Tesla Model S P85D 'Insane' Mode: NSFW Video Shows How Insane It Really Is

[MohRokTah]

This outperforms any street legal internal combustion engine vehicle I've ever seen:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096531_tesla-model-s-p85d-insane-mode-nsfw-video-shows-how-insane-it-really-is

[Archae]

1. How many G's were they pulling?

They sure were surprised!

[localroger]

25. Probably about 0.5

That's the recommended target for hard braking, and I assume the Model S has the equivalent of anti-lock brakes in its insane mode acceleration to prevent spinning out.

0.5g might not sound like a lot but it's actually very startling if you get it when you're expecting maybe 0.15g.

[tridim]

2. Sold. When can I buy one?

The zero-tire-squeal is what amazes me.

[MohRokTah]

5. You can order now. $105,670. Federal TAx Credit would take $7,500 off that.

CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MA and UT all offer additional incentives.

The Standard Model S is $74,570, but has about half that horsepower.

http://my.teslamotors.com/models/design

[tridim]

12. Oooooof. I'm still sold, but not rich. Damn. nt

[Glassunion]

27. Just give it time.

New tech is almost always expensive. As sales occur, and production picks up, the price will go down.

Also, it is a hand built work of art on top of that. I cannot justify spending 1/2 my home's worth on any car.

[hunter]

13. Similar technology to anti-skid brakes.

If the car senses the wheels slipping on the pavement, it backs off on the power a bit.

[tridim]

19. It appears to work flawlessly. Good software, good hardware.

That car feels like the future.

[Fumesucker]

20. Not quite..

Actually it's tuned for the optimum amount of tire slip on the pavement, maximum force to the pavement occurs at some point after the rubber starts to slip a bit but before the tires dissolve in a cloud of funky smelling smoke.

Someone I keep up with online is building an electric Palatov DP1e for the street, looking for a 0-60 time of two seconds flat.

[hunter]

26. Yes! Thanks for making me think about the unique properties of rubber tires.

This same property of rubber is very important to the ordinary steering of bicycles and motor vehicles.

[Glassunion]

29. True... As well as the fact the car has all-wheel drive with two motors powering it.

Total HP on that Tesla is in the ballpark of about 700. With about 70% of the power (470hp Motor) in the rear and a 221hp motor in the front. The two are independent of each other.

I love the electric motor... 100% torque no matter the RPM.

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. Now you can be a green douche, too. nt

[Oklahoma_Liberal]

6. Lighten up chief

Try to live a little.

[Jesus Malverde]

11. Try to keep up with the green douches...

Good luck.

[LanternWaste]

30. Is that better or worse than being a snarky and petulant douche for its own sake?

Is that better or worse than being a snarky and petulant douche for its own sake?

[itsrobert]

4. Nice commerical

free advertising is good.

[hifiguy]

7. That's up there in Lamborghini Aventador/Ferrari 458 Italia territory.

Which is, in essence, motorcycle-fast. woohoo!

ETA: 3.2 seconds 0-60.

[MohRokTah]

14. Yep. eom

[GeorgeGist]

8. Base price ...

$106K.

[nationalize the fed]

15. Nothing says (Neo) Liberal like

taking tax money from the poor and middle class to subsidize a rich man's new toy!

People thinking about buying one of these might want to peruse this forum:

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/forumdisplay.php/73-Model-S

Much of the gas savings will be used to buy a new battery (the Tesla warranty does not cover degradation). All lithium ion batteries will die and it will be interesting to see the market for a used car that needs a new ~$20,000 part - assuming Tesla is still in business. They haven't made money and the burn rate is substantial. Also, they have a huge drive unit problem that apparently hasn't been fixed yet.

Toyota, Honda and Hyundai's new fuel cell cars are the real stars of the future.

[SidDithers]

17. Green for victory!!!...

Sid

[Fumesucker]

21. Fuel cells are also expensive and do not last forever

Not to mention fuel cells are not very efficient in turning hydrogen into electricity and the vast majority of hydrogen today comes from cracking petroleum, also not a particularly efficient process.

