As though Tesla's Insane Mode wasn't ludicrous enough, the automaker announced recently that they will add "Ludicrous Mode" to their flagship sedan. The $10,000 add-on option will permit the all-wheel drive 762hp Model S P90D to achieve 0 to 60 mph in a mind numbing 2.8-seconds.
With a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.8-seconds, the S P85D Ludicrous Mode enters the realm of some of the quickest sports cars on the planet. Even at a price of just over $119k, the Tesla can compete with the legendary Porsche 911 Turbo S which sales for about $183k and has a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.9-seconds. The new S P90D can also get down the drag strip in short order, with a quarter-mile time of 10.9-seconds – that is good enough to best the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
In further news, Tesla announced plans to broaden the Model S range to include nine different variants. In addition to the Ludicrous equipped vehicle, Tesla also announced plans to introduce a $70k (before incentives) rear-wheel drive base model S, called the "70". A new Model 90, with extended battery life, will offer a highway range of 300-miles. Possibly the best thing about this odd mixture of rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and high performance vehicles is the owners ability to add new features to earlier model vehicles of the same genre. For instance, owners of the 2015 Model S with an 85 kWh battery pack can upgrade to the new 90 kWh battery pack for an additional $3,000. It seems that the controversial American electric automaker is here to stay and bound to offer a wide range of battery and performance choices for potential buyers, as well as current owners.
The new top-of the-Model S-line P90D has a practical range of 253-miles on a single charge. Current owners of the battery powered S P85D will be able to upgrade their rides to include the Ludicrous Mode (complete with a heavier grade fuse and exclusive electronics) for a price of $5,000, plus labor costs. The new Ludicrous Mode will also be offered on the Tesla Model X crossover SUV. Tesla intends to release this package in about 2-months. Although Tesla hasn't officially tested the Ludicrous Mode in that vehicle, Musk said he expected it would need 3.3 seconds to hit 60 mph. "That's mad for an SUV, obviously," Musk said.
Musk, who also manages a rocket launching enterprise called the Space Exploration Technology Corporation known as "Space X", hinted that a second-generation Tesla roadster was in the offing. It is expected to be quicker than the Ludicrous Mode. The name of the new mode? Maximum Plaid.
Meh. Let me know when plaid mode comes out.
+1 for the Spaceballs reference!