Tesla cranks up Ludicrous mode for Model S

Sports car fans targeted

Tesla Motors Inc. is adding versions of its Model S sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle with a more powerful battery pack that the company said makes the Model S the world’s quickest production car and gives it a range of 315 miles, or 507 kilometres, on a single charge.

Chief executive Elon Musk is trying to appeal to sports car enthusiasts with the new Model S P100D with a 100 kilowatt-hour battery, which with Ludicrous mode can go from a standstill to 60 miles (97 kms) per hour in 2.5 seconds, compared with 2.8 seconds for the P90D Ludicrous version.

The P100D Ludicrous upgrade costs US$10,000 for customers who have ordered a P90D Ludicrous but haven’t taken delivery, or US$20,000 for owners who already have that vehicle type.

Tesla, which announced the new versions in a call Tuesday, has been gradually upgrading the power delivered by its batteries and the performance of its cars for several years.

Musk first unveiled models with Ludicrous mode last year.

The heavier Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode can get to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and go 289 miles on a single charge, Musk said.

Tesla shares jumped on Tuesday after Musk said on Twitter that the company would have a new product announcement, climbing as much as 2.5 per cent to US$228.49 before the call began.