Tesla introduced the world to fast EVs, and still manufactures some of the quickest electric vehicles known to man. The Model S Plaid is the company's fastest model, and should remain in that position until the Tesla Roadster decides to finally make an appearance. When first launched, the Tesla Model S Plaid promised a top speed of 200 mph, but new owners, and the internet in general was disappointed to hear that the car would, for the time being, be limited to 163 mph. The good news is that Tesla has been feeling rather giving over the festive season, and has decided to bestow a top speed increase upon the Model S Plaid.
Owners of the rapid EV will now be able to reach a top speed of 175 mph. That might not be massively fast by modern standards, but it's still faster than competitors such as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S (162 mph), or the Lucid Air (168 mph). We recommend going for the 250+ mph Rimac Nevera if speed is your thing.
Not only did Tesla up the top speed, but it has also added a new driving mode, called Track Mode as part of Release 2021.44.30. This turns the car into a dynamic beast by switching off some of the driver assistance systems for a more raw experience and boosts powertrain performance. It does this by increasing the cooling effects of the heat pump. Torque vectoring is enhanced across all three motors, and regenerative braking is also ramped up. On the suspension side, Track Mode puts the car to its lowest riding position and sets the adaptive dampers to a stiffer configuration for confidence-inspiring high-speed driving.
Tesla has made a lot of excuses as to why the Model S Plaid can't yet reach its full 200 mph potential, the first being the fact that the car would have to be equipped with better brakes. Tesla has announced a $20,000 carbon-ceramic brake system for mid-2022 which should solve that problem. Along with the expensive brakes, owners will also have to fit the 21-inch Arachnid wheels, as the standard 19-inch wheels will most likely be too small for the bigger brakes. With the bigger brakes and wheels fitted, you're looking at an asking price of $155,000 for the 2022 Model S Plaid.