Skip to main content

Unleashing the Tesla P85D’s ‘Insane Mode’ on these people is almost unfair

864 pound-feet of torque is a lot.

When it comes on instantly, as it does in the twin-motor, all-wheel drive Tesla Model S P85D, it’s almost too much to handle. For some.

A video posted by Drag Times showcases the Tesla’s massive launching power, all of which can be accessed via the car’s aptly named ‘Insane Mode.’

Under that setting, all 864 lb-ft meet the road instantly, which elicits joy, surprise, fear, and maybe even a bit of nausea on unsuspecting passengers over the short film.

Believe it or not, though, the P85D’s incredible power is good for things other than scaring your friends and accumulating YouTube hits.

Yes, the 691-horsepower Tesla is not just king of the interwebs; it fares pretty well on the dragstrip as well.

The all-electric four-door rockets to 60 mph in McLaren F1-like 3.2 seconds, which is good enough to embarrass a lot of fossil fuel-burning supercars.

Over the last few months, we’ve shown you the P85D besting a Ferrari 550, a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and even keeping pace with the 691-hp Lamborghini Aventador despite being 851-lbs heavier.

But it’s not just the power that has garnered those feats, it’s the car’s ease of putting it down. As the video shows, the only thing between you and 60 mph in the Model S is your right foot, white knuckles, and a few ticks of the second hand.

No botched launches (which essentially robbed the aforementioned Hellcat of a win), never-ending burnouts, or missed gear changes. Just speed.

Topics
Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more