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New Tesla Model S P90D Ludicrous accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds

The Tesla Model S is the only 4-door sedan capable of accelerating quicker than the acceleration due to gravity at the Earth’s surface (1 G), and it’s only getting quicker.

Back in June, we reported that Tesla was secretly boosting the power output of the Model S and some owners were reporting outputs greater than 500 kW – up from previous highs of ~450 kW. Earlier this month, we reported how the new output was now producing  quarter-mile runs of 10.8 seconds. Now the latest test shows that the new Tesla Model S P90D in Ludicrous mode can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

DragTimes did the tests on a Tesla Model S P90D with the Ludicrous battery upgrade on regular 19″ wheels and skinny 245/45/19 all season tires. Brooks from DragTimes believes it could potentially do better with performance tires on 21″ wheels.

Despite these latest results, Tesla is still advertising the Model S as capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and with a much lower power output than what has been recorded.

It’s still not clear how Tesla was able to get to this new level of power outputs or why they are not advertising it yet.

Here’s the video:

The leading theory is that those vehicles already feature software-limited 100 kWh battery packs capable of higher power outputs.

My own theory is that Tesla developed new battery pack parts, like it did for the Ludicrous upgrade (new contactor and fuse), in order to optimize the upcoming 100 kWh pack and it introduced those parts in the existing packs before the release of the new one.

What do you guys think?

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Avatar for Fred Lambert Fred Lambert

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