Production Trim Model 3 Performance Mops Up Porsche GT4 And Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s Willow Bend Lap Times

Around six weeks ago, the Tesla Model 3 Performance squared off against the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Jaguar I-PACE EV400 around the “Streets” of Willow Springs International Raceway in CA. The track tests, which were conducted by auto publication Motor Trend, ended with the Model 3 Performance falling short of the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s lap times, despite being loaded with a pre-release version of Track Mode.

The loss of the Model 3 Performance to the Alfa Romeo was taken very seriously by Tesla. Over the past six weeks, the man who drove all three vehicles — professional racecar driver and journalist Randy Pobst — worked with Tesla in refining the features and quirks of Track Mode. These refinements were rolled out in the feature’s “release version” that started rolling out yesterday. Compared to the initial iteration of Track Mode that took on the I-PACE EV400 and the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the feature’s “release version” was more refined and tempered, thanks to valuable input from Pobst, a racecar driver who honed his driving skills over decades of experience.

PUGPROUD - 11/12/2018 10:24:06 AM

+10 Boost

Maybe so but the Alfa owner was back home, took a shower and drove to his favorite Italian restaurant for some Chianti and pasta before the Tesla owner left the track waiting for his recharge.

MDarringer - 11/12/2018 10:29:55 AM

+11 Boost

Bingo.

focal - 11/12/2018 10:35:16 AM

+11 Boost

How many laps is it capable of?

MDarringer - 11/12/2018 10:44:21 AM

+10 Boost

One. Then the brakes are friend and the batteries are dead.

skytop - 11/12/2018 11:00:25 AM

+9 Boost

According to AutoSpies, the Tesla is the end all of all vehicles.
It's a virtual LOVE FEST between AutoSpies and Tesla.
Makes me puke.

MDarringer - 11/12/2018 11:42:36 AM

+8 Boost

Well Elon has money to flow from all the deposits he took on the Model 3 without any intention of ever building those cars.

bperlownps - 11/12/2018 1:52:41 PM

-5 Boost

Pugproud- that's if the Alfa's engine light warning doesn't pop up.

SanJoseDriver - 11/12/2018 4:33:26 PM

-6 Boost

Tesla is pretty damn reliable, you guys have no idea. I don't know of any ICE cars with redundant motors.

I wish they did do the test on multiple laps (on both cars) to see how each held up on lap 2. You should also pay careful attention that in order for the Alfa to get those numbers, they had to completely frag the tires in the first lap. Model 3 tires were fine.

TomM - 11/12/2018 6:50:43 PM

+11 Boost

Actually calling them REDUNDANT motors is not reality

That car cannot perform the same way with only one motor - and the other is NOT an extra JUST IN CASE (Ie redundant). And if the batteries are overheated or out of a charge - BOTH motors will not work.

Neither Tesla nor Alfa make tires - and their warranties both exclude them too.
And yes - we DO NOT KNOW how reliable a Tesla really is - Tesla will not supply warranty repair information to the Public. ANd they still do not allow access to their computers by the owners of the cars.

SanJoseDriver - 11/13/2018 12:40:51 AM

-6 Boost

If one motor fails for whatever reason, you can drive on a single motor. There is no analogy for that with an ICE car. If the battery overheats (which is very hard to do on the Model 3), you get reduced power, the car doesn't just stop. Electric motors are less likely to fail to begin with, and with two you are way less likely to be stuck on the side of the road due to a powertrain issue.

Truthy - 11/12/2018 6:52:34 PM

+9 Boost

The important fact here is they only did one lap. Make it 4 or more and the Tesla is a decoration in the pits. The source is teslarsti.com and they designed the test to favor the Tesla. Poor journalism.

runninglogan1 - 11/12/2018 7:44:51 PM

-6 Boost

They performed multiple laps and the source is Motor Trend. Learn to read.

EVisNow - 11/12/2018 8:01:53 PM

-6 Boost

None of you here (except SanJoseDriver) seem to have taken a ride in a Model 3, let alone the Performance version with Track Mode, yet you talk like experts on the subject. Such a hilarious bunch.

EVisNow - 11/12/2018 8:03:34 PM

-7 Boost

@runninglogan1: not aiming at you bro.

MDarringer - 11/12/2018 9:30:58 PM

+1 Boost

I haven't taken a ride in a modern Citroen either but I'm certain it's garbage too.

EVisNow - 11/12/2018 10:21:36 PM

-6 Boost

I haven't taken a ride in [whatever MDarringer is driving] either but I'm absolutely certain it's garbage, period!

Lovesponge76 - 11/12/2018 8:22:56 PM

+9 Boost

a large vacuum cleaner on wheels. I'm waiting for the Tesla fad to fade away.

SanJoseDriver - 11/13/2018 12:43:39 AM

-6 Boost

Hate to burst your bubble, but it is not a fad.

EVisNow - 11/13/2018 9:59:33 AM

+4 Boost

I am "the public" - got Track Mode on 11/7 and already tried it out. Back to your kennel.

supermoto - 11/13/2018 3:40:16 PM

+1 Boost

Hardly a real world test. Reminds me when Chris Harris tested ludicrous mode: Batteries had to be pre-heated to optimum temperature for 10 minutes before testing, then after a few drag races the batteries had to be cooled before the car could be driven again.

According to Motor Trend, "In total, three Teslas were tag-teaming through the lapping, as software, tires, and pads are swapped, the battery packs supercharged to 95 percent capacity (giving the battery room to absorb regenerative energy) and thermally preconditioned (cooling both motors and the battery)."

Nice try though.

rockreid - 11/13/2018 3:44:55 PM

+2 Boost

on top of it all, after mopping up on the track, this Telsa Model 3 Performance will then drive back home and get 116mpg-e.

let that soak in....116 mpg equivalent for a Ferrari-thrashing 5 seat sedan.

MrEE - 11/13/2018 7:36:18 PM

+1 Boost

The Tesla critics seem to love these articles to most. If this site was just reporting on MB, BMW and Audi, this would truly be boring.