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Tesla bumps up Model S P85D acceleration – with software update
OK, grudgingly impressed: Download that upgrade for inverter
Vid An over-the-air software update to the dual-motor Tesla Model S P85D will cut its zero to 60MPH time from 3.2 to 3.1 seconds.
Elon Musk took to Twitter to announce the upgrade:
Tesla P85D 0 to 60mph acceleration will improve by ~0.1 sec soon via over-the-air software update to inverter algorithm
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2015
He also said that the astonishing P85 would see some lesser improvements as a result of the software tweak and posted an impressive video of someone driving a P85D in the snow, claiming that the Dual motor launch was driven by better traction rather than acceleration.
A 0-60 time of 3.2 is deeply impressive. A 0.1 second improvement may not sound like much, but at these speeds any quantifiable improvement usually takes a lot of engineering and subsequent cost. To make the adjustment over the air and for free is unprecedented. For comparison, a Ferrari FF costs twice as much as a P85D and does 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. (The beautiful Aston Martin Rapide S just about cracks five seconds.)
Tesla’s other challenge to the naysayers is to open more Supercharger stations, and the 20th has just been opened in the UK. Tesla Superchargers span routes from Exeter to Edinburgh, allowing access to Europe.
The announcement puts Tesla on course for full UK coverage by the end of 2015. Today, Supercharger stations are available at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Winchester, Exeter and Bristol. Tesla also recently opened stations at Junction 15 of the M1 near Northampton and Brent Cross shopping centre in North London. There is a map here ®.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
