Meet the Tesla Model S P85D. Or, to put it in a slightly more interesting way, meet the four-door saloon with more power than a McLaren 650S…
The D on the boot of Tesla’s latest model refers to the dual motor configuration (not, as predicted by some, to a self-driving car). While the regular Model S makes do with just one large motor at the rear, the D adds another, slightly smaller motor between the front wheels. The front motor brings 221hp to the front axle, with the rear motor providing 470hp to the back wheels. A combined figure of 691hp, or 682bhp to you and me – 40bhp more than the aforementioned McLaren.
The performance claims are remarkable. The Model S 85D hits 60mph in just 3.2 seconds, making it quicker than the BMW M5 (4.3 seconds), Audi RS6 Avant (3.7 seconds) and even the newly announced Mercedes-AMG C63 (4.2 seconds). The dual-motor setup also increases the amount of regenerative braking available, therefore bringing the range up to 275 miles on a single charge. Not bad for what’s set to be the fastest accelerating production four-door saloon ever. We can’t wait to get a drive, but in the meantime, here’s our Tesla Model S review…