Tesla Model S Plaid breaks 200 mph top speed for the first time: For the very first time, a Tesla Model S Plaid that has been hacked to remove software limits has hit a top speed of over 200 miles per hour (and even more), so proving that Tesla’s promise can be fulfilled.
When Tesla originally introduced the Model S Plaid, its new top-performance flagship electric vehicle, the firm made a claim that the vehicle will be capable of reaching a high speed of up to 200 miles per hour (322 kilometres per hour). However, when it was first handed to its owner a year ago, the car had a maximum speed of “just” 163 miles per hour (or 262 kilometres per hour).
In the beginning of this year, Tesla introduced a new ‘Track Mode’ for the Model S Plaid, which increased the maximum speed to 175 miles per hour (282 kilometres per hour).
To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest maximum speed that a Tesla Model S Plaid or any other Tesla car has ever attained to this point. It is unclear what exactly is keeping Tesla from enabling the maximum speed of 200 miles per hour that was promised. It could be the brakes, which Tesla is currently offering to enhance with a carbon ceramic kit for the price of $20,000; on the other hand, it could also be concerns about the three motors or the battery pack.
It is now abundantly evident that Tesla did not lie when they stated that the vehicle was capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour because I saw a Model S Plaid achieve that speed this morning; however, it was not due to the automaker’s efforts.
Ingenext, a firm based in Quebec that is most known for providing modules that assist unlock software-locked features in Tesla vehicles, has discovered a way to go over the software limits that are present in the Model S Plaid in order to fully unlock the peak speed.
This morning, Guillaume André, the Chief Executive Officer of Ingenext, hopped in the driver’s seat of his modified Tesla Model S Plaid and attempted to set a new top speed record at the Trois-Rivières airport in Quebec, Canada.
The Ingenext team has attempted to reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour with the vehicle in the past at other locations, but they have literally run out of space to reach those speeds safely. The airport in Trois-Rivières has a runway that is approximately three kilometers long (1.8 miles), which was ideal for the test. In order to allow André to make his attempt, they temporarily closed the runway.
With the exception of larger brakes from Mountain pass Performance and higher performance tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sport), the Ingenext Model S Plaid is almost a stock production vehicle. These upgrades were mostly made for the sake of increased safety.
The only other change is the addition of the Ingenext module, which gives them the ability to sidestep the limitations imposed by Tesla’s software.
André had approximately 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) in his Tesla Model S Plaid to achieve the top speed before beginning to decelerate over approximately 6,000 feet. It turned out that he needed practically that entire distance even with the higher performance brakes, but the effort was successful.
Not only were they successful in reaching a high speed of 200 miles per hour, fulfilling Tesla’s promise for the Model S Plaid, but the electric vehicle also managed to reach a top speed of 216 miles per hour (348 kilometers per hour).
The sound was the most peculiar aspect of it all. Although it seemed like a jet was taking off just in front of us, it turned out to be a family sedan travelling at 216 miles per hour. That was also the loudest time I’ve ever heard Tesla’s cooling system attempting to cool down the three motors and battery pack.
It is the first time that a Tesla vehicle has ever hit a top speed of 216 miles per hour, and it is likely the first time that a production electric vehicle has ever achieved that speed. In addition, I believe it is necessary to point out that despite the fact that the Model S Plaid has the performance of a HyperCard, it is still a family sedan with four doors, which is another thing that makes it rather astounding.
At the moment, that particular Model S Plaid is the only one available with the capacity unlocked; however, Ingenext has future intentions to make their module available to the general public with the capacity unlocked in addition to other capabilities.
