The Tesla Model S P85D has two major headlines around it.
First of all, dual motors which predicates all wheel drive, and secondly, you've got some autonomy or auto pilot technology.
Let's run it.
[UNKNOWN] Now, a Model S traditionally had a single motor at the rear driving those wheels.
These new D cars add a second motor at the front to drive those wheels, to the tune of 188 horsepower at each end.
If you get a P, or performance, model, like we have, the rear motor gets bumped way up to 470 horsepower, and the front a bit higher to 221, for a massive 691 total.
That gets this nearly 5000 pound car to 60 in just 3.2 seconds.
Range is down, but only slightly, from a standard rear-wheel drive Model 6. That means adaptive cruise that maintains speed and distance to other cars, along with the ability to come all the way to a full stop and resume.
To be honest, nothing other cars didn't have a couple years ago.
Ditto this car's new ability to read speed limit signs and alert you to the correct speed.
Now highway lane changing is interesting, you can do it by just signaling.
Our car currently just does the acceleration part for you but automatic lane change steering is coming as well.
Self parking in a Tesla means the car not only parks in a spot that you pull along side of but eventually will bring itself out of that spot and to you.
At least on private property.
Now, auto-pilot is Tesla's name for what will eventually become full-self driving.
But, which is coming now, in phases of driver assist.
These P85Ds, which are top-of-the-stack performance dual motor models, are coming in at around $106,000.
And then, we would add another $8,000 in options.
But, due to the almost $10,000 in tax credits available, at least here in California.
We end up actually below the MSRP, but still, not a cheap car.
This technology will also be very interesting as we see the all wheel drive get much more accessible in the coming model x.
