The 2015 Tesla Model S Reviewed

To add dramatic flair, many automotive writers exaggerate their descriptions of a car’s acceleration and its effects on their bodies. However, the 691hp, twin engine Tesla Model S is one of few cars to actually have a strong physiological effect on the human body. Read on to learn more about the car that’s claimed to be the word’s quickest-accelerating four door automobile.

The Model S: Lighting-Fast Acceleration and Its Aftereffects

Drivers feel the effects of acceleration, but not quite as much as passengers. From any of its seven possible seats, the Tesla Model S feels faster than even the Bugatti Veyron. It can go from 0-30mph in the blink of an eye, and such quick acceleration can have some weird effects on the body.

Passengers report feeling a fluttering feeling in the throat as lung compression occurred, and visual disturbances as eyeballs were slightly flattened for a split second. It only has one speed, and the electric motors react so quickly that acceleration is seamless.

D is for Dual Motor

Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, wants to prove the superiority of electric vehicles. The Model S is all-wheel drive, and the rear-mounted engines leave a gap between the front wheels.  The Tesla S boasts one of the world’s most sophisticated four-wheel drive systems, which can respond perfectly to traction loss. The S is powered by two 188hp electric motors, and its 0-60 time is equal to that of the McLaren F1.

What’s New for 2015 on the Model S?

Not much has changed from last year’s model; the Model S has only received the mildest of refreshes. The P85D, the top-of-the-line model, has better and sportier seating, but the biggest news item is that all cars made in the San Francisco plant come with autopilot hardware. The P85D can change lanes with the flick of a switch, and it can read and follow posted speed limits.

The autopilot capability is activated by an OTA (over the air) software update, which is coming through at the time of this writing. Anyone who’s concerned about a car with such freakishly fast acceleration won’t be reassured by Elon Musk’s requirement that the car’s touchscreen infotainment system should offer Sport, Normal and Insane driving modes.

It’s not very often that a car has physical effects on those who drive it and ride in it – and it’s even more uncommon for that car to be powered by electric energy. The Tesla Model S offers some of the world’s quickest acceleration, along with the eco-friendly benefits of an electric car – it’s simply an unbeatable combination.