Unplugged Performance unveiled a huge surprise at Laguna Seca yesterday, a heavily modified Model S Plaid that will take on the Pikes Peak Challenge later this year.
The racetrack was playing host to the third annual Hypercar Invitational yesterday, and the Plaid definitely fit right in. Adorned with some huge plaid decals, the exterior of the electric sedan was modified with a front splitter and massive adjustable rear wing.
To get it around the track as fast as possible, the Plaid was outfitted with Yokohama Advan slicks. Behind a set of custom forged wheels were the stock carbon sleeved brakes paired with UP/PFC rotors.
The interior was completely stripped out with even the airbags being removed, saving an estimated 400lbs in overall vehicle weight. A special race seat was added, with a Plaid touch of course, and a roll cage was also installed for safety.
The Model S started off the day with the new yoke steering wheel, but driver Randy Pobst did switch back and forth with a traditional round steering wheel and hasn’t decided which he prefers yet.
The car didn’t spend the day in the garage. It did head out onto the track for a number of laps to take on Porsches, Lamborghinis and McLarens with ease. The laps also allowed Pobst to get a feel for the car, his first time behind the wheel of the tri-motor Plaid, and for the Unplugged team to learn what tweaks and changes are needed before it takes on the Pikes Peak Challenge in September.
One of those will be a new front splitter, which Pobst broke on just his second lap.
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Last year the Unplugged team and Pobst were hoping for a top finish at the famous hill climb event in a modified Model 3. Things were looking very positive after the first day, but a crash early on day 2 made it look like their weekend was over.
In what can only be described as a miracle, they were able to obtain a donor car to rebuild their race car overnight, allowing them to finish second in their class.
