Electric Cars

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro showcases remarkable advancements in track performance, achieving a lap time of 2 minutes and 46.9 seconds. This impressive feat is largely attributed to its meticulously engineered features, including updated carbon-ceramic rotors and active anti-roll control, ensuring both speed and driver comfort. Despite its substantial weight of 4268 pounds, the vehicle's enhanced grip and powerful engine make it a formidable presence on the circuit.

Car and Driver's March/April 2026 issue features an in-depth analysis of the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro, detailing its evolution from previous models. A significant improvement over its predecessor, this iteration benefits from Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, which facilitate easier exploitation of the car's higher limits. The Pro's ability to maintain high speeds through challenging sections, such as the NASCAR Bend and Climbing Esses, underscores its superior handling and aerodynamic design. Its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine, delivering 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, provides a notable boost in performance, making it quicker and more responsive.

The comfort a driver experiences on the track is not merely about luxurious seating, but about the car's dynamic capabilities. The GT63 Pro excels in this regard, with robust braking and predictable handling contributing to a sense of security and control. The refined brake pedal feel, a direct result of new pads and titanium backing plates, resolves the inconsistencies noted in last year's model. This allows drivers to push the vehicle harder and maintain optimal performance throughout extended track sessions.

While the Pro version adds 33 pounds due to liquid-cooled differentials and a transfer case designed for prolonged track use, this added mass does not detract from its agility or driver confidence. The precise steering and active anti-roll system work in harmony to minimize body movement, ensuring a stable and engaging driving experience. These elements collectively contribute to the car's overall balance and responsiveness, making it a joy to command on the circuit.

Achieving a lap time that is 3.4 seconds faster than the standard GT63, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro demonstrates a significant leap forward in automotive engineering. Its consistent performance, capable of sustained sub-2:50 lap times, establishes it as a top contender in its class. This vehicle seamlessly blends high-performance capabilities with refined engineering, offering an unparalleled driving experience for enthusiasts seeking both speed and precision on the track.

The 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid, featuring the optional Track package, recently demonstrated its formidable capabilities on the circuit, clocking a lap time of 2 minutes and 43.2 seconds. This particular model, with a base price of $135,630 and an as-tested price of $144,630, boasts an impressive 1020 horsepower and a weight of 4804 pounds, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 4.7 pounds per horsepower. The Track package, an additional $24,000 investment, significantly enhances the vehicle's performance by incorporating carbon-ceramic rotors with larger calipers, wider forged-aluminum wheels, and high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires, specifically sized at 285/35ZR-20 for the front and 305/30ZR-20 for the rear. Crucially, this package also unlocks a top speed of 200 mph, a notable upgrade from the standard Model S Plaid.

During its track evaluation, the Model S Plaid exhibited strong braking performance, a significant improvement over the standard setup, maintaining efficacy despite the vehicle's substantial mass. It also achieved an impressive 1.13 g's of grip in Turn 1, a figure surpassed only by the Corvette ZR1 in this year's testing. However, the vehicle's tendency towards oversteer in certain sections necessitated a more cautious driving approach. In the final sector, the Tesla matched the Lucid Air Sapphire and slightly outperformed the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Its primary deficit was in braking into Turn 1, where it lost over a second compared to competitors, attributed potentially to the tires' longitudinal grip or the track's surface conditions. Despite this, the Model S Plaid secured the third position among the premium EV trio.

Positioned within the LL3 category due to its price point, the Model S Plaid emerged as a top performer, trailing only the C8 Corvette Z06. This remarkable achievement underscores Tesla's commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle performance. The Model S Plaid demonstrates that cutting-edge technology and thoughtful engineering can result in a vehicle that not only competes with, but often surpasses, traditional high-performance cars. This blend of speed, handling, and value sets a new benchmark for the automotive industry, inspiring continued innovation and excellence in the electric vehicle segment.