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Ouch! Watch Tesla’s Model S P85D snap a dyno belt with its insane torque

Tesla Model S P85D
Tesla Model S P85D
Certain supercars can brag about spinning their wheels on a dyno, but few actually have the grunt to break one. Well, one vehicle has done just that, and it happens to be a four-door luxury sedan.

It’s not just any family car though, it’s Tesla’s ridiculously potent Model S P85D.

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On a recent dyno run, the 691-horsepower electric claimed one of the machine’s belts as its victim, ripping it apart at the seams with colossal pulling force.

Before the dynamometer threw in the towel, it measured a torque output of over 700 pound-feet. We know from past tests that the all-wheel drive P85D can produce up to 864 lb-ft provided the equipment can handle it, but the immediacy of the thrust made this dyno cower in fear.

The point-and-click power delivery also translates into the car’s acceleration characteristics. When the driver activates ‘Insane Mode,’ which unbridles the Model S’ full electric potential, 0 to 60 mph is dealt with in just 3.1 seconds. It also happens to turn fully-grown adults into giddy (and often frightened) children.

The Insane Mode reaction video comes courtesy of Drag Times’ YouTube channel, the same place you’ll find the dyno-breaking clip above. It’s also the source of other P85D clips like its self-destructive race with a 500-hp Mitsubishi Evo X and its highly-anticipated rematch with the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

The range-topping Model S is even quick over ice, as proven by a recent run-in with a snowmobile on a frozen lake.

Given the Tesla’s physics-bending power output, pitting it up against an 800cc, 160-hp snowmachine may seem a little unfair. Factor in the sled’s larger contact patch and the P85D’s lack of snow tires, and the contest becomes a bit closer. We won’t spoil the result for you now, but you can watch the video here to see the chilly conclusion.

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…
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