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The world's fastest-accelerating car is about to get even faster.
Tesla's high-end Model S will soon be able to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 2.4 seconds, following a software enhancement next month that shaves off a 10th of a second. That's a new threshold that distinguishes it from any other production car on the road.
Tesla Motors Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk teased the update in a tweet on Wednesday—but there's a twist. When the changes are delivered wirelessly next month to all P100D Model S vehicles, the owners will have to figure out how to enable it. It's what's known in the tech industry as an "Easter Egg"—a hidden feature that requires a specific series of gestures to unlock.
From Tesla's blog:
The Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode is the third fastest accelerating production car ever produced, with a 0-60 mph time of 2.5* seconds. However, both the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder were limited run, million dollar vehicles and cannot be bought new. While those cars are small two seaters with very little luggage space, the pure electric, all-wheel drive Model S P100D has four doors, seats up to 5 adults plus 2 children and has exceptional cargo capacity.
The 100 kWh battery also increases range substantially to an estimated 315 miles on the EPA cycle and 613 km on the NEDC cycle, making it the first to go beyond 300 miles and the longest range production electric vehicle by far.
The horizontal acceleration is greater than the vertical acceleration of gravity — in other words it can accelerate faster on pavement than it could fall off a cliff.
For comparison, see Wikipedia's list of fastest production cars by acceleration.
[Updated to add quote from Tesla's blog. -Ed.]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @03:40AM
The magnets keep your wheels glued to the building.
This feature has been available in slot cars -- mere toys -- for decades. It even allows driving upside-down.
Most cars could only climb up vertical while losing speed. This one can maintain speed because it can accelerate better than gravity.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Friday November 18 2016, @05:49AM
Do you have any idea how powerful a magnet needs to be:
1. to hold a 1.5 ton vehicle to the side of a building
2. to hold a 2.5 ton electric vehicle, with batteries, to the side of a building
3. to hold a car to the side of a building which is mostly made of glass, wood, or stone, with minimal ferromagnetic materials
4. to hold a car to the side of a building with an amount of force equal to the weight of the car
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @06:00AM
Um, I dont think the GGP was being terribly serious.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @06:37PM
On the side of a building, the tires hold you up. The magnets only need to stick you to the building. If you drive carefully, not slamming into windowsills, a few hundred pounds of force ought to do the job.
Going full upside-down is of course harder. Reducing the gap would help. It's not an unsolvable problem: it's no worse than a maglev.