Enlarge / A shot from Tesla's video at the Laguna Seca racetrack.Tesla

Tesla is working on a new three-motor powertrain for the Model S that will accelerate even faster than Tesla's current "Ludicrous Mode," the company said on Wednesday. In a nod to Spaceballs, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dubbed the new system "Plaid."

"Plaid powertrain is about a year away from production," Musk tweeted. He said it would be available for the Model S, Model X, and the new Roadster—but not the lower-end Model 3 and Model Y. He said that the new design will "cost more than our current offerings, but less than competitors."

On Wednesday, Tesla tested a prototype of this souped-up Model S at the Laguna Seca raceway. The vehicle achieved a lap time of 1:36.555, which Tesla says is a new record for a four-door sedan. You can watch a video of the record-setting lap here.

The announcement comes a week after Musk tweeted that Tesla would have a Model S at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. This was an apparent response to Porsche testing its own Taycan electric car there and completing a lap in 7 minutes 42 seconds. But racetrack officials soon pointed out that Tesla hadn't reserved time on the track to make a record attempt. Musk was later Read More – Source