Today’s To-Do list: Take the kids to school, get groceries, get a haircut, beat supercar lap times … [+]
Videos of Tesla electric cars humiliating gas-powered rivals (often very expensive rivals) in street and drag races litter the internet, but one video published March 9th got our attention when it showed some true next-level performance from the carmaker’s most humble offering: the Model 3.
Posted by Unplugged Performance, who offer Tesla owners a wide range of accessories for customizing their EVs, the video shows a Model 3 (almost certainly in Performance trim) that’s been given an “Ascension R” makeover (kudos on the name) by Unplugged that consists of upgraded wheels, tires, brakes, suspension and various aero bits. All the rest of the running gear – motors, batteries, software, interior, etc., is bone stock. What transpires is impressive: The tweaked Tesla laps the Tsukuba circuit in Japan faster than an original 1990s McLaren F1, and a 997-series Porsche 911 GT3 RS (which model year wasn’t specified). Granted, the F1 is an “older” car but in its day, it was about the fastest thing civilian money could buy and is still considered one of the best handling cars ever made. It’s also a pretty penny even today. And a Porsche GT3 RS? It’s no slouch either, and more modern to boot.
Additionally, there was no long-time track veteran at the wheel. The driver, identified by Unplugged Performance as Ken Negoro, had logged some track time in his tuned Honda Civic, but this was his first time behind the wheel of a Tesla. Any Tesla. Ever.
Unplugged Performance wisely put the original video (and sound!) of the McLaren F1’s Tsukuba sortie in the corner of their Tesla lap footage for comparison, and it’s fun to watch the five-seat electric sedan keep pace with the exotic supercar icon as it roars around the pavement. In the end, it nips the F1’s time by just over a full second, sometimes pulling an astonishing 1.4 Gs around corners. Thank you, torque vectoring.
But the most interesting part of the video comes at the 2:45 mark, when Unplugged Performance includes the same lap footage from just the Tesla – and the sudden lack of the F1’s engine and tire squeal graphically illustrate how different the experience is inside the electric car. The lack of sound and drama is startling.
In their video’s expansive explainer (which includes links to the parts they used), Unplugged Performance speculates that with some additional tweaks including race tires, a stripped interior and warmer track temps for better traction, the Model 3 could likely trim another three seconds off its time around the circuit, putting it in very rarified territory few civilian cars can achieve – at any price. Not bad for a family-friendly EV that probably topped out near $80,000 including all the upgrades.
We hope they give it another go once the weather warms up.
