The $3,000 upgrade from a 85 kWh battery pack to a 90 kWh pack is now only available with the all-wheel-drive Model S, as Tesla discontinued the option for the rear-wheel-drive version of the vehicle.
Since unveiling the Dual Motor option in late 2014 and the 70 kWh and 90 kWh battery packs last year, Tesla significantly increased the number of trims available for the Model S.
In July 2015, it went from – 70D, 85, 85D, P85D – to a new total of eight – 70, 70D, 85, 85D, 90, 90D, P85D, P90D.
The automaker has been known to quickly discontinue certain options if they are ordered by a too small fraction of customers for a predetermined period of time. Rear executive seats and a few colors went through that process.
Now it’s the Model S 90’s turn after being in this weird spot where it didn’t offer much advantage over the 85D, or the 85 for that matter, while the 90D appears to be very popular.
Some expected Tesla to discontinue the 85 kWh all together for the Model S in order to only have 2 options of battery pack sizes: 70 and 90 kWh. This is already the case for the Model X, which is only available in all-wheel-drive with 70 or 90 kWh battery pack. This might still be the plan, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to see a more streamlined Model S trim lineup.
Hat tip to supratachophobia
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
It’s been that way for at least one month.
First I’ve heard of it. I didnt see any report. I thought it was noteworthy.
Looks like I noticed it sometime in November. On 1st of Dec I wrote this at TMC:
“It’s always a good idea to buy the biggest battery you can get. I just hate the fact it requires dual motors.”
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/58237-70D-vs-85D-help-to-make-decision-please?p=1260039#post1260039
As I have one of the very few 90RWD (only 3 in existence that I know of) – I noticed that it had been removed on 7th Nov 2015 (at least in the UK Tesla studio) and made mandatory to have with a “D”
I think a lot of hardcore drivers would be happy if the power split between front & rear were adjustable.