Friday 11th June 2021

Tesla confirms Model S Plaid performance

Owe someone a ten-second car? Be generous; the 1,020hp Plaid does the quarter mile in 9.2...

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It says something of the impact of the Tesla Model S that it can still defy expectations almost a decade after launch. Just a few days ago, the mercurial Musk said the Model S Plaid+ was cancelled because the standard Plaid "is just so good." Now, following a delivery event last night, we have some numbers to put to that claim...

For its "best car in the world", Tesla has created a Model S with three drive units and 1,020hp. Or exactly twice the power of a new M3. Last year a sub-two-second 0-60mph time was promised; now that's been confirmed as 1.99 seconds, with a stunning quarter mile time of 9.23 seconds also claimed. That'll most likely be with the odd US method including roll out, but those remain extraordinary numbers. This still has 390 miles of range, too, with a Supercharger update meaning up to 187 miles can be added in 15 minutes. And none of those are the most incredible, either, as that might be the 200mph top speed. Yes, a Nevera now goes 258mph, but for an EV saloon to come from the factory capable of the double ton is remarkable. No matter how much you pay Audi, Mercedes-AMG, or BMW, none of its V8 'bahnstormers can do that.

Elon Musk has been typically reserved about his company's latest creation, suggesting Plaid takes the Model S "to a whole new level". He later went on to Tweet even more effusive praise: "Most amount of fun on 4 wheels! Pure joy on tap whenever u want." Some familiar grand claims, then, but many have doubted Musk before and been made to look a bit silly. So let's see...

For UK customers, the Model S Plaid is available to order now, with prices starting at £118,980. However, the Tesla website currently suggests that delivery won't be until the end of 2022. And who knows what Musk will have conjured up by then...

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• Tesla confirms 200mph Model S Plaid
• Rimac Nevera unveiled as 258mph sensation

 

 

[Clive Milk]

All that performance in a car that reminds me of a Mondeo. It is a car I'd like to hire for the weekend but not own for any period.

[Augustus Windsock]

I applaud performance in general, I really do, but I have to ask what that 0-60 time would be like for people who aren’t used to F1 / BTCC / drag cars? As in, will they be able to control the car competently when they deploy the full force of the car?
Plus other toad cars will be going much more slowly so what are the odds of hitting one in front of you or just the plain facts that just because the car has got insanely fast the road infrastructure hasn’t changed to accommodate it
But I’ll still celebrate the fact that such a thing is going to be built, that is until Greta and her tree-huggers decide to turn their attention to EVs and say they are the worst things to happen since...ICE cars.

[Leon R]

Properly impressive performance figures.

[benzinbob]

Hang on I thought he said they wouldn’t be making these?..

[British Beef]

Call me a luddite, I think I would have more fun hustling an old v6 Alfa along an average road or relaxing in the opulence of a german or british uber saloon if comfort was on agenda.

For embarrassing a Veyron on the drag strip, this would be a neat solution !!

[Pixelpeep Z4]

Augustus Windsock said:

I applaud performance in general, I really do, but I have to ask what that 0-60 time would be like for people who aren’t used to F1 / BTCC / drag cars? As in, will they be able to control the car competently when they deploy the full force of the car?
Plus other toad cars will be going much more slowly so what are the odds of hitting one in front of you or just the plain facts that just because the car has got insanely fast the road infrastructure hasn’t changed to accommodate it
But I’ll still celebrate the fact that such a thing is going to be built, that is until Greta and her tree-huggers decide to turn their attention to EVs and say they are the worst things to happen since...ICE cars.

What an odd thing to say.

a 75 year old lady could drop £3000 on a Yamaha R1/R6 after riding Honda C90s all her life. this 'going from slow to fast' isn't exclusive to EVs.

Also, if you've never owned a performance car and then decide to dip your toe into the world of EVs, you are hardly likely to fork out £118k on your first one, are you?

Renault zoe EV, 0-60 in 12 seconds. that's what people who don't care about performance will buy.

[whp1983]

It’s mighty impressive, I’m not an EV evangelist and I suspect I’d find other stuff still more involving…. But that is quite immense

[nunpuncher]

1,020hp
0-60 in 1.99 seconds
top speed of 200mph

Incredible figures. I do wonder if we are close to the point where someone with a hard hat and a clipboard will step in and say "that's just too much".

[GreatScott2016]

I probably shouldn’t be commenting because I simply don’t know enough about these EVs. However, the prospect of something as quick as this in the hands of an idiot with little car control is a recipe for disaster. Throw in silent, or near silent running gear and TBH, it could have warp speed but until they get it to drive like e.g. the M3, then it’s not for me and certainly not at that price point!

[Galsia]

benzinbob said:

Hang on I thought he said they wouldn’t be making these?..

No, Elon originally announced an even faster model, the Plaid Plus. That got cancelled.

[thegreenhell]

nunpuncher said:

1,020hp
0-60 in 1.99 seconds
top speed of 200mph

Incredible figures. I do wonder if we are close to the point where someone with a hard hat and a clipboard will step in and say "that's just too much".

Thirty years ago parliament debated on the Lotus Carlton with its enormous power output of 377bhp and 170mph top speed being too fast for sale to the public. I don't think our road infrastructure and driver training have improved noticeably since then.

[Twoshoe]

Needs a remap.

