Photo: www.teslamotorsclub.com
A week since Elon Musk announced he wants to show us his D (no pun intended), the mystery has finally been solved: the culprit is a new variant of the Tesla Model S P85, boasting with two electric motors mounted in each axle of the luxury sedan.
It's been only 4 years since Tesla went public and two since the Model S entered mass production, but the automaker is morphing from just an ambitious startup company to the automotive equivalent of Apple.
Until today, the fastest product Tesla made was the Model S P85. Thanks to 416 horsepower and an 85 kWh battery pack, the P85 is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.2 seconds, but it can also run 265 miles if your right foot is steady enough.
We've tested the thing and it has impressed us with its get-up-and-go and the way it can do monstrously big burnouts, but the P85D turns the P85's performance knob all the way to eleven. So what exactly does a D add to the Model S electric sedan? Well, exactly what we suspected in a previous scoop.
The BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG GT do the same job in 4.1, while the sixth fastest production car in the world – the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and its 6.2-liter supercharged vee eight with 707 horsepower, is trailing behind in the mid threes. Wait, what? Is this for real?
Yes it is, ladies and gents! An all-electric luxury sedan is faster than the king of the muscle cars, German performance machines and the fastest Italian supercars. The Tesla Model S P85D is the biggest surprise the EV world has ever seen, all thanks to one crazy Elon Musk that previously tweeted he'll show us the D.
During tonight's unveiling event, Elon Musk confirmed in a Tony Stark-ish way what we previously reported about Model S improvements: a forward-facing camera is fitted on the newest lot of vehicles for semi-autonomous driving. Firstly, the system moves the Model S over a lane when the driver uses the turn signal.
In addition to that, the updated Model S can read speed limit signs and then adjust the car to that speed. In order to meet the latest European auto standards, new Tesla Model S vehicles benefit from a lane drift detection feature that alerts through chime and steering wheel vibration when the car drifts out of its lane.
On the quarter mile, the Tesla Model S P85D shames modern muscle cars with its 11.8-second run wearing factory-spec street-legal tires. Horepower and torque? 376 ponies (188 front and 188 rear) and 362 lb-ft (490 Nm; 181 lb-ft front and 181 lb-ft rear) for the 60D, same figures for the 85D, 691 horsepower (221 front and 470 rear) and a monstrous 687 lb-ft (931 Nm; 244 lb-ft front and 443 lb-ft rear) for the P85D.
In terms of weight, the Tesla Model S 60D adds 176 pounds over the normal Model S with its 4,597 lb (2,085 kg) curb weight, while the P85D is a hefty little so-and-so at 4,936 pounds (2,238 kg). Last but not least, how can you maximize the P85D's mileage? Well, buy the less powerful 85D because this boy can go 295 miles (474 km) on a single charge. In comparison, the 60D only manages 225 miles (362 km).
Until today, the fastest product Tesla made was the Model S P85. Thanks to 416 horsepower and an 85 kWh battery pack, the P85 is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.2 seconds, but it can also run 265 miles if your right foot is steady enough.
We've tested the thing and it has impressed us with its get-up-and-go and the way it can do monstrously big burnouts, but the P85D turns the P85's performance knob all the way to eleven. So what exactly does a D add to the Model S electric sedan? Well, exactly what we suspected in a previous scoop.
Better mileage than the Model S P85, quicker than a Challenger SRT Hellcat
There are not one, but two electric motors – one in the front axle and one in the rear, making the thing all-wheel drive. Cold weather customers rejoice! This setup also cuts the P85's 4.2-second 0 to 60 (96 km/h) acceleration to a blistering fast 3.2-second. Is that fast enough for you?The BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG GT do the same job in 4.1, while the sixth fastest production car in the world – the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and its 6.2-liter supercharged vee eight with 707 horsepower, is trailing behind in the mid threes. Wait, what? Is this for real?
Yes it is, ladies and gents! An all-electric luxury sedan is faster than the king of the muscle cars, German performance machines and the fastest Italian supercars. The Tesla Model S P85D is the biggest surprise the EV world has ever seen, all thanks to one crazy Elon Musk that previously tweeted he'll show us the D.
Deliveries of the fastest accelerating production sedan in the world start in December
Thanks to an intelligent powertrain management, the P85D improves mileage by about 10 miles over the RWD model, for a maximum of 275 miles (442 km) on a single charge. Less brisk variants dubbed 60D and 85D will follow, with deliveries of the two sub-P85D variants slated for February.During tonight's unveiling event, Elon Musk confirmed in a Tony Stark-ish way what we previously reported about Model S improvements: a forward-facing camera is fitted on the newest lot of vehicles for semi-autonomous driving. Firstly, the system moves the Model S over a lane when the driver uses the turn signal.
In addition to that, the updated Model S can read speed limit signs and then adjust the car to that speed. In order to meet the latest European auto standards, new Tesla Model S vehicles benefit from a lane drift detection feature that alerts through chime and steering wheel vibration when the car drifts out of its lane.
Numbers, numbers, numbers
The Tesla Model S P85D has a 50/50 weight distribution and offers a maximum of 1 G lateral acceleration on the skid pad. The upcoming entry-level Tesla Model S 60D has a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), while the mid-range 85D and P85D go all the way to 155 mph (250 km/h). Of course, the basic 60D accelerates to 60 mph slower than the 85D and P85D - 5.7 clicks versus 5.2 and 3.2 seconds, respectively.On the quarter mile, the Tesla Model S P85D shames modern muscle cars with its 11.8-second run wearing factory-spec street-legal tires. Horepower and torque? 376 ponies (188 front and 188 rear) and 362 lb-ft (490 Nm; 181 lb-ft front and 181 lb-ft rear) for the 60D, same figures for the 85D, 691 horsepower (221 front and 470 rear) and a monstrous 687 lb-ft (931 Nm; 244 lb-ft front and 443 lb-ft rear) for the P85D.
In terms of weight, the Tesla Model S 60D adds 176 pounds over the normal Model S with its 4,597 lb (2,085 kg) curb weight, while the P85D is a hefty little so-and-so at 4,936 pounds (2,238 kg). Last but not least, how can you maximize the P85D's mileage? Well, buy the less powerful 85D because this boy can go 295 miles (474 km) on a single charge. In comparison, the 60D only manages 225 miles (362 km).
Zero to 60 in "3"!!! #teslaboy #tesla https://t.co/4Clew0OOWU
— Jonathan Thymius (@JonathanThymius) October 10, 2014
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