---
title: "Elon Musk: Tesla Model S Set a New Track Record in California"
description: "Elon Musk tweeted that the Tesla Model S set the record for the fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca in California challenging Porsche's electric sports car."
date: "2019-09-11"
modified: "2019-09-11"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-model-s-track-record-california"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Elon Musk"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Tesla"
  - "The Industrialists"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "porsche"
  - "tesla"
  - "the digest"
---

# Elon Musk: Tesla Model S Set a New Track Record in California

![Elon Musk tweeted that the Tesla Model S set the record for the fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca in California challenging Porsche's electric sports car.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/elon-musk-tesla-model-s-set-a-new-track-record-in-california.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Virgin\</em\>*

## Electric City

When German carmaker Porsche revealed its newest all-electric sports car, the Taycan, Tesla CEO Elon Musk [met the news with derision](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-porsche-turbo>).

But Tesla's complete lack of record lap times — which would make its lineup's performance official — had him cornered by the German automaker, especially after the Taycan [took the crown](<https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a28815000/2020-porsche-taycan-nurburgring-record-lap-video/>) for the fastest lap of a four-door electric sedan at the world-renowned Nürburgring in August.

Now, though, Musk is trying to fix that. According to a [Wednesday tweet](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1171657063853973506>), he now says the Tesla Model S set the "record for fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca" in California — effectively throwing down a gauntlet at Porsche's feet.

## Track Tease

That's all well and good, but how does Tesla stack up at the [infamously difficult Nürburgring](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-porsche-electric-car>)? Porsche says Tesla is welcome to have a crack at it.

"Anyone who's trying to go there to see how you're doing, we have great respect for," Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America [told *CNET*](<https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/porsche-taycan-tesla-nurburgring/>). "We love the competition."

And Tesla is already revving its motors. The Model S [will make its attempt](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-porsche-electric-car>) at the Nürburgring soon — in fact, the Model S is "already there" [according to Musk](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1171664944934346754>).

**READ MORE:** [Elon Musk says the Tesla Model S just set a new track speed record](<https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/11/elon-musk-tesla-model-s-new-track-speed-record/>) \[*Engadget*\]

**More on Porsche and Tesla:** *[Elon Musk Ridicules Porsche for Calling Its Electric Car “Turbo”](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-porsche-turbo>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)