- Tesla announced at Battery Day that it has opened preorders for the $139,990 Model S Plaid.
- The Model S Plaid has 1100 horsepower and can do zero to 60 mph in less than two seconds, CEO Elon Musk claimed.
- The vehicle has a range of 520 miles, besting Lucid's upcoming Air.
Update 10/2/20: In a Twitter exchange, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the Model S Plaid will be equipped with the structural battery and more efficient 4680 cells the company announced during its Battery Day event in September. The new battery pack and cells will increase efficiency while lowering weight and increasing the rigidity of the vehicle according to Tesla. It also explains the 520-plus-mile range expected from the Model S variant.
At its Battery Day event on September 22, right at the end and just ahead of the Q&A, CEO Elon Musk introduced a video of the upcoming Model S Plaid pulling off a 1.30.3 lap time at Laguna Seca. With what Musk claimed was a zero-to-60-mph time of less than two seconds and a quarter-mile of less than nine seconds, it's the Tesla for those who want to go very, very fast.
The tri-motor AWD vehicle, according to Musk, will offer 520 miles of range and 1100 horsepower. That range bests Lucid’s EPA estimated 517 miles that was announced last month. The Model S Plaid has a top speed of 200 mph. As Tesla puts it, "The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid.”
Of course all that speed and cost will cost you a pretty penny. Actually quite a lot of pennies. The Model S Plaid costs $139,990, putting it out of reach for all but a few—and a far cry from the $25,000 EV Musk also promised, but that one not for three years.