[edhopper]

31. What good would come from supporting this?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/06/12/tesla-goes-open-source-elon-musk-releases-patents-to-good-faith-use/

"Tesla Goes Open Source: Elon Musk Releases Patents To 'Good Faith' Use"


How about seeing it as a very small percentage of what goes to the military industry.

[NightWatcher]

9. I love the Cheshire Cat smile the older guy in the backseat gets

[Jesus Malverde]

10. WANT

So quiet and pure power.

The combustion engines' days are numbered.

[RandiFan1290]

16. Gotta be rich to own one

Just like these fancy flat screen TVs

http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/08/business/fi-6022

Part of a new wave of high-tech TVs hitting the market, flat-panel sets were almost 25 years in the making. They range from 3 to 5 inches deep and 40 to 50 inches wide and weigh 80 to 100 pounds. Most are monitors that must be attached to a video source, such as a VCR, DVD player or set-top box. Some can also be used as gigantic computer screens.

Current prices range from $11,000 to $25,000, which is more than most people are likely to spend for a TV set. Even if prices drop, as analysts predict, flat TVs would still cost $6,500 by 2000

[MohRokTah]

18. As with all things, costs come down over time.

The TV I spent $600 on was over $3000 a few years ago.

[LanternWaste]

28. I though the same thing about computers in 1987 when they were running about $4,500 each.

I though the same thing about computers in 1987 when they were running about $4,500 each. Granted, I was simply shortsighted...

[kentauros]

22. I think I'm more impressed with this old Datsun:

0-60 mph in 1.8 seconds!

[AngryAmish]

23. The electric/hybrid racing and land speed record stuff is the most interesting

Formula E will rule the earth in 20 years. They better figure out how to make the heavy beasts safe. Hasn't LaMans already been won by hybrids?

[kentauros]

24. You probably know more about that stuff than I.

While I watch Top Gear (or "Weird Wheels" where I originally saw the White Zombie) I don't read the magazines or watch motor sports.

From what I see on TG, the hybrids are making inroads in the "supercars" out there. What will be the big thing isn't so much the motors used as battery technology. As I recall, the motor used in the White Zombie is from an electric forklift.

[MineralMan]

32. Toys for the 1%.

Sorry, but who cares? Just another way for incompetent drivers to kill themselves and others.

Insane mode? Yes. No thanks.

[MohRokTah]

33. I just found it cool that the technology for as high performance electric cars can...

match that of high performance internal combustion cars.

I'd never really want that vehicle, though the 85kw dual motor version with about half the horsepower is attractive since the range on a full charge is 270 miles. With the spacing of superchargers across the country, you can travel to most places with about a 30-40 minute charge stop about where you'd have to stop for gasoline in an internal combustion vehicle. By 2016, you'll be able to do this cross country across any major interstate in the country.

[MineralMan]

34. It's easy for electric vehicles to match high performance standards.

If you pump enough amps and volts through electric motors, you can generate any power level you want. Still, excessive acceleration in itself is not a plus, in my opinion for passenger vehicles. There's really no practical use for this "Insane Mode" in the real world, and a lot of opportunities for disaster.

Every year, we see stories of some moron buying an exotic high performance car and destroying it in a crash by exceeding the moron's driving skills. I'm far more interested in stories about electric vehicles with extended ranges and modest performance. That's not sexy, though, so I suppose we'll keep seeing performance stories from the EV industry.

So far, I'm not impressed with pure electric vehicles, although hybrids are making more and more sense, especially those that can be operated as electric only and charged at home for local driving. For extended travel, the hybrid nature lets you drive as far as you like by utilizing the petroleum-fueled engine.

I drive a little Kia Soul, that gets an honest 35 MPG on the highway. Kia is now making an pure electric version, as well. That one doesn't interest me at all, even though 95% of my driving is short distance driving. For the longer trips, though, an electric vehicle is a hassle, and one that doesn't interest me at all. Hybrids solve that problem. "Insane Mode" solves no problem that I can see. Toy world.