The latest vehicle released by Tesla Motors, the Model S P85D, has been awarded a record score by Consumer Reports magazine.
The P85D managed to break their reporting scale, earning 103 out of a possible 100 points, setting a new benchmark for their best-ever car.
Consumer Reports was deeply impressed by the car’s incredibly fast acceleration as well as its energy efficiency.
Using the new ‘Insane Mode’ setting, the car is able to accelerate from 0 to 60mph (97km/h) in just 3.5 seconds. This makes the P85D the fastest ever vehicle tested by the magazine.
“The P85D is brutally quick, with instant acceleration. The car’s thrust is forceful and immediate. Its near-instant g-forces can otherwise be achieved only by leaping off a building—literally,” explained Consumer Reports in a statement.
Energy efficiency upgrades from the previous model also benefitted the car’s record-breaking score.
“The P85D also has better braking and handling than our top-scoring standard Model S. And yet it’s more energy-efficient, getting the equivalent of 87 mpg,” Consumer Reports continued.
While the car theoretically scored 103 points, its score will be officially rounded down to 100, and set the benchmark for future cars to beat.
The Model S P85D was revealed by Tesla last year and contains a number of high-tech upgrades, such as autonomous driving and an improved all-wheel drive power train.
Despite the high score awarded to the car, Consumer Reports still sees some significant downsides to the vehicle.
Both the car’s high cost, at $128,000, and the problems caused by its battery-electric power plant were negatives for the car.
“Just because the P85D scores 100 doesn’t mean it’s perfect. For example, for all of the P85D’s capability and Tesla’s network of Supercharger stations, owning this car still brings some range and recharging compromises compared to a gasoline-powered car,” they explain.
Tesla hopes to rectify both of these concerns into the future though an expansion of its Supercharger network, as well as the development of a cheaper, mass-market vehicle.
