2023 Tesla Model S Plaid | Faster Than Light
A car boasting 1020hp under its frame is a pure symphony to any car enthusiast's ears. With the Model S, Tesla is charting new territories of acceleration. The specs of the Model S Plaid are jaw-dropping, but the real question is: Can it make us travel through space and time?
Hyper-Space-Ship
As usual, I’m pleased to be your captain on the extraterrestrial exterior tour we’re about to start. The first thing you’ll notice is that the Model S Plaid looks almost identical to the normal Model S, except for the more sporty front bumper. Tesla also gave the Plaid a full chrome-delete which I personally really like! So, starting our tour at the front of this car, we’ll see the front is very streamlined, giving the car a classy yet very sporty look. Big front lights give it that typical Tesla look but sadly the quality of those lights is a thing Tesla could improve on. A lot of other car manufacturers make much brighter and “Smarter” lights than Tesla does. That being said, the front of this car does look very good, especially with the Midnight Silver Metallic exterior color. It’s a classy and sporty exterior color which I really like on Teslas.
When we take a stroll to the side you’ll once again see how streamlined this car is. The Model S Plaid is designed so extremely clean with everything nicely concealed into the chassis. No doorknobs, no unnecessary corners, nothing. A thing that immediately catches the eye are the 21” Arachnid-rims. Tesla is one of only a few to offer electric cars with sporty and beautiful rims. These are nothing like the almost completely closed wheels you see on most EVs. The rims don't just look good, they're also designed to complement the car's aerodynamic efficiency, provide maximum performance, and have the ideal size for the much needed traction.
Let’s continue our tour and move further to the back. On the back, the carbon spoiler is the first thing you’ll notice and it’s also one of the differences between the normal Model S and Plaid. The carbon spoiler is not the only thing you will notice compared to the normal Model S, the Plaid-tag on the trunk door with a “hyperspace” design will be hard to leave unnoticed. Next up are the tail lights which remains unchanged, they stretch across the rear in a sleek line that makes it instantly recognizable that it’s a Model S, even from a distance.
In conclusion, the Tesla Model S Plaid's exterior is a blend of luxury, innovation, and performance. It's a head-turner on the roads whether you're an automotive enthusiast or someone who appreciates car design, the Plaid Model S looks downright cool. The fact that the design is relatively old and still not dated, is a tribute to that.
The Tech Room
Stepping into the Tesla Model S Plaid, it's immediately apparent that this isn't just another electric car. The interior makes a statement both about the future of interior car design and about Tesla's role in that future. Everything is kept so clean and luxurious at the same time. A perfect example of that clean design is the uninterrupted dash with an integrated hidden vent system for the HVAC which allows air to flow seamlessly across the dashboard. It’s a departure from traditional vent controls, and it works surprisingly well!
One of the most polarizing changes we ever saw in car industry/history is the Model S Plaid’s U-shaped steering, "Yoke" as opposed to a traditional wheel. Its futuristic look matches the car's vibe, though some might argue that it’s impractical or that it takes a while to get used to it, especially during tight maneuvers. That last one is something I can relate to. I’m so used to taking over my steering or letting it slide in my hands while turning, and with this “Yoke” steering it did occur that I just grabbed some air. But once you're used to it, I think it's a great and cool gimmick for this spaceship of a car.
Dominating the cabin is the 17-inch cinematic display in a landscape format. This format is completely new but is very helpful for all the apps and the maps the infotainment uses. With a resolution of 2200 x 1300, it offers realistic visuals and colors with an exceptional response time. It also makes the transition between apps feel fluid and super smooth. This screen is the primary control center for all of the car's functions, eliminating the need for buttons and dials. There's an ever-so-slight tilt towards the driver, making it more ergonomic to access. But the screen can also be electronically tilted in three ways: towards the driver, towards the passenger, or just centered.
Tesla has stepped up its game with the refreshed improvements to its infotainment system. The car's system can handle processing demands similar to modern gaming consoles. The Model S has 10 teraflops of processing power, making it comparable to the Sony PlayStation 5 in terms of raw computational capability. Just grab your favorite controller, connect it via Bluetooth, Launch the Steam app, and enjoy gaming in your Model S! How awesome is that?! The Apollo crew would be jealous of this computing power.
