More Tesla Model D Details Emerge

Last week, we reported the debut of the Tesla Model D, a dual motor version of the Model S that comes in three flavors: 60D, 85D and a high performance version, the P85D. Adding the second motor to the 60D and 85D is not done quite the way you might think. Out comes the standard 302 horsepower rear motor and in go two 188 horsepower motors, one in front and one in the rear. The two combine to make 376 horsepower, which lowers 0-60 times by about 0.2 seconds. The setup also adds about 10 to 15 miles of range over their Model S cousins, giving the 60D a range of 226 miles and the 85D up to 295 miles of driving at 65 MPH, or so claims Tesla.

The big news comes with the P85D model. That gets a 221 horsepower motor in the front and a whopping 470 horsepower motor in the rear, together spinng out 691 horsepower that hurl the 4,900-lb. Model S P85D to 60 mph in a jaw dropping 3.2 seconds! That’s a full second quicker that the P85S and 2 seconds quicker that the 85D. It also has a top speed of 155 mph.

How much does all this goodness cost? Adding the dual motors bumps the price of a 60D or 85D by $4,000 over their Model S equivalents. But the high performance P85D will set you back an extra $18,000 above the price of a Model S P85. That’s a considerable chunk of change for the privilege of getting to the mall 1 second faster than your friends. But still, even when fully optioned, the P85D tops out at just over $138,000, which is just a fraction of the cost of many so-called “supercars” available today. Meanwhile the two semi-autonomous autopilot features come standard on every Model S with the tech package, which also adds $4,000 to the MSRP.

If you are considering a new Tesla Model S or Model D, the company offers a whole range of accessories from the practical, like a winter weather package, to the silly, like red plastic brake caliper covers. You can browse all the selections on the Tesla website and then build your Tesla just the way you want it. Deliveries of the Model D are expected to begin in February 2015.