Ludicrous

Elon Musk went on another Tweetstorm last night and although it was mostly about SpaceX’s upcoming missions (not that we mind – it’s just not what we cover), he did reveal a few tidbits of information involving the Tesla Model 3.

The CEO said that the higher-end version of the Model 3 will have a ‘Ludicrous’ mode option, like the Model S and X.
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Last summer, Tesla introduced both a new and bigger 90 kWh battery pack and the ‘Ludicrous mode’ upgrade for a higher level of performance on the already insane Model S. The automaker offers the upgrade for a $10,000 premium when configuring a Model S P90D or as a retrofit for Model S P85D owners who, at the time, had just witnessed their less than 1-year old cars already outperformed by the new version.

Tesla ended up significantly reducing the price of the retrofit to just $5,000 for the P85D and now for the first time, the automaker is offering the upgrade as an aftermarket retrofit for the Model S P90D – meaning that someone configuring the Tesla’s top of the line vehicle could decide to pass on the ‘Ludicrous mode’, but later add it for the same price plus labor.
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It’s not everyday that you see a large 4-door sedan drag racing against a luxury SUV, but when it comes to Tesla and all-electric vehicles, all rules are out. In its latest video, Drag Times is drag racing his 2016 Tesla Model X P90D against a 2015  Tesla Model S P90D, both with Ludicrous mode.
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DragTimes took delivery of its Tesla Model S P90D with Ludicrous mode just a few days ago and it already posted its first race. They raced the 5,000 lbs electric sedan against a 3,500 lbs Ford GT supercar.

Watch the full video below the fold:
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Tesla sent out an email this weekend to Model S owners on the waiting list for a retrofit of their Performance Dual Motor Model S to enable the ‘Ludicrous’ mode. In the email, Tesla explained that due to parts and process improvements, the company is now able to offer the upgrade at a reduced price of $5,000 instead of the previously announced $7,500.

The Ludicrous upgrade consists of two improvements to the electronics of the Model S’ battery pack. The first improvement is the replacement of a standard fuse to an “advanced smart fuse” which enables the monitoring of current to the millisecond, and makes it possible to cut the power with “extreme precision”.
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Three months ago Tesla announced a referral program for Model S owners. By referring someone who ends up buying a Tesla Model S, the owner gets $1,000 credit from Tesla to put toward accessories, service or a car, and the new buyer gets $1,000 off his new Model S. The program is only in a “trial phase” until October 31, but the deadline is also a competition for top referrers.

Today, less than two weeks before the end of the trial, the automaker upped the ante by announcing that those who make 5 referrals will receive a Tesla Powerwall for free…
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In an email to Model S owners today, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the company’s new referral program “seems to be working” and they are removing the 10-referral limit. More than 9 Model S owners have already referred 10 or more leads which turned into sales.

The company is also adding one more reward to the program. Now not only the first owners to get to 10 referrals in each region (North America, Asia and Europe) will get a free Model X, but the customer who makes the most referrals by the end of the program in October will be able to trade their current Model S for a brand new fully loaded Ludicrous P90D Model S for free.
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Speaking at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last weekend, CEO of Aston Martin Andy Palmer, confirmed to Automotive News that the British automaker plans on bringing to market a 800 hp all-electric version of the Rapide in 2 years.

The executive also expects an all-electric version of the DBX to follow shortly after the Rapide.
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Last week, Elon Musk, CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, announced new options and trims for Tesla’s award winning electric sedan, the Model S. One of the new option is a battery pack electronics upgrade, the Ludicrous Speed Upgrade, which enables faster acceleration for the existing Model S P85D and the new P90D. On this new driving mode, the Model S can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 second, making the 5,000 lb 4-door sedan faster than a McLaren F1.

Earlier this year, we wrote about SpaceX transferring some technology and welding equipment to Tesla. Now it seems like the new “Ludicrous” upgrade might have been made possible due to knowledge acquired through rocket engine manufacturing at SpaceX.
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