Tesla unveiled its new range-topping Model S Plaid overnight with a party and media event as the first one rolled off its California production line.
Tesla doesn’t build cars in model years like a traditional automaker. Instead, it improves cars gradually during a production run. But the company’s flagship Model S sedan is nearly a decade old. Earlier this year, Tesla revealed its first redesign. The Model S Plaid is a high-performance edition of that car.
Order It Now, Get It Soon
It commands a $129,990 purchase price, plus a $1,200 destination and documentation fee. That’s significantly more than the price Tesla had initially announced. It added $10,000 to the sticker price hours before the reveal event. The car is available for order now, with deliveries scheduled to begin this month.
Astounding Performance Claims
The show-stopping details on the Model S are all about power. Tesla redesigned the electric motors that power the car. They now use carbon sleeves that enable them to spin at a higher rate than older Tesla motors. The Model S Plaid carries three of them, for a total output of 1,020 horsepower. Separate motors spinning each rear wheel allow torque vectoring for higher-speed turns.
Tesla says the car will get from a standstill to 60 mph in 2 seconds. The company also says it has run a quarter-mile in 9.2 seconds at 155 mph – faster than a Bugatti Veyron or McLaren Senna. No one outside the company has tested either claim.
Up to 390 Miles of Driving
Tesla claims a 390-mile driving range for the car. The EPA has not yet rated the new Model S. There’s also an important caveat to the range. The 390-mile figure comes from using the base, 19-inch wheels. The shocking performance figures are on optional, 21-inch wheels, which lower the range. So you can buy a Model S Plaid with 390 miles of range, OR one with a 2-second 0-60 mph time. But you can’t buy one with both.
Subtle Differences
On the outside, the only thing that distinguishes a Plaid from a more pedestrian Model S Long Range ($79,990) is a badge. Inside, buyers can choose traditional wood trim or new carbon fiber accents. The rear seats get additional bolstering, in case the driver decides to use that torque-vectoring capability. The rear seats are also heated. Front seats are heated and ventilated. A glass roof and a 22-speaker audio system are standard.
Available options include Tesla’s “full self-driving” Autopilot system (which has been a source of controversy, as some buyers find its name misleading). Tesla says a high-performance tire option will be offered in the fall, which will push the car’s top speed to 200 mph.
The company had planned to offer an even higher-performance Plaid Plus edition for a higher price but canceled that car last weekend.
