Will it give Tesla the edge to beat Porsche's lap time at the Nürburgring?

Gone Plaid

What's faster than Ludicrous Mode on a Tesla? "Going Plaid," according to CEO Elon Musk — a reference to the 1987 sci-fi comedy "Spaceballs."

Musk confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday that the "Plaid powertrain is about a year away from production," and that it'll appear in the Roadster but not the Model 3 or Y. Pricing has yet to be announced, though Musk did say it "will cost more than our current offerings, but less than competitors."

Triple Motor

Back in June, a CNBC report hinted that the next-generation Model S and X could sport a three-motor design — two large motors in the back and one smaller motor in the front, boosting performance.

A possible glimpse: Eagle-eyed car enthusiasts spotted a slightly modified Model S at the Nürburgring in Germany earlier this week, sporting unfamiliar body work, including a reworked spoiler and wider fender flares, as Teslarati reports.

2 Plaid 2 Furious

Tesla will be attempting to race the souped-up vehicle around the notoriously difficult track — likely a clapback at Porsche's brand new all-electric sedan, the Taycan, which took the crown at the track back in August.

It's still unclear if the Model S variant at Nürburgring is a next-generation vehicle set to go into production or simply a track-ready one-off.

READ MORE: Elon Musk teases Tesla Model S updates: ‘Plaid Powertrain,’ triple motors, 7-seat option, and higher price [Teslarati]

More on Tesla: Elon Musk: Tesla Model S set a new track record in California


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