I'm surprised there's so little discussion about Tesla on this forum, given its nature.
Who owns one, has driven one or aspires to own one?
Today I took a test drive in a P85D with 'ludicrous' mode. This is the maximum capacity battery (bar the P90 range extender), the 'D' means that it has four wheel drive (motors in the front as well as the rear) and 'ludicrous' mode increases the peak power output.
I went into this having never driven an electric car and having done minimal research. The intention was a back to back comparison with my daily drive, an F10 M5, and I have to say it exceeded expectations.
Here are a few stand out points.
Handling was hard to test with a terrified looking salesperson in the passenger seat but it cornered flat with very little body roll and felt entirely planted at all times. The steering is fairly numb but nicely weighted - controversially I'd say it felt as good as the M5. Brakes were effective, thanks in part, I'm sure, to the regenerative system sapping much of the momentum.
Negative points as I see them...
The big question... is this the future? It certainly feels like it could be. The more popular EVs get, the more the aftermarket will respond. There will be hacks to 'root' your car (apparently it runs a variant of Linux). Custom software, 3rd party performance/economy upgrades, 3rd party batteries.
Who owns one, has driven one or aspires to own one?
Today I took a test drive in a P85D with 'ludicrous' mode. This is the maximum capacity battery (bar the P90 range extender), the 'D' means that it has four wheel drive (motors in the front as well as the rear) and 'ludicrous' mode increases the peak power output.
I went into this having never driven an electric car and having done minimal research. The intention was a back to back comparison with my daily drive, an F10 M5, and I have to say it exceeded expectations.
Here are a few stand out points.
- Acceleration. 0-30 it's like nothing I've ever driven. Instantaneous, relentless, addictive torque. I've heard cars compared to rollercoasters before but this time it's a fairly good analogy. It has to be experienced. Also the traction control is very clever, there's no discernible sensation of the power being reined back but it pulls away very cleanly from a standing start with no drama whatsoever, at least in the dry.
- Power delivery. It's like the best autobox you've ever driven. There's no shifting cogs and it's always in the right gear because there's only one. There's no peaks or troughs in power, no lag. Regenerative braking takes some getting used to if you've not driven a car equipped with it but after a few minutes of jerkiness you quickly become accustomed to lifting off gently. It can also be set to creep like a traditional automatic which makes it very easy to park.
- iPad-style interface. The car is almost entirely button free which means everything from entertainment to climate control and even the sunroof is controlled through the giant screen in the centre console. This was one of my main reservations but it's logical, well laid out and very responsive. Internet radio, Spotify, etc are all there and, crucially, they use the built-in 3G so don't require you to tether your phone. Another concern is using the interface whilst driving due to the lack of any tactile controls which brings me onto the next point.
- Autopilot! Radar cruise control is fairly commonplace now, you can get it on a Golf I'm told, but auto steering is something I'd never experienced before. The car uses a combination of all-round radar and cameras (tracking the white lines) to maintain your lane position. Aside from putting your hands on the wheel every now and then to reassure the software that you're still awake, no driver input is required. It was very effective in moderate traffic on the M4. I'd love to try it in London. Obviously it's only going to improve with future software updates.
- And did I mention it's entirely electric? The P85D I believe is quoted at 305 miles. I understand it'll comfortably do 250 which, in the UK, is more distance than you're likely to need in any single trip, even without the network of superchargers around the country.
Handling was hard to test with a terrified looking salesperson in the passenger seat but it cornered flat with very little body roll and felt entirely planted at all times. The steering is fairly numb but nicely weighted - controversially I'd say it felt as good as the M5. Brakes were effective, thanks in part, I'm sure, to the regenerative system sapping much of the momentum.
Negative points as I see them...
- Interior. It's not up to German standards. The leather trimmed dash is nice but the seats, whilst supportive, are trimmed in cheap-feeling leather and are overly firm. However it's functional, spacious (roomier than a 5 series or E class in my opinion), has 5 full size seats and is quite aesthetically pleasing with its minimalist button-free layout. It's definitely something you could live with.
- Price. The base model is quite affordable but the P85D with a few must-have options (such as a decent Hi-Fi) is over £100k list.
- Residuals. Good at present but impossible to predict long term. Overseas there are larger government subsidies but over here currently it's just £5k.
The big question... is this the future? It certainly feels like it could be. The more popular EVs get, the more the aftermarket will respond. There will be hacks to 'root' your car (apparently it runs a variant of Linux). Custom software, 3rd party performance/economy upgrades, 3rd party batteries.
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