Tesla Motors added another feather to its cap when it staked its claim to have the fastest production car manufactured in history- the new Model S P100D. Technically, it is the third fastest car- the LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder are faster, but both are limited edition cars costing more than USD 1 million, are currently not in production, and cannot be purchased by the average buyer (read the ridiculous eligibility conditions for buying the LaFerrari. You had to already be a regular Ferrari customer to own one!). On top of that, both cars were miniscule two road seaters, while the Model S P100D can seat five people and comes with extra baggage space (quite helpful in road trips).
S P100D Is The Fastest Ever- With a New Ludicrous Upgrade
The Tesla P85D all-wheel-drive was unveiled in October 2014, featuring the Insane Mode, under which the sedan could reach 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.1 seconds. The Ludicrous mode, introduced in the fall of 2015, improved upon it and could reach the same acceleration in an astonishing 2.8 seconds.
On August 23, Tesla shattered another glass ceiling when it announced the new versions of its Model S sedan and Model X crossover, equipped with a 100kWh battery and the upgraded Ludicrous mode. The Tesla Model S P100D can accelerate from 0-60 mph in an incredible 2.5 seconds and can also cover 315 miles on a single charge. This make it the first electric car ever to have a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range exceeding 300 miles. Range anxiety will soon be a thing of past. On the other hand, the Model X P100D can hit 60 miles in a mere 2.9 seconds and deliver an EPA estimated range of 289 miles.
‘These are really profound milestones and I think will help convince people around the world that electric is the future and it’s time to move to sustainable transport’, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during a conference call.
Tesla owners who have placed an order for the Model S or X (P90D version) but haven’t received delivery yet can go for the upgrade for an additional USD 10,000. The cars aren’t expensive though, with the Model S P100D costing USD 134,500 and the Model X leaving you poorer by USD 135,500.
The New Battery Pack Is The Key To Tesla’s Power
The new 100 kWh battery is the main reason for the high-speed performance of the new Tesla models. It is roughly the same shape and size as the 90 kWh version, but complex engineering has allowed Tesla to pack in more energy and integrate improved cooling mechanisms into the 100 kWh version. The standard charging rate is the same as for the 90 kWh version, though supercharging should allow a higher rate for a lengthier period.
According to Musk, the batteries will be available for the high-end versions for now but will be eventually rolled out for all versions of the Model S and X.
Tesla’s new battery pack is certainly a technology breakthrough and has set the industry standards. It remains to be seen what automakers such as GM, Ford, Nissan and other behemoths attempt to match the features offered by a Tesla car.