[Augustus Windsock]

Pixelpeep Z4 said:

Augustus Windsock said:

I applaud performance in general, I really do, but I have to ask what that 0-60 time would be like for people who aren’t used to F1 / BTCC / drag cars? As in, will they be able to control the car competently when they deploy the full force of the car?
Plus other toad cars will be going much more slowly so what are the odds of hitting one in front of you or just the plain facts that just because the car has got insanely fast the road infrastructure hasn’t changed to accommodate it
But I’ll still celebrate the fact that such a thing is going to be built, that is until Greta and her tree-huggers decide to turn their attention to EVs and say they are the worst things to happen since...ICE cars.

What an odd thing to say.

a 75 year old lady could drop £3000 on a Yamaha R1/R6 after riding Honda C90s all her life. this 'going from slow to fast' isn't exclusive to EVs.

Also, if you've never owned a performance car and then decide to dip your toe into the world of EVs, you are hardly likely to fork out £118k on your first one, are you?

Renault zoe EV, 0-60 in 12 seconds. that's what people who don't care about performance will buy.

I’m sorry, I didn’t know tou were a social expert and commentator
Actually I remember a good few years ago when I was a cop going to a serious RTA (as it was then) involving a Porsche 911. Not a turbo a 996 Carerra iirc
The driver was 28 and had been given the car by his dad when he passed his test. No experience in driving, no sense either.
Some people are in the position of being able to afford daft stuff for their first fast car (in my case my first really quick thing was a Sierra Cosworth back when they were new but by then I’d been driving since 1980)
I respect your opinion even if I think you’re wrong 😊

[tigger1]

Pixelpeep Z4 said:

Renault zoe EV, 0-60 in 12 seconds. that's what people who don't care about performance will buy.

Nissan Leaf is around 6.5 seconds to 60/62mph, so "cooking" EV's are still pretty quick up that sort of speed (in reality, to 40/50 mph, then many fizzle out).

[Bencolem]

I’m still more stunned by the business model than the performance statistics; buy on the website now for delivery end of 2022 which given Tesla’s track record really means at least 2 years away. Given the rate of change across the EV landscape, things could look very different by then.

[aparna]

GreatScott2016 said:

I probably shouldn’t be commenting because I simply don’t know enough about these EVs. However, the prospect of something as quick as this in the hands of an idiot with little car control is a recipe for disaster. Throw in silent, or near silent running gear and TBH, it could have warp speed but until they get it to drive like e.g. the M3, then it’s not for me and certainly not at that price point!

No need to worry. Replacements parts take so long to arrive that owners are so careful, accident rates are very low.

[tramart50]

Imagine when every car on the roads has performance figures like this - its possible given the rapid development of EVs. Batteries will reduce global warming and accidents will reduce the growing population!

[HorneyMX5]

Bencolem said:

I’m still more stunned by the business model than the performance statistics; buy on the website now for delivery end of 2022 which given Tesla’s track record really means at least 2 years away. Given the rate of change across the EV landscape, things could look very different by then.

Delivery on these should be fine, it’s not a whole new car.

[Water Fairy]

Augustus Windsock said:

Pixelpeep Z4 said:

Augustus Windsock said:

I applaud performance in general, I really do, but I have to ask what that 0-60 time would be like for people who aren’t used to F1 / BTCC / drag cars? As in, will they be able to control the car competently when they deploy the full force of the car?
Plus other toad cars will be going much more slowly so what are the odds of hitting one in front of you or just the plain facts that just because the car has got insanely fast the road infrastructure hasn’t changed to accommodate it
But I’ll still celebrate the fact that such a thing is going to be built, that is until Greta and her tree-huggers decide to turn their attention to EVs and say they are the worst things to happen since...ICE cars.

What an odd thing to say.

a 75 year old lady could drop £3000 on a Yamaha R1/R6 after riding Honda C90s all her life. this 'going from slow to fast' isn't exclusive to EVs.

Also, if you've never owned a performance car and then decide to dip your toe into the world of EVs, you are hardly likely to fork out £118k on your first one, are you?

Renault zoe EV, 0-60 in 12 seconds. that's what people who don't care about performance will buy.

I’m sorry, I didn’t know tou were a social expert and commentator
Actually I remember a good few years ago when I was a cop going to a serious RTA (as it was then) involving a Porsche 911. Not a turbo a 996 Carerra iirc
The driver was 28 and had been given the car by his dad when he passed his test. No experience in driving, no sense either.
Some people are in the position of being able to afford daft stuff for their first fast car (in my case my first really quick thing was a Sierra Cosworth back when they were new but by then I’d been driving since 1980)
I respect your opinion even if I think you’re wrong ??

It's far more likely some nugget will be driving one of these soon than any old lady ever buying a sports bike though isn't it? RTA? That's gotta be 25 year ago.

[anonymous-user]

Tesla is The Cool Brand with kids who can't drive, or if they can it's a smokey old VAG heap rather than a £100k EV, so this obsession with Top Trumps nonsense makes sense because that's how children and morons assess a car.

Of more interest is when are they going to make the thing drive like a proper luxury car, trim it like a proper luxury car, and when are they going to put them together like a proper luxury car. I wish them every luck in doing so because their charging network is still far superior to the others and that is the real killer feature of Tesla ownership.