This Stripped Out Tesla Plaid Is Running Eight-Second Quarter-Mile Times
Love them or hate them, Teslas have made quite a splash in the automotive industry, especially since the introduction of the Tesla Plaid in mid 2021.
Checking in at a curb weight of just under 4,800 pounds, the Plaid has been rated between 1020 and 1047 horsepower depending on where you got your figures from, and despite the heft of the vehicle, performances are impressive.
60 miles an hour is achivable from a standing start in 1.9 to 2.1-seconds, while quarter-mile times range from 9.1 to 9.4-seconds at around 150 miles per hour.
The question that has been posed by plenty of people: can the Plaid be modified to go quicker and faster than stock? The popular YouTube channel BoostedBoiz decided to employ a classic technique: lighten up the car!
Snagging a Plaid S from Copart a few months back that had been wrecked in the back, then another to fix the rear end damage, the Plaid earned a rebuilt title, and they got to testing it.
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The first video installment was to see how fast the 0-60 mph times could be improved by removing weight. Starting at 4,745 pounds, Kyle, Wyatt and crew removed the front cap, the doors, trunk and rear bumper.
Almost all the interior was gutted, and a single aluminum racing seat was installed. After the weight removal was complete, the Telsa Plaid checked in at 4,045 pounds, 700 pounds lighter!
After back-to-back 2.37-second times on a public road at regular weight, the first three hits at the lighter weight were slower as the car clawed for traction with times of 2.69, 2.43 and 2.43-seconds. On the fourth and final run, a better 2.35-second 0-60 mph time was recorded.
Then the crew went a big step further, removing the rest of the body skeleton and constructing a full chromoly roll cage, then taking it to Bradenton Motorsports Park to get some results. Since that first track outing, Kyle and crew have tested the car with the front nose back on, taken it wind tunnel testing, and even adding a lighter body shell to cut down the wind resistance.
The latest video has E-Roy the Telsa on a set of racing slicks. How did it do?
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of the Boostedboiz.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com