A Tesla Model S with the company’s factory Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit was tested on the track, and it proved very impressive. While the all-electric flagship sedan was tested at a track that’s best for small, nimble cars, the Model S Plaid still reportedly set a record during its run.
The wait has been long for the Model S Plaid’s Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit. Tesla announced the product in late 2021, the same year as the vehicle’s unveiling. At the time, Tesla’s official website noted that the $20,000 brakes would be available mid-2022. This estimate has now been updated to early 2023.
Earlier this month, a number of Tesla owners shared that they received messages from the company, indicating that the first batches of the upgraded brake kits are available to order. The performance of the Model S Plaid’s Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit was demonstrated in a video by amateur racer Sebastian Vittel, who posted a clip of the flagship sedan taking on the Circuit de Bresse racetrack in France.
The amateur racer, who also drives a Porsche Cayman 718 GTS MR, noted in his video’s description that the Circuit de Bresse is best for small cars that are nimble, like a Lotus or a Caterham. On the flip side, it could also be a “nightmare” for large and heavy cars and their brakes. Surprisingly enough, the Tesla Model S Plaid with its Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit performed very well. With the vehicle’s top speed unlocked, it proved a true monster on the track.
Ultimately, the Model S Plaid with Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit was able to perform so well that it reportedly set the track record for street-legal cars on non-semi-slick tires with a lap time of 1:33.610, and that’s with the vehicle’s original tires. For comparison, Vittel noted that the best time he got with his Porsche with non-slick tires was 1:37.40. With Cup 2 R tires, Vittel’s Porsche was able to complete the lap in 1:31.70. It would then be interesting to see what the Model S Plaid with Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit could do if it were equipped with proper racing tires as well.
Watch Vittel’s run in the Tesla Model S Plaid with Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit in the video below.
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