Prepare For The Fastest Tesla Model S Yet

By Miles Branman November 8, 2016

What’s loonier than ludicrous? That’s what we’re waiting to find out as Elon Musk has hinted that an update to the Tesla Model S’s Ludicrous Mode will turn the EV into an even faster Tesla flagship.

Autocar points to a recent tweet from the billionaire inventor that sparks speculation about the Model S’s new acceleration potential:

“There will be a P100D Ludicrous Easter egg [sic] soon that uncorks the full performance.”

The hint is light on details, but considering the latest Ludicrous Mode update on the Model S P100D allowed the car to accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, we can only imagine what’s on the way. Currently, the Model S P100D sits as the third fastest (accelerating) production car on earth. The Model S falls just behind two hypercars: Ferrari’s LaFerrari, and Porsche’s 918 Spyder. Perhaps Tesla is going for the record this time.

Besides the untold performance boost, the Model S gets a couple new options, including a panoramic glass sunroof that’s at a “five star-plus” safety rating for rollover. Musk said the new roof was, “very hard to develop, but it makes the interior feel amazing.”

Speaking of glass, Tesla also announced it’s getting into the glass development game, sharing technology between Solar City’s new roof panels and the next generation of Tesla vehicles. The first fruits of this new venture will be experienced in Tesla’s upcoming Model S compact EV, due mid-2017 (though delays are expected).

As its stands, the Model S lineup is bigger than ever, with 60, 60D, 75, 75D, 90D, and P100D tiers of charge and performance, but a large price gap exists between the 90D and P100D. If history can be counted on, Tesla will likely introduce a model between the 90D and P100D shortly.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

EVs

Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…

Auto

Polaris Camp RZR is an incredible way to experience off-roading the Glamis sand dunes

Ever wanted to get into off-roading?

Oldsmobile hill at night

Driving along California’s State Route 78 toward Glamis on Halloween weekend gives you a pretty good picture of what you might be in for. Amongst the sand, dust, and searing sun are packs of riders operating Polaris, Can-Ams, Hondas, and every other manner of off-road vehicle you can imagine. In scenes similar to a reenactment of Mad Max, the groups blast through the dunes alongside the highway. Some are parked and watching, some are broken down and waiting for rescue, and others are going full-throttle into the open sand in front of them.

Shortly after you see the small legion of bikes and side-by-sides, a trailer or two will appear in the dunes. This quickly develops into a city-sized site holding around 100,000 people. The scale of Glamis is hard to comprehend, and even if you take to the air or get a solid vantage point on a larger dune -- it’s nearly impossible to scope out the entire site at once.

Auto

EV battery range is affected by cold weather, but longevity may improve in cold climates: Study

Range anxiety is real, but your battery won't degrade as quickly in the cold

Electric car plugged into charger

Back in 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," which translates to "the more things change, the more they stay the same." While we can assume that he wasn't explicitly referring to battery-powered electric cars nearly 175 years in the future, some words and ideas are genuinely transcendent.

With the new automotive EV-olution taking over the driving world, more and more owners are turning in their fossil-fueled Civics and Tacomas for Model Xs and Ys. And with that new (old) power source, we are facing an age-old problem, once again -- Mother Nature. A study done by Recurrent, which used data from more than 12,500 Teslas across the country, shows us that, not surprisingly, temperature affects batteries.

Auto

Subaru unveils 2025 Forester SUV with updated design and improved performance – but same gas-powered drivetrain

The new Subaru Forester is not an EV

2025 Subaru Forester front right three-quarter view parked on pavement with trees in the background.

Subaru of America introduced the 2025 Subaru Forester at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. The debut of the compact SUV's sixth generation has several upgrades and new features, but it lacks one element many fans hoped for an electric engine. Some may find irony in Subaru showing the world a flying car concept shortly before introducing a new generation of one of its most popular cars without a hint of electrification.

2025 Subaru Forester SUV will be gas-powered
The new Forester will be powered by a familiar internal combustion engine (ICE), the 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine. There's no battery electric vehicle (BEV) version, not even a hybrid option. All 2025 Foresters will get power from the 4-cylinder 180-horsepower motor that maxes out at 178 pound-feet of torque.