Test: Tesla Model S Plaid

So a new Tesla Model S?

No, more like a facelift. The exterior of the carriage is unchanged in size, but we see new bumpers and spoilers at the front and rear. All chrome has also been removed from the body. The changes on the inside are bigger.

Yes, yes, but first the speed. Because the Model S Plaid is fast right?

You can say that. Whoever thought he already knew everything because he once drove a P100D or a Model S Performance with Ludicrous mode, forget it. This is fast on a whole new level. The car has three electric motors of more than 400 hp each. This brings the system power to 1,020 hp (the battery cannot deliver more), good for a paper 0-100 time of 2.1 seconds. With that you pull out every Porsche 911 Turbo S and even a Bugatti Chiron at the traffic light. Or well, then the light must be on red for a long time first. In any case, your battery should be above 60 percent, preferably even more. Then you first have to warm up the batteries by choosing ‘drag-strip’ mode and that can just take half an hour. Without that mode we came to just over 3.0 counts and then a 911 Turbo S still manages to outwit you in the sprint. And warm batteries are not enough. Brake in, full throttle, and then you still have to wait 5 to 10 seconds. For example, the nose still has to drop completely for maximum grip on the front axle and that takes a while. When the car is ready you will see it on your screen and your brake pedal will get a push. Release the brake and you can make passengers scream. In your screen a kind of hyperspace image and before you blink you are already driving 100 km / h. In the cold January month with an almost dry road surface and a battery that was 70 percent full, we clocked a time of 2.48 seconds. In percentage terms, that is still far from the manufacturer’s specification, but it is also a record for our measuring box. With a Porsche 911Turbo S (992) we clocked 2.74, with a Porsche Taycan Turbo S 2.82. Both on a pleasantly warm summer day with undoubtedly more grip.

But an EV drops out at higher speeds, right?

An EV, yes. A Tesla Model S Plaid? No. The car does from 100 to 200 in 4.35 seconds. So 0-200 in 6.84 counts. The said Porsche measures 8.5 there. The 80-120 goes in 1.13 seconds. The 911 Turbo S does 1.53. The differences seem small, but in percentage terms it is huge. The Tesla is really sickly fast and you have to have a Chiron Sport to sort of keep up with it. And not only the power is important, but also the fact that the Plaid has three engines. An equal power with ‘only’ two electric motors would have made the car slower, because the front axle simply cannot lose all its power when driving away. And where four-wheel drive petrol guns like the Lamborghini Aventador and the Nissan GT-R can send more power to the rear, an electric car cannot. The power that is in front stays in front. That is why the electric Lucid Air Dream Edition with its 1,126 hp is slower than this Tesla. It has ‘only’ two engines and the 600 hp of the front axle cannot fully use its power during the sprint. But thanks to the three engines, the Tesla can at least put every horsepower it has towards the asphalt.

With more than 1,000 hp, I also expect a high top speed!

It is not a Veyron, but Tesla promises 322 km / h. Only for that you need hardware updates, namely ceramic brakes. They won’t be available until later. Until then it has to reach 280 km/h, but we peaked at 270 km/h. The car seemed to run into a limiter. It turned out afterwards that we should have turned on track mode for an extra 10 km / h. The speed at which you flash to 270 is also bizarre, check the video. But yes, what do you want with more than 1,000 hp.

Just relax in the cockpit then

That is possible, it has been significantly updated. Not only with the Plaid, but also with the Long Range. The vertical screen was replaced by a horizontal variant and the materials improved considerably. That was also possible, of course. Unlike in the Model 3, there is also a screen with information right in front of you. It remains an American car, so we do have cup holders, but otherwise a bit little drip space. The rear passengers now have their own multimedia screen, on which you can watch Netflix or Disney +, for example. Useful for children. Adults may be less enthusiastic about the seating area, because it is unfortunately very unpleasant due to the high bottom. An EV problem, but here even more than average. The trunk is very large with 792 liters and also very accessible through the fifth door. The operation of the multimedia system resembles that of existing Teslas that have the same operating system, thanks to their over-the-air updates. The hardware is faster, because newer. It works pleasantly, logically and flawlessly. Separately, switching (and the P-mode) is now also done via the touchscreen, there is no longer a lever. Should the screen fail, there are also buttons at the top of the center tunnel. The rest of the controls are on the yoke handlebar.

The cockpit has been significantly improved.

Oh yes that send. Knightrider! Is it something?

No. No not at all. It’s nice for two days that people who get in think it’s cool to see, but then the fun is over. You will get used to the fact that all the buttons are on the steering wheel. We know that from Ferraris, Radicals and Ariels. But transferring when parking, crossing and roundabouts is just not possible and you don’t get used to it. In addition, there is 0.0 practical added value. It’s just the gimmick. Don’t do it is our advice. Fortunately, an ‘old-fashioned’ round steering wheel is a free option.

The space is there, but your feet are much too high.

Certainly very expensive, such a Tesla Model S Plaid?

Yes and no. €140,000 is not a tip, but for a car with more than 1,000 horsepower, it is actually a bargain. Wealth inflation is clearly hitting a new bar. It can also be done less quickly with the Long Range for €115,000. Then you get 685 hp, quite a lot of power right? The battery is the same for both models. Tesla won’t say how much, but it’s about 100 kWh. The Plaid comes a little less far: 628 kilometers against 650 for the Long Range. Charging is possible up to 250 kW. For its size and power, the new Model S is still quite economical. Without difficulty we came with the Plaid in the cold at 20.9 kWh / 100 km. If you use the power often, it will very quickly become less natural.

How does this Model S drive by the way?

Excellent. The chassis is reasonably dynamic and with the high power the whole drives like a sleek sports sedan. The air suspension adds comfort and you can also raise the car at lower speeds. Great for thresholds or scary parking garages. At a higher pace you don’t get the certainty of an Audi RS6 or E63 AMG, but despite the speed it never runs off with you. We do miss some feedback in the steering wheel, which is really sporty and a bit counterproductive for fun driving. But then we really judge it as a sports car and it is not, despite its bizarre performance. As a GT, it passes with flying colors. A touch of gas and you drive everything out. Curves or not. It’s also significantly quieter than a Model 3, it all feels very mature.

The yoke steering wheel adds nothing and is unpleasant to use.

What kind of competitors are there?

The Model S no longer reigns supreme in the electric limo segment. In addition to the Porsche Taycan, there is also the BMW i7 and Mercedes has the EQE and EQS. With their interior and luxury, those cars do a bit better than the Tesla, but not necessarily when it comes to consumption and range and charging. Tesla’s strong side is its software, the Germans have better finish and build quality. The differences are significant, so there really is something to choose from. Unfortunately, Tesla’s hard price reductions only benefit the 3 and the Y, because at €115,000, the Model S Longe Range, which can already be ordered, is still a fairly expensive car. And there are some other newcomers! Nio has the ET7, which is attractively priced, and the American company Lucid is now in the Netherlands with its Air. It beats Tesla in its own field: range, consumption and fast charging. Tesla still has its supercharge network, which is a unique selling point that should not be underestimated. Especially because you don’t pay much for the electricity: the rate for Tesla drivers has already dropped to 33 cents / kWh. Still nice.