Here is the deal with the new Tesla Model S P85D:
It’s an update to the current Model S. It serves to bring the Model S closer to other cars in its class (particularly the S63 AMG and M5 in our opinion), instead of being an entirely new concept or innovation. It is expected to be available in February 2015 as an optional variant to the Model S.
- Will have two separate motors, in front and rear of car.
- 0-60 MPH in 3.2 Seconds (a full second faster than the P85)
- 691 HP. Yes, 691 HP.
- 687 ft-lbs Torque
- Updated dual-motor
- 1G of lateral acceleration
- AWD
- Increased performance (top of the line P85D, 691 HP and 0-60 in 3.2 seconds) and range (+10 miles per charge)
- Updated safety features
- Rudimentary “autopilot” features, including lane tracking assistance, self-parking, automatic braking.
- $120,000. Worth it.
Two seperate motors means you’ve got an additional motor for regen, sending additional power back into the battery pack for more range/distance.
Secondly, by optimizing the usage of each motor down to the millisecond depending on the traction available, Tesla’s geeks have been able to tweak the software to use the right motor at the right time at the right speed, all to boost efficiency and performance.
Both cars also don’t suffer the same weight penalty since they’re each using the smaller motors, so overall tonnage is only up by 176 pounds, and 0-60 times have dropped by 0.2 seconds. To add the extra motor to each car brings the price up only by $4,000.
Tesla is taking orders on all the D models tonight, with deliveries of the P85D happening before the end of the year and the standard 85 and 60 models coming in February.
Elon Musk for President.