Last September, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, confirmed that the Model S, Model X and the future Roadster will have a top-of-the-range version equipped with a new mechanic, called Plaid and, among other things, based on a powertrain with three electric motors. Well, now the executive has announced through his Twitter account that these versions will have batteries of greater capacity than the most powerful ones currently, those of 100 kWh equipped in the models of Great Autonomy.
So far, the Tesla Model S Plaid, despite the information-tightness that surrounds it, has been unveiled for its prototype version that shattered the days of the Porsche Taycan at the circuit of the Nurburgring, although the most performing variant of the electric SUV of the California firm hasn’t been seen yet.
Musk, who has been particularly active on Twitter in recent hours for the presentation of the brand’s electric pick-up, confirmed it after a user asked about it, but without specifying the charging capacity of the new batteries.
However, according to various media, the Tesla Model S and X Plaid will mount batteries with the 2170 cells used by the Model 3, which is higher energy density than the 18650s that store electricity in the current Model S and Model X. The batteries of the latter, by the way, are being investigated by US authorities following a series of fires that could be spontaneous and not caused by an accident.
More autonomy and performance than Performance
If such cell replacement is confirmed, the battery’s energy capacity could be increased to approximately 120 kWh, that is, it would have a direct impact on autonomy by firing it above 400 miles (643 km) in EPA approval cycle, more demanding than the European WLTP, according to Teslarati figures. Currently, the range of the Tesla Model S Longe Range marketed in the US is 373 miles, while the Model X Longe Range is 328 miles.
In any case, beyond the autonomy that the new versions of the first two members of the Tesla range finally grant, what is evident is that the American manufacturer continues to devote efforts to evolve its cells, something that leads time locked up chasing the million-mile battery or seeking new deals with giants the likes of Chinese manufacturer CATL.
At the performance level, the Plaid units will be positioned above the Performance versions thanks to the three engines that will be distributed between both axles, placing two of them in the rear while the remaining third will be associated with the front axle. It should be remembered that the Model S Performance boasts 451 kW (613 hp) and, with Ludicrous Mode, is capable of accelerating from standing to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds.
They will also be seated on a new chassis that the Model S was already in charge of debuting during its tests at the Nurburgring, where you could see a unit with larger wheel steps and wider tires, as well as a new spoiler and a wider front air inlet.
The start of the production of the Tesla Model S Plaid is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2020 and, once it reaches the market, it will become the most cost-effective and expensive variant.