A few days ago, Tesla subjected the veteran Model S and Model X to a deep restyling to keep them updated and defend their sovereignty against newcomers to the market such as the Lucid Air or the Xpeng P7. Although both models have received a slight aesthetic update and a wholly renewed cabin, they have also undergone a significant evolution on the technical level.
The main novelty is found in the appearance of an unprecedented powertrain consisting of three engines (Tri-Motor) associated with the new Plaid versions (available in both the Model S and Model X) and Plaid + (available exclusively in the Model S). While the powertrain of the Model S and Model X Plaid yields 1,034 hp, that of the Model S Plaid + reaches 1,115 hp.
Beyond this difference in power, the main change of the Model S Plaid + is its autonomy: while the conventional Plaid promises a range of 390 miles of range, the Plaid + should be able to exceed the 520-mile range, placing slightly above the Lucid Air Grand Touring, which certifies a maximum of 406 miles.
With 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 1.99 seconds, the Model S Plaid has been crowned the fastest production car in history, beating monsters like the Porsche 918 Spyder (2.1 seconds), the Porsche 911 Turbo S 992 (2.2 seconds), the Lamborghini Huracán Performante (2.3 seconds) or the Bugatti Chiron (2.4 seconds).
The most notable is that, while all these models are radical supercars or hypercars, the Model S Plaid is still an executive sedan with a capacity for five passengers and a practical hatchback. That’s huge for a car that can take the whole family along for the ride.