News from 6 January 2022. This archive article was prepared in October 2026 and describes the announcement and market at the time.

The Model S Plaid had already attracted attention for its acceleration. The next step was exploring its capabilities through corners, braking zones and repeated laps. On 6 January 2022, Tesla announced Track Mode for the Model S Plaid in North America: an update focused on circuit behaviour as well as straight-line performance.

It is an interesting chapter in the flagship’s history. A powerful electric saloon needs a balance between traction, chassis control and temperature management. Lap times bring these elements together, offering a different perspective on performance from standing-start acceleration.

Track Mode makes its Model S Plaid debut

The announcement concerned the three-motor Plaid, with an initial North American rollout. It was not an update for every Model S, nor confirmation of simultaneous availability in Italy. Tesla made changes to cooling, torque distribution, dynamic controls, suspension and onboard displays.

The two rear motors allowed torque to be controlled separately at each wheel on that axle, contributing to the car’s cornering response. Drivers could also customise handling balance, stability assistance and regenerative braking.

Why temperatures and consistency mattered

Cooling was prepared ahead of demanding driving, while greater use of regeneration helped reduce the workload on the friction brakes. Damper settings also changed. The interface added temperature information, a lap timer and telemetry.

For anyone following the development of electric cars, this is the most significant part: making power usable means considering the entire vehicle. An acceleration figure alone cannot describe how a car behaves after repeated braking or during an extended session.

A mode reserved for closed circuits

Track Mode is intended for experienced drivers on closed circuits, not public roads. Traction and stability behaviour changes, and driver assistance features are unavailable while the mode is active. The driver remains responsible for controlling the vehicle.

Later versions also include tools for recording lap videos and telemetry on a suitably prepared USB drive. Temperatures and pressures become central to understanding the car’s behaviour. Features from these later developments should not all be attributed to the first January 2022 version.

What this update tells us

Track Mode’s debut marked another step towards more specialised use of the Plaid. Its name refers to the circuit, but the underlying question also matters to people who may never take their car on track: how much can software change a car’s character?

For us, that is one of the most fascinating parts of this story. Do you remember the Plaid primarily for its acceleration, or for the work on its driving dynamics?

Sources: Tesla’s announcement of 6 January 2022; Model S owner’s manual, Track Mode.

Cover: Model S Plaid, an archive photograph taken in Arizona on 6 September 2022 by HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0. Cropped and overlaid with the original Teslhub PNG. The photograph does not depict the January launch.

Alessandro Marmaglio
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