on February 23, 2024, at the Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. With a lap time of 1:27.87 minutes, it effectively beat the Tesla Model S Plaid’s 1:29.9’s unofficial lap time in May 2021. It even beat the record set by Dark Helmet, Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance’s Model S Plaid racecar, which completed Laguna Seca in 1:28.21 minutes. 

The standard Taycan Turbo GT demonstrated its capabilities on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit as well. While Porsche used a pre-series Taycan Turbo GT for its Nürburgring run, the vehicle nevertheless achieved an incredible lap time of 7:07.55 minutes. 

Porsche noted in a press release that the Taycan Turbo GT and Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package features a more powerful pulse inverter and a new rear-axle motor, resulting in a maximum system output of 580 kilowatts (kW). With Launch Control, the car’s output can be increased to up to 760 kW of overboost power or up to 815 kW for two seconds according to peak power measurement method. 

Porsche used lightweight construction techniques to reduce the weight of the Taycan Turbo GT by up to 75 kg compared to the Taycan Turbo S. This weight reduction was achieved through the use of carbon fiber, lightweight seats, and the removal of some comfort features, among others. Inside, the new flagship all-electric sports cars are all business, with Race-Tex features, lightweight full bucket seats, and special badging.

With these upgrades, the Taycan Turbo GT features a 0-100 km/h time of 2.3 seconds or 2.2 seconds for the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package. From a standstill, the Taycan Turbo GT can reach speeds of 200 km/h in just 6.6 seconds, or just 6.4 seconds for the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package. This makes the new Taycan variants up to 1.3 seconds quicker than the already capable Taycan Turbo S.

The first Taycan Turbo GT models are expected to be delivered to customers in spring 2024.

Watch Top Gear’s segment on the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT in the video below.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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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 to increase Full Self-Driving subscription price: here’s when

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla will increase its Full Self-Driving subscription price, meaning it will eventually be more than the current $99 per month price tag it has right now.

Already stating that the ability to purchase the suite outright will be removed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said earlier this week that the Full Self-Driving subscription price would increase when its capabilities improve:

“I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve. The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD).”

This was an expected change, especially as Tesla has been hinting for some time that it is approaching a feature-complete version of Full Self-Driving that will no longer require driver supervision. However, with the increase, some are concerned that they may be priced out.

$99 per month is already a tough ask for some. While Full Self-Driving is definitely worth it just due to the capabilities, not every driver is ready to add potentially 50 percent to their car payment each month to have it.

While Tesla has not revealed any target price for FSD, it does seem that it will go up to at least $150.

Additionally, the ability to purchase the suite outright is also being eliminated on February 14, which gives owners another reason to be slightly concerned about whether they will be able to afford to continue paying for Full Self-Driving in any capacity.

Some owners have requested a tiered program, which would allow people to pay for the capabilities they want at a discounted price.

Unsupervised FSD would be the most expensive, and although the company started removing Autopilot from some vehicles, it seems a Supervised FSD suite would still attract people to pay between $49 and $99 per month, as it is very useful.

Tesla will likely release pricing for the Unsupervised suite when it is available, but price increases could still come to the Supervised version as things improve.

This is not the first time Musk has hinted that the price would change with capability improvements, either. He’s been saying it for some time. In 2020, he even said the value of FSD would “probably be somewhere in excess of $100,000.”

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Tesla starts removing outright Full Self-Driving purchase option at time of order

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has chosen to axe the ability to purchase Full Self-Driving outright from a select group of cars just days after CEO Elon Musk announced the company had plans to eliminate that option in February.

The company is making a clear-cut stand that it will fully transition away from the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright, a move that has brought differing opinions throughout the Tesla community.

Earlier this week, the company also announced that it will no longer allow buyers to purchase Full Self-Driving outright when ordering a pre-owned vehicle from inventory. Instead, that will be available for $99 per month, the same price that it costs for everyone else.

The ability to buy the suite for $8,000 for a one-time fee at the time of order has been removed:

This is a major move because it is the first time Tesla is eliminating the ability to purchase FSD outright for one flat fee to any of its vehicles, at least at the time of purchase.

It is trying to phase out the outright purchase option as much as it can, preparing people for the subscription-based service it will exclusively offer starting on February 14.

In less than a month, it won’t be available on any vehicle, which has truly driven some serious conversation from Tesla owners throughout the community.

There’s a conflict, because many believe that they will now lose the ability to buy FSD and not pay for it monthly, which is an attractive offer. However, others believe, despite paying $8,000 for FSD, that they will have to pay more money on top of that cost to get the unsupervised suite.

Additionally, CEO Elon Musk said that the FSD suite’s subscription price would increase over time as capabilities increase, which is understandable, but is also quite a conflict for those who spent thousands to have what was once promised to them, and now they may have to pay even more money.

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Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature not available on typical Model Ys

These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.

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Credit: David Moss | X

Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature that is not available on typical Model Ys that people like you and me bring home after we buy them. The feature is something that many have been wanting for years, especially after the company adopted a vision-only approach to self-driving.

After Tesla launched driverless Robotaxi rides to the public earlier this week in Austin, people have been traveling to the Lone Star State in an effort to hopefully snag a ride from one of the few vehicles in the fleet that are now no longer required to have Safety Monitors present.

BREAKING: Tesla launches public Robotaxi rides in Austin with no Safety Monitor

Although only a few of those completely driverless rides are available, there have been some new things seen on these cars that are additions from regular Model Ys, including the presence of one new feature: camera washers.

With the Model Y, there has been a front camera washer, but the other exterior “eyes” have been void of any solution for this. For now, owners are required to clean them manually.

In Austin, Tesla is doing things differently. It is now utilizing camera washers on the side repeater and rear bumper cameras, which will keep the cameras clean and keep operation as smooth and as uninterrupted as possible:

These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.

This is the first time we are seeing them, so it seems as if Safety Monitors might have been responsible for keeping the lenses clean and unobstructed previously.

However, as Tesla transitions to a fully autonomous self-driving suite and Robotaxi expands to more vehicles in the Robotaxi fleet, it needed to find a way to clean the cameras without any manual intervention, at least for a short period, until they can return for interior and exterior washing.

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