It's ludicrous how Tesla keeps pushing the envelope with its cars...literally.
Before Tesla's conference call with the media began Friday (July 17), reporters heard the looped sounds of rapper Ludacris' thumping "Beast Mode" track. The song was a foreshadowing clue to the electric car makers new "Ludicrous Mode" acceleration upgrade, which came in addition to announcements for a new Model S and plans for a roadster as key highlights from Friday's conference call.
The company will begin offering a new Model S rear-wheel-drive with 70kWh battery pack for $70,000. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the cost is equivalent to a gas-powered vehicle priced at $50,000, factoring in gas savings and incentives over the car's lifetime. There's also a 90kWh battery for five percent more extended range.
From there, the hits kept coming for the Model S with the announcement of the "Ludicrous Mode," as a $10,000 acceleration upgrade add-on, giving drivers a 10 percent improvement and the ability to mash the dash from 0 - 60mph in 2.8 seconds. Tesla touted that the Model S is now the "fastest-accelerating car on the road."
Musk said the option is a "pretty awesome improvement," one he called, "faster than falling," according to reports.
Tesla built on its "Ludicrous Mode" by announcing that the only speed that's faster is the next-generation Roadster that it's working on that will hit the streets in four years.
The highly-anticipated Model X is still on track for deliveries in September, while the Model 3 is still looking at a 2017 release.
