Tesla Model S P90D rips through quarter mile in 10.8 seconds in Ludicrous mode

By Bruce Brown August 8, 2016

1/4 Mile Record - First 10 Second Ludicrous Tesla P90D!

There’s no doubt that Tesla’s Model S P90D with Ludicrous mode is fast. A Motor Trend test of the 2015 version reported the car “reliably rips through the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds.” But getting into the 10-second range for a quarter mile with the performance version of the luxury all-electric sedan has been elusive for most owners. With a recent software update, however, new owners should be able to hit 10 seconds regularly, as reported by Electrek.

George Parrot, a Tesla owner who started with a P85D, walked readers through his quarter mile performances at Sacramento Speedway earlier this year in Green Car Reports. Prior to paying the $5,000 Ludicrous mode upgrade cost, Parrot had been getting 11.72-second quarter mile times using the “Insane” power setting of the Model S. With Tesla’s periodic software upgrades, he got the times down to 11.63 seconds. After the Ludicrous mode option upgrade, Parrot and another Model S owner with the same upgrades made quarter mile runs in 11.36 and 11.34 seconds, respectively. So better times, but still not sub-11 seconds.

Tesla hasn’t announced a power increase for the fully stacked Model S, but Electrek reported in June that P90D owners were noticing higher than expected power outputs from the car’s electric motors. A new owner of a Tesla Model S P90D with Ludicrous mode took his car to North Carolina’s Rockingham Dragway. Running his Tesla with and without Launch Mode turned on, the Rockingham racer had multiple runs in the 10 second range. His best time was 10.80 seconds.

Many Tesla Model S owners are likely quite happy with the P90D’s 3.1 second zero to 60 performance and don’t care about knocking that down to 2.8 seconds with the Performance and Ludicrous mode option. For those to whom that does matter, the unannounced power increase comes as welcome news. The Model S P90DL is most likely the only sedan currently on the market able to hit 10 second quarters.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

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.