Tesla has overhauled the model S for 2021. The EV’s interior has been given a thorough redesign and the company has finally added its much-touted, flagship “Plaid” powertrain to the line-up, in an effort to keep the car ahead of the Porsche Taycan. first deliveries for the updated saloon are not expected to arrive until next year, however.
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As part of the update, Tesla has rejigged the model S’s specifications, giving buyers just two trim lines. The entry-level long range variant is priced from £83,980 and has a claimed range of 412 miles. above that, there’s the new Plaid model, which has a starting price of £110,980 and a maximum range of 390 miles.
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Finally, there’s the flagship Plaid+ model. It costs £130,980, but it has a maximum claimed range of 520 miles, which is around 220 miles more than the most efficient Porsche Taycan. So in theory, the model S Plaid+ can store enough electricity to drive from London to Manchester and back – and still have more than 100 miles of range left over.
The revised model S long range features a 661bhp version of Tesla’s old dual-motor electric powertrain. However, the new model S Plaid features the brand’s newly designed, three-motor electric powertrain, which delivers claimed output of 1,006bhp, a 0–60mph time of 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 200mph.
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Tesla hasn’t yet released any information on the revised model S’s battery capacity, but the firm recently announced that it would update its battery technology with more energy-dense, load-bearing packs. Whether these new cells are used on the updated model S has yet to be confirmed.
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