Tesla Model S Plaid Breaks Nurburgring Lap Record for EVs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Those who said a factory Tesla can’t drive on a race track are about to eat crow. Not only can a Tesla sustain a lap around the fabled Nurburgring, but it can do it faster than any other production electric vehicle. Video footage of the lap was released showing a driver in full racing attire wrestle the Plaid beast around the ‘Ring’s many corners and straightaways. Without engine noise and without other cars on track, it’s unlike any other lap of the circuit ever seen. Move over Porsche Taycan Turbo, there’s a new EV to beat.

What is the Nurburgring?

Nurburgring circuit, in Nurburg | Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Nurburgring Nordschleife is a 14-mile circuit that surrounds a small town called Nurburg, located in West Germany. It’s known as a platform for drivers to set lap records in production cars. Several events including Formula 1 compete on the smaller Grand Prix circuit, which is a 3-mile circuit attached to the southern end of the Nordschleife. The track is also famous for its inherent danger. Since its first race in 1925, the Nordschleife alone has claimed more than 60 lives, including spectators and race officials. 

What is the Tesla Model S Plaid?

A red 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid driving down a road
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid | Tesla

The Tesla Model S Plaid is the most powerful Tesla on the market right now. It uses dual motors to send 1,020 horsepower to all four wheels and weighs 4,766 pounds. Tesla claims it can reach 60 mph in 1.99 seconds, and top out at 200 mph. Elon Musk claims the Plaid that complete the lap was completely stock, and if that’s true then it was using 245/45R19 tires, which explains the squeals. After all, 245mm is hardly enough tire for 1,000 horsepower on a hot lap. 

How did the Plaid do around the Nurburgring?

Nevertheless, the Plaid beat the previous record holder, the Porsche Taycan Turbo’s 7:42.3, by a scarcely believable seven seconds (officially). Tesla posted a tweet claiming a 7:30.9, but whether or not that time was set by a factory Plaid isn’t yet known. Looking at the Taycan’s technical specs, it suddenly makes sense. The Taycan Turbo only makes 670 horsepower maximum and gets to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. From the video, it seems the Model S Plaid has an attitude. It screeches with almost every steering input offering a boat-like response in its suspension, but the driver clearly has command over the squirrely powerhouse. 

Can electric cars go around a race track for multiple laps?

On the surface, this does seem to bode well for those trying to take their stock Teslas out to a racetrack. The Plaid managed to sustain not one, but two laps around one of the longest circuits in the world. Of course, we don’t know how long it was between laps, perhaps the car had some time to rest. Either way, a lap around the Nurburgring is no easy feat even for a gas car. It certainly proves the car’s outstanding capabilities, for a modest $133,000 price tag.

RELATED: Don’t Lease a Tesla. Buy It!

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How Much Gas Does a Lincoln Navigator Use?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Lincoln Navigator is one of the luxury brand’s better-known vehicles, and it has plenty going for it. However, it’s a gigantic SUV, so its fuel economy isn’t the best. Here’s a look at the Lincoln Navigator’s gas mileage and which model years eco-conscious customers should consider. 

A glance at this gargantuan SUV’s history

2022 Lincoln Navigator Reserve in Flight Blue | The Lincoln Motor Company

Though large, luxurious SUVs are quite commonplace today, this wasn’t the case not long ago. Indeed, the ’90s didn’t have many grand, gigantic SUVs. However, one full-size luxury SUV available back then was the Lincoln Navigator. It premiered for the 1998 model year, and it was one of only a few vehicles in its segment.

Compared to the modern Navigator, the 1998 version didn’t offer much. But it still boasted enough luxury to lure buyers. The Navigator is now in its fourth generation, and it continues to sell well.

However, the Great Recession revealed a problem with large vehicles like the Navigator. Consumers care about fuel economy, and big vehicles tend to be gas guzzlers.

So, what gas mileage does a Lincoln Navigator get?

In its early years, the Lincoln Navigator had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 mpg combined, Consumer Reports says. That’s not great gas mileage. The 2007 model marked the beginning of the Navigator’s third generation, and it brought improvements. But many models still hovered around 14 mpg.

