New Tesla Model S Plaid spotted testing: could the Plaid Plus be back on the cards?
May 21, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
An updated version of the Tesla Model S Plaid has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring, but will it have more power or is it just a visual update for 2026?
- New Tesla Model S Plaid spotted
- Electric car being thrashed around the Nurburgring
- Could be a faster version to take down the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
- Minor styling tweaks which could aid high-speed downforce
- On sale in 2026, although not confirmed for the UK
This is the updated Tesla Model S Plaid, and it looks as though this bonkers performance EV will be getting some minor styling tweaks to keep it looking fresh in 2026.
It could also be getting more power. Elon Musk canned a Plaid Plus version of the Model S a few years ago which was meant to have 1,100hp, so could this be the revival of that shelved project?
New Tesla Model S Plaid motors and performance
No one ever accused the Tesla Model S Plaid of being slow, apart from Porsche after it beat the Plaid’s Nurburgring lap time with the Taycan Turbo GT. It seems like Tesla is cooking up an even faster Model S to take back its crown for the fastest production electric car.
It’s not yet known if this updated car will have any more power, but it probably will if Tesla is really going after the Taycan. When the Model S Plaid was first launched in 2021, a Plus version was also supposed to appear with 1,100hp – 80hp more than the standard car.
Well this was scrapped soon after the Plaid was revealed, with Elon Musk taking to Twitter to say it wasn’t necessary because the standard car was “so good”. Well maybe Tesla is reviving this project for 2026 to chase down the Taycan.
New Tesla Model S Plaid design
At a glance this looks like a standard Tesla Model S Plaid, but look a bit closer and you may spot a couple of subtle changes which could’ve been made to improve aerodynamics and downforce.
Up front there’s a bigger lip spoiler which looks more aggressive, and the wheels fitted to this car are new as well. The biggest change can be seen at the rear though, with a much larger lower diffuser than the standard Plaid.
New Tesla Model S Plaid: when can I buy one?
Tesla recently announced that it would stop selling the Model S in the UK, which comes as no surprise as it’s only been available in left-hand drive for the last couple of years. There’s no word on whether it’ll return to our shores anytime soon, but you can expect to see the updated one appear in North America in early 2026.
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