Currently reading: Tesla Model S P85 D gets new Ludicrous Mode

Ludicrous Mode gives Model S P85 D a 0-60mph time of 2.8 seconds; will also be available on the Tesla Model X crossover expected later this year

The Tesla Model S P85 D will be sold with a new Ludicrous Mode, which offers enhanced performance that will allow the car to pull 1.1G of acceleration and cover 0-60mph in 2.8secs, company boss Elon Musk has revealed.

The P85 D, which is the highest performance Tesla Model S available, was previously sold with an Insane Mode. However, the 0-60mph time in Ludicrous Mode is enhanced by 10% and the 0-155mph time by 20%. The quarter-mile time for the P85 D in Ludicrous Mode is 10.8sec.

The performance enhancement has been achieved by raising the electric car's maximum amperage from 1300amps to 1500amps.

 

Tesla is offering US-based Tesla P85 D owners the chance to have their cars upgraded to run Ludicrous Mode for $5000 plus the cost of installation. New buyers can add it as an option for $10,000. No UK prices have been revealed. The upgrade has a cost attached to it as it involves a hardware change, rather than just a software update; the car is fitted with a more advanced fuse to ensure it can handle the extra electric power.

Musk also revealed upgrades to battery performance for the Tesla Model S 85kWH model, taking it to 90kWH, adding around 7% more range. He also claimed that Tesla expects to find 5% battery range improvements per year for the forseeable future. A cheaper, single electric motor Model S 70KwH edition was also announced.

In addition, Musk confirmed that the Tesla Model X crossover will go on sale in the next few months, and will also be sold with a Ludicrous Mode option. He estimated the Model X's 0-60mph performance in "ludicrous" mode to be around 3.3sec because the car is around 10% heavier than the Model S P85 D.

Musk also confirmed the BMW 3 Series rival, the Tesla Model 3, will go on sale within three years.

Get the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below:

 

Join the debate

Comments
34
Add a comment…
Einarbb 19 July 2015

I think this is good advertisment for Tesla...

...this is about the wow factor. Let's keep in mind, that any kind of a car with this kind of performance - - if you make much use of that performance, then that has negative outcomes for the range. What I noticed was the 2,2 ton weight. It's clearly not a sporting car. Driving it, seemed almost like a video game. Erie lack of sound or general drama when accelerating. Just that g-force forcing you back into your seat. And the rapidly increasing movement of the horizon. In short, the whole matter seemed to lack excitement and drama. But most definitely the ultimate Q-car. About the range issue, people who are wealthy enough - probably have their own garage, where they can plug it in, and probably have high enough social status that they have access to a garage at the other end of the trip, hence can plug it in once on their destination of arrival, at their place of work. So the range issue probably isn't an issue at all for the likely owners. It's a definite niche vehicle. But Tesla has carved out a niche for itself, for people wealthy enough, and prepared to go to the additional hassle necessary, in order to plan their trips around it where -super chargers- are present. And the need to wait at least half an hour, each time. While giving the owners a feeling of well being, that they think they're saving the planet. I haven't got a problem with the success of Tesla, in it's marketing niche. Wish them all success. However cars like Tesla aren't going to save the world. But Tesla has shown that electric cars are every bit viable at the high end executive level of the market. I however have still doubts that they are going to replace the internal combustion engine in the low end of the market any time soon. The problem being the cost issue, A)Batteries too expensive, and B)Likely to remain so, I don't see how Tesla's battery plant changes that issue, as the problem lies at a different angle - - that the batteries are made out of rare Earth metals that are in limited supply, and suppliers maintain control over that supply, in order to ensure remaining high prices, hence in order to maximize their revenue. If demand for these materials does increase, prices for these materials are likely to rise further. In short I'm saying, I can't see how Lithium-ion batteries are ever going to be cheap enough. Meaning - - while we're using lithium-ion tech, or any other tech necessitating the use of rare Earth's of one kind of other. Batteries simply remain to expensive in order, for it to be at all probable that electric cars replace mainstream bread and butter vehicles.
Pat75014 19 July 2015

Need a Model X with 110KWH battery announced ASAP

With 10% more weight a&nd a much higher formfactor penelising it on the long motorway trips at 130KM/h be expected 30%, we need a Model X Performance model with Dual motor and 110KWH battery, not just 90KWH !
Peter Cavellini 19 July 2015

Ho hum........

OK, watched the video,mighty impressive ,in a straight line,what's it like on the twisty stuff though?