Tesla Motors unveiled a new car on Thursday night. The P85D will be an upgraded S model. Elon Musk tweeted on October 1 that is “About time to unveil the D and something else.” Things are now clear. By “D” he meant dual motor.
The supercar will have an engine at each end for better control and improved performance. In fact, Musk claims that everything was enhanced in the new S model. The latest Tesla vehicle is now a supercar. The electric car will go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds. Musk calls it a “personal roller coaster.”
The 2012 S model was a hit, but the lack of an AWD system was a bummer for buyers from countries with colder climate. Norwegians were really excited about the electric car, with Tesla managing to make impressive sales in the oil rich northern country. Major competitors like Audi, Mercedes and BMW all offer AWD models, so it was about time for Tesla to follow the same path.
Tesla Motors’ founder said that McLaren F1 was the prime inspiration for the latest model. The D model has a similar configuration to the Model X crossover which will be launched in 2015.
The new D model features another exciting characteristic. The D model is at least half way on the road to fully autonomous driving experiences. The car has a forward looking radar, a 360 degree sonar and GPS along with real-time traffic data. Most of the equipment is neither completely new, nor surprising. However, the camera that can recognize stop signs and identifies objects is a terribly useful addition. The whole package is quite impressive.
“The car can do almost anything,” Musk said. However, “it’s not at the level where you could safely fall asleep and arrive at your destination,” he acknowledged. Musk hopes that fully autonomous cars will be available in 5 or 6 years.
Other car manufacturers offer similar safety packs, but it seems that people are more excited about Tesla models, which almost get fetishized. Well, besides the fact that they are fully electric, they do come with appealing price tags as well. The top of the line P85D model will cost $120,000. The model will be available to customers just in time for holidays. The cheaper 60D and 85D models will be available starting with February.
