Tesla develops Model S performance version: more powerful, three motors and long range

According to foreign media reports, Tesla is preparing to launch a high-speed version of the Model S sports car , and the core technology used to build the car will be gradually applied to other series of models under Tesla .

According to a speed test video released by Tesla , the Model S upgraded version recorded a fastest lap time of 1 minute and 36 seconds on the Laguna Seca racetrack in California, USA. Its next goal will be to break the fastest lap time held by the Porsche Taycan on the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. In the video, Tesla also announced the interior of the new model.

It is reported that the new model will be named Plaid, which is something that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been planning since at least 2015. The power performance of the new model will exceed Tesla's existing acceleration mode. The name Plaid is taken from a 1987 science fiction comedy called "Spaceballs".

After Tesla released the test video of the new car, Musk later revealed some specific details on Twitter. He said that the Plaid optional upgrade module will be officially launched on the market in a year, and it is currently planned to be used in Model S , Model X and the upcoming second-generation Roadster series.

Musk said that the newly launched upgrade module will not be applied to the Model 3 and Model Y series models, and its upgrade cost will be more expensive than Tesla's existing upgrade modules, but will be lower than similar services of competitors such as Porsche Taycan. In this set of upgrade kits, the cheapest turbocharger upgrade service starts at at least $15,000.

It is very difficult for Tesla to improve the overall performance on the existing acceleration mode architecture. Currently, the Model S equipped with Ludicrous mode components can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.4 seconds. This makes this model the most powerful four-door sports car on the market . The acceleration performance of the Model S Plaid is even stronger.

When asked whether an additional motor would be added to the existing two motors to link the two axles, Musk confirmed on Twitter. He said that the new transmission system would require a larger battery pack, which would be larger than the 100 kWh currently installed in the top-of-the-line S series model. The additional power would not only improve the vehicle's acceleration performance , but also improve the vehicle's endurance in different driving modes.

The new hardware upgrade service includes a complete set of chassis tuning services including brake system, suspension system and fluid mechanics modification to ensure the stability of the vehicle at high speeds. Previously, Tesla mainly relied on its own innovative over-the-air software to upgrade vehicle systems to improve performance, and the upcoming Plaid upgrade module will be a truly independent component unit.

Musk is always happy to discuss Tesla on Twitter, so expect more news about the Model S Plaid on his Twitter in the coming months. The product is expected to go on sale in 2020 and car enthusiasts can pre-order it through its sales website.