

Lifestyle
Tesla Model 3 Performance shatters all-time EV lap record at Laguna Seca
A Tesla Model 3 Performance achieved the unthinkable over the past weekend when it shattered the all-time electric vehicle lap record at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.
Ripping through the racetrack in near-stealth fashion, the all-electric sedan stunned onlookers as it set a lap time of 1:37.5, crushing the previous lap record of 1:41.2 set by Cameron Rogers in December 2018. Incidentally, both lap records were set in the same Tesla Model 3 Performance that’s owned by Cameron, with the latest achievement reined in by driver Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance.
The electric four-door family sedan’s 1:37.5 lap time soundly beats the Jaguar I-PACE, driven by legendary racecar driver Randy Pobst around the track in 1:48.6, by nearly 11 seconds. More importantly, Model 3 Performance beat the previous all-time record set by Lucid Motors in their purpose-built, 1,000 hp Air prototype that included a stripped out interior and a full roll cage.
Top 10 Fastest EV Laps at Laguna Seca Raceway
- Tesla Model 3 Performance w/mods: 1:37.5 (Teslarati/Mountain Pass Performance at TeslaCorsa 6/29/19)
- Lucid Air 1,000 hp prototype (non-production, full roll cage, race tires): 1:39.3
- Tesla Model 3 Performance w/mods (December 2018 record): 1:41.2
- Lucid Air 1,000 hp prototype (non-production, full roll cage): 1:41.6
- Tesla Model S P100D w/mods: 1:45.2 (Refuel 2019)
- Tesla Model 3 Performance: 1:46.8
- Tesla Model S P100D (Lucid Motors test driver): 1:47.6
- Jaguar I-Pace (Randy Pobst driver): 1.48.18
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range rear-wheel drive w/mods: 1:48.6
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range rear-wheel drive stock: 1:54.2
The weekend played witness to two EV-centric events at Laguna Seca: the annual REFUEL event and Tesla Corsa. REFUEL 11 featured time trials and events for electric vehicles and electric motorcycles in a competitive setting, while Tesla Corsa was, for many, an opportunity to meet up with other Tesla owners and enthusiasts who wished to experience the track with their electric cars. This was the first time that the Model 3 Performance was able to join REFUEL, as the vehicle was not yet available during last year’s annual meet. The Model 3 Performance made an impact in both events, performing record-setting runs, back-to-back on Friday and Saturday during Tesla Corsa. The Model 3 Performance would win REFUEL 11 the following day after setting the fastest qualifying lap in its event debut.
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
What is quite remarkable about the record-setting Model 3 is that the vehicle is a regular commuter car that’s been upgraded with standard off-the-shelf Mountain Pass Performance parts that include an adjustable coilover suspension, upgraded control arms, improved brakes, and a second set of track tires. The vehicle’s owner, Cameron Rogers, who also previously held the production EV lap record at Laguna Seca, uses the vehicle to get to and from work on a daily basis.
Teslarati and Mountain Pass Performance joined Cameron in his mission to prove that Tesla’s first track-capable sedan could really be a formidable opponent to gas cars on a closed circuit racetrack. More importantly, we set out to turn the Motorsport world entirely on its head.
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance at the Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance racecar’s brakes. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance at the Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
- A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
A Tesla Model 3 Performance attacks the track at Laguna Seca Raceway. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati)
When Elon Musk announced the Model 3 Performance, he stated that the vehicle would be competitive on the track even against track-capable gas cars. The electric sedan’s new lap record at Laguna Seca Raceway suggests that the CEO’s words were accurate, as the vehicle’s 1:37.5 time bests that of far costlier performance cars, including the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, BMW M4 GTS, the Porsche 911, and the Aston Martin Vantage.
It should be noted that the Model 3 Performance is Tesla’s most affordable Performance vehicle in its lineup. The car currently retails for $59,900, and is available in multiple territories today, meaning customers in North America, Europe, and China could acquire a car with the performance to beat nearly all production cars around a track. If that’s not an inflection point for the motoring world, it’s hard to imagine what is.
Watch Sasha rip through the corkscrew at Laguna Seca in a Tesla Model 3 Performance and set the all-time EV lap record for a production car.
Lifestyle
Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results
There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.

The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals.
The monster from China
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower.
Real-world tests
As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.
The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.
Lifestyle
500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y.

BYD is seeing a lot of momentum in Europe, so much so that mainstream media has taken every opportunity to argue that the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla in the region. But while BYD sales this year in Europe are rising and Tesla’s registrations remain challenged, the raw capabilities of vehicles like the Model Y are difficult to deny.
This was highlighted in a 500-mile challenge by What Car? magazine, which showed that the new Tesla Model Y is more efficient, cheaper to run, and more reliable than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7, and even the nearly 400 KW-charging MG IM6.
Range and charging promises
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y. The Sealion 7 had more estimated range and the IM6 promised significantly faster charging. When faced with real-world conditions, however, it was still the Model Y that proved superior.
During the 500-mile test, the BYD nearly failed to reach a charging stop, arriving with less range than its display projected, as noted in a CarUp report. MG fared better, but its charging speeds never reached its promised nearly-400 kW charging speed. Tesla’s Model Y, by comparison, managed energy calculations precisely and arrived at each stop without issue.
Tesla leads in areas that matter
Charging times from 25% to 80% showed that the MG was the fastest at 17 minutes, while Tesla and BYD were close at 28 and 29 minutes, respectively. Overall efficiency and cost told a different story, however. The Model Y consumed 19.4 kWh per 100 km, compared to 22.2 for MG and 23.9 for BYD. Over the full trip, Tesla’s charging costs totaled just £82 thanks to its supercharger network, far below BYD’s £130 and MG’s £119.
What Car? Magazine’s testers concluded that despite BYD’s rapid sales growth and the MG IM6’s seriously impressive charging speeds, Tesla remains the more compelling real-world choice. The Model Y just offers stability, efficiency, and a proven charging infrastructure through its Supercharging network. And as per the magazine’s hosts, the Model Y is even the cheapest car to own among the three that were tested.
Watch What Car? Magazine’s 500-mile test in the video below.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe
One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.

A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.”
The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.
The world’s least intimidating ticket
According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.
Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.
Peak performative clownery
Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value.
Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Tesla FSD V14 set for early wide release next week: Elon Musk
-
News1 week ago
Elon Musk gives update on Tesla Optimus progress
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla has a new first with its Supercharger network
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla job postings seem to show next surprise market entry
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla makes a big change to reflect new IRS EV tax credit rules
-
Investor's Corner1 week ago
Tesla gets new Street-high price target with high hopes for autonomy domination
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe
-
News1 week ago
Tesla Giga Berlin’s water consumption has achieved the unthinkable