Tesla to launch high-end Model S 'Plaid' tonight to fend off Mercedes, Porsche

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: CNBC

Tesla will deliver a high-performance version of its Model S on Thursday, aiming to reignite interest in the nearly decade-old sedan and fend off rivals such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Lucid Motors in the luxury electric vehicle market. Tesla redefined electric cars in 2012 when it launched its high-end Model S with a sleek design and long driving range, but is facing a raft of new challengers.

The automaker plans to livestream the delivery of the first Model S Plaid at its U.S. factory in Fremont, California, at 7 p.m. PT (0200 GMT, Friday), according to its official Twitter account. CEO Elon Musk has not said whether he will take the stage, but he has been on Twitter promoting the new model, which is priced at $129,990 against $79,990 for a long-range Model S.

“The Model S has not been changing a lot in terms of looks over the past almost decade. I think Tesla has to offer consumers something more,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director at car information provider Edmunds said. The launch of the Model S Plaid, which has already been showcased online, has faced delay and some controversy over an expected airplane-style yoke steering wheel. Musk canceled another variant, Model S Plaid+, which would have had a 33% higher driving range than the Model S Plaid and used advanced battery technology, known as 4680 cells. The more powerful sports sedan goes from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kph) in 1.99 seconds and has an estimated driving range of 390 miles.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/10/tesla-to-launch-high-end-model-s-plaid-to-fend-off-mercedes-porsche.html

[PortTack]

1. 3 words...superior German engineering

[Initech]

12. That new Mercedes EV looks very drool-worthy!

[FlyingPiggy]

2. Teslas are badass. If I was in the market for a new car, that is exactly what I will get.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. A great car, but pretty much any EV

Last edited Thu Jun 10, 2021, 06:29 PM - Edit history (1)

with a 200+ range is superior to every ICE car on the market.

[FlyingPiggy]

5. It is and has all kinds of little goodies you wouldn't think of. My friend has an X and that is

what I want to get one of these days. It is SO nice. Ride is amazing and it is such a sophisticated car. It's NOT like every other EV out there.

[Miguelito Loveless]

8. That's true

I have a 3 and it has been in the shop thanks to a lady missing a stop light. I truly miss the car. I am NOT a car person, buy EVs, especially Teslas are a different different animal.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. Stupid framing

Tesla does not compete on that level with German automakers, it is way ahead of them in price, tech, and specs. BMW, Mercedes, et al, are having a hard time competing with the 2012 Model S, or the 2018 Model 3, never mind the 2021 S.

"Superior German Engineering" is all about squeezing life out of a dying technology, and poisoning us while they do it.

[Mr.Bill]

6. Just what we need.

An EV that costs even more.

[Xipe Totec]

7. They've gone to Plaid!

[LudwigPastorius]

9. How about we require a little more out of licensees other than...

"can you parallel park?" before we allow them to take 1,000 horsepower/200 mph vehicles out on the public roads?

Hopefully, the people with more money than sense who buy these things will only manage to kill themselves and not those around them.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

13. Nah, they got autopilot.

All good.

[NBachers]

10. 1020 Horsepower, 9.23 second quarter mile at 155 mph

https://insideevs.com/news/512135/tesla-models-plaid-time-confirmed/

[Red Mountain]

11. Stripped down pick-em-up with a 300 mile range while towing

at maximum capacity and I'll buy.

Please do this.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. I'm disappointed that they didn't produce a plaid blazened one for show