For a sedan, the Model S Plaid offers ample space both at the front and back, and with the glass roof, this spacious feeling gets maximized. Rear passengers enjoy generous legroom, even the middle seat is reasonably comfortable. When taking place on the rear seats you can’t unsee that huge rear infotainment display. It works separately from the Main screen in the front and makes it possible for the rear passengers to watch a movie even while the car is driving. The premium audio setup in the Model S Plaid is nothing short of spectacular and gives you the feeling of watching a movie in a theatre. It has 22 speakers with a total of 960W with decent noise-canceling capabilities. Whether you're listening to a podcast or a concerto, the sound engulfs the cabin with clarity and richness and does so at higher speeds too.
In conclusion, the interior of the Model S Plaid is a testament to Tesla’s vision for modern luxury and functionality. With a combination of cutting-edge technology, pure materials, and a minimalist aesthetic. The Model S Plaid offers a cabin experience that's both exhilarating and comfortable. So one could argue that time travelling already takes place here, being endorsed in such a futuristic interior.
Jaw-Dropping Performance
“This is your captain speaking. we have arrived at the most important part of this Model S Plaid review: Performance and driving experience.” As I said earlier, Tesla is charting new territories of acceleration with the specs of the Model S Plaid. With a jaw-dropping 1020hp, this car accelerates like a rocket. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in 2.1 seconds (Rolling Start) with a top speed of 322 km/h! Believe me when I tell you that the sprint even felt faster than 2.1 seconds! The tri-motor setup ensures power is consistently and efficiently delivered, making overtakes a breeze. A little over 10 years ago, this amount of power would cost you tenfold in the shape of a Bugatti Veyron.
You get the most out of the “Plaid” experience when doing a launch with Drag-Strip-Mode. This mode heats the battery and the drive unit to the ideal operating temperature for sporty acceleration. With Drag-Strip-Mode activated, the brake pedal pressed and the gas pedal all the way down we’ll see a message saying: “Entering Cheetah Position”. The Model S Plaid is now lowering the front and raising the rear air suspension until the car is positioned like a Cheetah. Releasing the brake pedal after the car reached the position will give you a real-life experience of the Millennium Falcon entering Hyper Speed! This experience can only be described as being in a sci-fi spaceship. There’s no lag, just an immediate surge of speed and it feels surreal.
While the performance is astounding, it does come at a little cost to the range when comparing it with the Normal Model S. However, for regular driving, the Plaid offers a 600 km (WLTP) range, which is very respectable considering the insane power output it can offer! Also supercharging is swift, a Model S can charge up to 322 kms in only 15 minutes. Since charging more than 80% is rarely necessary, a short stop is usually sufficient. Thanks to the extensive network for super-fast charging, and the automatic preheating of the battery, charging on route rarely is too time consuming.
Last but not least, a Tesla wouldn’t be a Tesla without the advanced Auto Pilot and Driver-assist technologies with over-the-air software updates. With Auto Pilot, the Model S Plaid can automatically steer, accelerate or brake within its lane and even help you navigate under your active supervision. Driver-assist technologies are present in the Model S Plaid, we have a 360° Camera, Automatic Parking, and Tesla Vision which detects nearby vehicles, obstacles or other road users up to 250m and helps prevent possible collisions.
The Tesla Model S Plaid offers an amazing driving experience that combines power with luxury. It blurs the line between sports cars and normal cars, and with its rich array of tech features, it feels like a glimpse into the future. The Plaid is not just a car, it’s an experience.
The Plaid: It’s A Wrap!
If you ask me if Tesla did a good job on this car, my answer is “Yes!”. It’s an amazing car to drive, whether you like to cruise a bit or get the maximum performance out of this car. I’m sure you will have fun! But like always, fun comes with a price starting at €133.470 (BE). For this price, you get everything you need, crazy amount of power, comfort, and fun together with everything we're used to from Tesla. Sadly enough, the Plaid didn’t make us travel through time so that will be the only disappointing thing!