However, the 2015 to 2017 models boasted a refresh. According to Consumer Reports, the update included replacing the Navigator’s standard V8 engine with a turbocharged V6. And after the 2017 model year, Lincoln gave the Navigator some major changes but kept that V6. One of the perks of that smaller engine was better fuel economy.

Instead of getting 14 mpg with the V8, the Navigator packing a V6 gets about 18 mpg combined. The newer V6 gets almost 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Therefore, eco-conscious used car shoppers should look for a Navigator from the 2015 model year or later. 

An overview of the 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Because the 2021 Navigator still uses the same turbocharged V6 since the 2015 model, its fuel economy hasn’t changed much. However, Lincoln has made quite a few upgrades. After all, the Navigator starts at about $76,000, and it can easily reach six figures with options. That money pays for myriad opulent features.

Off the bat, because it’s a full-size SUV, it provides plenty of space. Adults can sit comfortably even in the third-row seats, and everyone can bring ample cargo too. The Navigator offers up to 120 cubic feet of cargo room with its second and third rows folded down, and it can tow up to 8,700 pounds. And, of course, because it’s a Lincoln, leather abounds throughout the cabin.

As for features, even the standard 2021 Lincoln Navigator offers plenty. It comes with a 10-inch touchscreen display, a premium stereo system, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and other tech features. And advanced safety features include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning, to name just a few.

But despite the Lincoln Navigator’s strengths, its Achilles heel remains its gas mileage.

RELATED: The 2021 Lincoln Navigator Just Earned This Impressive Distinction From U.S. News

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The Biggest Problems With SUVs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

SUVs continue to grow in popularity. In fact, in 2019, people bought two times as many SUVs as cars. It’s no surprise, considering all that SUVs offer. They have plenty of space for people and things, and they’re generally pretty safe. Yet SUVs aren’t perfect. Here are some of the biggest problems with SUVs. 

2021 Chevrolet Suburban | Chevrolet

SUVs are more likely to roll over than cars

It’s probably nothing new to hear that SUVs are more prone to rollovers. One of the biggest reasons that SUVs roll over more than cars is that they have a higher center of gravity and can be top-heavy. This means that when the vehicle turns sharply, as can happen if it is struck or the driver makes a sudden and sharp maneuver, there is a higher possibility that it will roll over than a car in the same situation. 

It can be harder to brake in a large SUV

RELATED: Three Full Size SUVs Loaded With Advanced Safety Systems

The bigger and heavier a vehicle is, the more time it takes to stop it when it’s braking. If you compare how long it takes the 2021 Chevy Suburban to stop from 60 mph on dry pavement (145 feet) to a small sedan like the 2021 Toyota Corolla (134 feet), you can see that the larger vehicle is at a disadvantage. 

SUVs can be dangerous for other cars on the road

RELATED: 5 of the Safest 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs, According to the IIHS

When two vehicles are in an accident with one another, the larger vehicle tends to fare better. While this may be reassuring to the occupants in SUVs, it can be fatally problematic for those in cars. 

SUVs typically keep moving forward in accidents with lighter cars. Because of this, occupants in the heavier vehicle don’t receive the same force of impact as those in the smaller vehicle. Instead, the SUV pushes that force onto the smaller car. 

Are SUVs bad for the environment?

A navy blue 2021 Hyundai Palisade parked at the edge of a cliff iwth a family enjoying hot cocoa.
2021 Hyundai Palisade | Hyundai

RELATED: Consumer Reports: 10 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs With Advanced Safety Systems

It’s no secret that SUVs aren’t known for having great fuel efficiency. Just how bad is this for the environment? Wired says that “The preference for heavier SUVs is offsetting fuel-efficiency improvements in smaller cars and carbon savings from the growing popularity of electric cars.” 

Wired also points to a report by the International Energy Agency which found that SUVs are the second-biggest cause of the rise in global carbon dioxide emissions since 2010.

Is buying an SUV worth it?

There are things that can be done to combat some of the biggest problems with SUVs. Driving carefully is one of the top ways to stay safer in them. There is a consensus among safety experts that SUV drivers tend to drive more carelessly than their small-car counterparts, at least partly because they feel safer in their vehicles. By slowing down and taking turns carefully, SUV drivers can reduce the likelihood of an accident and rollover. 

