In the past, we’ve discussed the power of Tesla electric cars and their ability to accelerate faster than almost anything using combustion. Now it’s time to look at one of the Tesla Model S P85D cars as a whole, and more importantly, how it can affect your life and your driving experience in profound ways.
It’s no secret that these cars have acceleration that will make a Ferrari blush, zero-to-sixty in 3.1 seconds to be exact, but what else do these futuristic beauties bring to the table for the average driver? The Tesla P85D price is certainly high at $125,000, so it’s not exactly accessible to the average car buyer.
Let’s find out what’s lurking under the hood and inside this beast. Who knows, you may find that the price is worth it.
The Original Model S P85
Two years ago, Tesla released the original Model S P85, and while it was lauded for its power, it was lacking a lot of features you would expect from such a high price point. It had some snazzy features like retractable handles that emerged when you approached the car, and floor-mounted batteries that maximized storage.
It even had a 17-inch touchscreen that controlled all of the functions, in addition to a 3G data connection that would auto-download firmware updates that continued to improve the car. Even with all of these bells and whistles though, the original model S P85 didn’t have a web browser, fast internet, or charging stations outside of California.
Two years later and we have the P85D. Is this the answer to all of those questions? let’s find out.
The Future is Now
When you approach the new Model S, the car reads the presence of the key fob on your person and extends the handles from the doors to greet you. When you sit in the driver’s seat, the car recognizes both you and the fob. This means you can simply press the brake pedal, and the car turns on.
The smartphone app for the vehicle also allows you to turn on the air conditioning from afar and set the temperature to your desired level before you even enter. When you’re finished driving, you can simply get out and walk away. The car shuts off and locks itself when you are a few steps away from it.
Cruise control settings also allow you to set the distance you would like to be from other vehicles. The car will brake accordingly if the distance closes too much. It’s a little delayed for people who would rather do the braking themselves. It can certainly make you feel somewhat skittish.
Later in 2015, through an update, Tesla plans to open the autopilot functionality of the Model S, which will empower the car to pull into and back out of your garage by itself. Some of the previously missing features like a backup camera, and folding power mirrors are now standard as well.
The seat-fusion inducing acceleration present here is only possible when the battery is fully charged, which at this point the car can go 250 miles before requiring a charge on its batteries. The electric drivetrain has the added benefit of removing any and all gear shifting. This results in clean, smooth acceleration.
This also allows for incredibly accurate control and handling for each wheel and a total of 691 horsepower. The availability of charging stations is much more prevalent today than it was two years ago, which is great in conjunction with the new navigation systems in the car.
Not only are supercharger stations highlighted on your Google Maps, but you can route long distances to account for stops needed to recharge. While this doesn’t completely solve the issue, it does make trip planning far more manageable.
The Final Verdict
The new Tesla Model S P85D remains one of the safest cars in the world. It has incredible air suspension that adjusts based on your inputs, and it uses “negative space” to open up the interior and make it feel more roomy. There is still a significant amount of storage space, although it’s slightly less because of the second motor.
The 17-inch touchscreen is both responsive and informative without being distracting. The cost for fuel is much less too since $8 of electricity can get you a full charge as opposed to anywhere from $30 to $50 to fill a tank of gas nowadays.
At the end of the day, this is the kind of car that almost anyone would want if they could afford it. The price is still outside the purview of the average car buyers, but even so, this is an incredible piece of automobile innovation.
It flies in the face of traditional combustion and gas-guzzling vehicles, and in doing so, it ultimately stands tall above the other options. If only they can bring the price down, they would have my money in a heartbeat.
All Images via Car and Driver
