Essentials

Tesla Model S P90D

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Jonathan_burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn

IN the next few years, Tesla’s model range will look very different to what it does today. Electric minibuses, pick-up trucks and smaller SUVS are all in the pipeline, but to keep things ticking over, an updated version of the brand’s best-selling Model S has quietly rolled into showrooms.

It’s a case of blink and you’ll miss the changes on the outside. There’s a new blanked-off nose inspired by the imminent Model X SUV, plus reshaped headlamps. Everything else remains as it was: sleek and elegant, especially riding on the optional (£3,900) 21-inch grey turbine alloy wheels.

Of course, an update from one of the world’s most innovative manufacturers wouldn’t be compete without some new tech. Inside, Tesla has fitted its HEPA air filtration system also found in the Model X. It’s claimed to remove at least 99.7 per cent of allergens and bacteria from the cabin air, so in theory, it should be as pure as the Scottish Highlands in there. Elsewhere, there are a couple of new interior finishes for the dashboard, but that’s your lot.

WHAT hasn’t changed is the performance. This P90D version with the Ludicrous mode – an £8,700 optional extra – remains the fastest four-door saloon car on the planet.

Tesla claims 0-60mph in a mind-melting 2.8 seconds from a car that weighs more than an Audi Q7. That’s faster than pretty much everything else with four wheels.

We rigged up some timing gear to see how close we could get to Tesla’s claims and after a dozen runs, 3.3 seconds was the best we saw. Still no slouch, and like watching a sprinter bolt out of the traps, the car is a picture of cool and calm exploding into a frenzied blur.

Perhaps what’s more staggering is the Tesla’s ‘in-gear’ pace: 30-50mph takes just one second. Few things can prepare you for the savageness of the acceleration. It’s a hugely physical experience as your whole body tenses up and is shoved back into the seat like it’s been dealt a blow from a heavyweight boxer. That’s what 751bhp and 967Nm of torque does to you.

Travelling like that at every opportunity won’t see you get very close to the 316-mile claimed range. A more modest Sport setting pegs acceleration back, helping you make the most of the remaining juice in the batteries.

But the Model S isn’t just about straight-line speed, as the batteries are mounted incredibly low and in the centre of the chassis for effective weight distribution. It means the Tesla corners with only a hint of body roll and huge reserves of grip thanks to the dualmotor, four-wheel-drive set-up. You can feel the traction control working overtime mid-corner as it attempts to harness all of that power, though.

Another highlight is the Autopilot system. A double-click on the cruise control stalk activates the set-up, allowing the Model S to track the car in front while perfectly negotiating bends at motorway speeds, all of its own accord. It’s an eerie and unnatural experience, but you quickly learn to trust the system and you’ll soon find yourself using it at every possible opportunity. It’s tech like Autopilot that makes the Model S feel as though it belongs in MI5, rather than on the M25.

Without an engine and gearbox to cram in, the Model S is also very practical considering its shape. Under the nose where you’d usually find the engine is a useful 150-litre storage area, plus there’s a whopping 744 litres in the boot itself.

There are gripes, of course, and most of these revolve around quality. At £92,500 – our test car had a few extra goodies which pushed the price to £120,000 – you’d expect a more premium look and feel from some of the materials. The leather is quite rubbery and the plastic on the centre console feels like it belongs on a £10,000 supermini, not a six-figure supersaloon.

“With Ludicrous mode, it remains the fastest four-door saloon on the planet”