lon Musk and Tesla Motors is taking the first mass production model, Model S, to the next level with the Plaid trim package. At the Battery Day event on September 22, 2020, CEO Elon Musk proudly announced that they were ready to take pre-orders for the new model. The Tesla Model S Plaid offers an estimated range of 840km, a 0-100 km/h time of under 2.1 seconds, and an impressive top speed of 320 km/h. All these groundbreaking stats are possible thanks to a not-so-measly 1,100 horsepower tri-motor setup.
"We're confident the Model S Plaid will achieve the best track time of any production vehicle ever, of any kind, two-door or otherwise," CEO Elon Musk said at the event.
With such statement, it's very obvious Musk is aiming for the moon, and setting the bar high with the new release. The well-reviewed Porsche Taycan Turbo S was widely praised for often overtaking the Model S Performance in various races, so it's only right Tesla comes striking back with something even more powerful. Tesla self-proclaimed this new model has the quickest quarter mile acceleration time for any production car ever with a sub-9 second sprint. Lap times suggest that Tesla is truly changing the game. On Battery Day they shared a 1:30.3 lap time at Laguna Seca, which is over 6 full seconds faster than any other four-door sedan that has lapped the track. Elon Musk further mentioned there's another "three seconds or more to take off that time."
What's the battery range of Tesla Model S Plaid?
Tesla's website states the Tesla Model S Plaid will offer over 840 kilometers of range on a single charge, which would make it the longest range for any Tesla model today. However the Model S Plaid may be over taken from the top spot by the Cybertruck tri-motor, which is also expected to offer over 800 kilometers of range. It may also be beaten by the next-generation Roadster, which is expected to come into production north of 2022, and is supposed to have a mind-boggling 1000 kilometers of range.
What is the price and release date of Tesla Model S Plaid?
The Tesla Model S Plaid is currently listed for pre-order on the website for $139,990 USD and $189,990 CAD respectively. It's a high price, however when compared to the $185,000 USD Porsche Taycan Turbo S, it could be fairly considered a bargain.
The new model will come with 19-inch Tempest wheels or the optional 21-inch Turbine wheels, and a selection of the typical black, white or tan interior package. With all options including semi-autonomous autopilot mode, the price maxes at at nearly $157,000 USD. An exact release date is unclear at this point in time, but the website claims buyers can expect delivery of their newly spec'd car in late 2021.