Another way to stay safe in an SUV is to leave plenty of time to brake. Don’t follow other vehicles too closely, and remember that it takes longer to slow down and stop in a large SUV. 

As far as reducing the carbon footprint of SUVs, there are steps that can be taken. Driving less is always good for the environment, so walking when possible and driving less frequently will certainly help. Car manufacturers are starting to make more hybrid and electric SUVs, which will also allow people to keep the vehicles they love while doing less damage to the environment. 

Even though SUVs have their problems, they likely aren’t going away any time soon. Not only do they have a lot of great attributes like space and safety, but people like them. And as long as people are buying them, car manufacturers will continue to make them. Yet we can try to minimize some of the biggest problems with SUVs when possible.

RELATED: Watch the Jeep Wrangler Tip Over In Its Crash Test

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5 Reasons You Should Buy an Underpowered Sports Car to Daily Drive

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Motorsports enthusiasts, muscle car enthusiasts, and supercar owners all have one thing in common: they seem to pick on the market of underpowered sports cars (not always, but it isn’t uncommon). The aftermarket support for enhancing the performance and handling of a vehicle can range widely based on individual sports cars, but it seems that everyone is always looking to build a faster car or build their current car to be faster. While there is a lot of excitement and enjoyment to be had in having a fast, high horsepower sports car, there are still plenty of reasons why a comparable underpowered sports car is a better option for your daily driver.

1.) How fast do you actually need to go?

Mazda MX-5 | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

While having a super-fast sports car is fun on paper, chances are you won’t be legally going over 70 mph in your daily commute, even on the highway. While it’s fun to brag about quarter-mile times and to have a fast 0 – 60 mph acceleration, it isn’t reasonable nor responsible to launch your car from every stop. In the same sense, having a vehicle with a high top speed definitely wins bragging rights, but you will never need to go anywhere near your vehicle’s top speed on any public surface road, anyways. In most driving situations, having an underpowered sports car is just fine.

2.) Agile sports cars can be more enjoyable in traffic

On your daily route, chances are you face a decent amount of traffic. In this case, you won’t be able to enjoy the full power of your vehicle’s drivetrain, but you can enjoy a lower horsepower car that’s lightweight and agile. While zipping between cars at highway speeds should only be done when necessary, and when there is a safe traveling and passing distance, having an underpowered sports car can be just as enjoyable in traffic. Don’t believe me? Daily driving my Lotus Elise was one of my favorite impractical sports cars to take on my daily commute, and it has less horsepower than my used Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid.

3.) Underpowered sports cars typically offer better fuel economy

Sure, the Dodge Viper puts down an impressive amount of power, but once you even slightly modify the engine, you’re looking at anywhere between 6 mpg to 16 mpg (at least in our Gen 3 Vipers). Lower horsepower sports cars typically have smaller, more fuel-efficient engines and are sometimes boosted with the addition of a turbocharger to give the car a bit of pep — a trick many car manufacturers are using the improved fuel economy without compromising the driving experience of many cars.

4.) It’s safer to drive underpowered sports cars in less-than-ideal weather

High horsepower cars are a lot of fun, especially on the drag strip, but they aren’t always the safest option when conditions aren’t ideal. On wet, muddy, or icy roads, high horsepower sports cars can prove to be rather dangerous — as we learned one not-so-dry day with our Dodge Viper. While the safety of your vehicle has more to do with your speed, safety systems, and sometimes having all-wheel drive versus rear or front-wheel drive, the speed you are going and your ability to correct can sometimes be affected by the vehicle’s power.

Sure, there are still plenty of reasons to invest in a high horsepower sports car, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t also valid reasons for buying a comparably underpowered sports car for your daily drive. Now, with sports cars mixing in luxury and comfort, it isn’t unreasonable to daily drive one, in fact, many new fun cars were designed to be affordable and practical cars that could be driven every day, making them a great purchase even though they aren’t toting an impressive amount of horsepower.

RELATED: The Largest Speeding Ticket Ever is the Price of Some Supercars

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