Tesla's New 'Ludicrous Mode' Makes the Model S a Supercar

"Ludicrous Mode" will send the Model S from 0 to 60 mph in a supercar-quick 2.8 seconds.
Model S.
Tesla Motors

Insane is now quotidian.

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk announced today that the all-electric Model S sedan now comes with "Ludicrous Mode," which will send the four-door sedan from 0 to 60 mph in a shockingly quick 2.8 seconds. That's supercar territory, and it makes "Insane Mode," introduced last fall and good for a 0 to 60 time of 3.2 seconds, seem utterly lame.

"Ludicrous mode" comes as part of a new version of the Model S, the P90D. The name represents an upgraded battery pack, form 85 to 90 kWh, which Tesla says is good for an extra 15 miles of range—putting the grand total at 300 miles, if you stick to 65 mph.

The boost in acceleration doesn't actually come from the extra battery power, it's the upside of what Musk calls "fairly advanced and exotic electronics." To date, the car's acceleration has been capped by how much current can be safely drawn from the battery, about 1,300 amps. Go much higher than that, and the fuse can melt. Tesla's developed a new fuse that uses electronics and its own tiny lithium ion battery to detect when it will melt, and cut power if necessary. That lets you build in less of a margin of error, and push the amps higher.

Along with a switch from steel to superalloy inconel for the main pack contractor, that lets the battery fire out 1,500 amps of power. More power, more speed.

Current P85D owners can make the upgrade at their local Tesla service center. To get the bigger battery pack and extra range, it's $3,000. For the new electronics that enable "ludicrous mode," it's $5,000 plus labor. On the new P90D, the option will cost $10,000.

Musk also announced the 70kWh Model S, which has a single instead of dual motor setup, will retail for $70,000, before incentives like the $7,500 federal tax credit.

Waiting for the Model X

In the past year, we've seen a bunch of upgrades to the Model S: a second motor, improved range and acceleration, a highway autopilot system that's supposed to arrive in the next few months, and the addition of features like adaptive cruise control. But we haven't heard much about Tesla's long-awaited second generation car, the Model X SUV.

Musk says the SUV is still its way—the current estimate has deliveries starting in two months—and that the improvements made to the S are good for the new car. The dual motor system introduced last October is an integral part of the powertrain for the SUV, which will offer all-wheel drive.

Tesla developed the 90 kWh pack because it will be important for the X, Musk says. The SUV will be about 10 percent heavier than the sedan, and its energy usage will climb at the same rate. So a bigger battery pack "means the net range impact is maybe only around four or five percent."

And while the new fuse isn't key to the development of the SUV, Tesla will offer "ludicrous mode" on the X. Accounting for the increased curb weight and higher center of gravity, the 0 to 60 mph time will be about 3.3 seconds. Which, as Musk rightly says, is "mad for an SUV."

Oh, and autopilot's on its way.