Electric GT Racing Series Selects Tesla P100D As Sole Contender

The Tesla Model S P100D is considered by many to be the “quickest production car” on the planet, capable of blasting from 0 to 60 MPH in just 2.5 seconds. Despite this ludicrous acceleration, however, the Model S has not seen much racing duty outside of the drag strip. The minds behind the Electric GT racing championship want to change that, however.

The enterprising all-electric racing series has tapped the Tesla P100D to serve as the primary race car for the Electric GT, shelving plans to use the slower and older P85+. Dubbed the Electric GT V2.0, the modified Model S will benefit from a stronger suspension, improved brake cooling and steering, as well as adding FIA safety features that include a race-ready rollcage.

Despite these additional features, Electric GT says it is shaving off as much as 500 kg/1,100 pounds from the Tesla’s excessive curb weight. The series has begun testing its electric racers, as well as releasing details about the series setup.

10 teams with 2 drivers each will take part in save races during the first season, with 20-minute practice sessions and 60-minute qualifiers leading to two 6 0km/40 mile races. One of the races will be during the day, and the other at night, presumptively to allow the cars to recharge and rest their batteries.

One thing Electric GT has not detailed is how it plans to keep the Tesla battery packs from going into “limp mode” after the first few laps. The Electric GT Racing is quite protective of its battery, and driving flat out will see the Model S sidelined after just a few minutes. Tesla owners have tried, and failed, to make it around the 13.1-mile Nurburgring without going into limp mode, and I’m not sure how the organizers plan to tackle this obstacle to extended racing.

I must be getting old, because as awesome as this sounds on the surface, I can’t help but have some serious reservations. After all, there’s a reason nobody has tried using a Tesla Model S for racing, beyond it being a heavy luxury sedan that was never intended for, you know, racing.

That’s not to say that exciting all-electric can’t be done, as the Formula E series has easily proven. But can it be done with Teslas? We’ll find out in 2017.

Tesla 100 kWh Battery Approved For Sale In Europe

Back in the spring, white hat hacker Jason Hughes told the world that he had found something interesting hidden in the latest update to his Model S — a logo for a P100D.  At the time, Elon Musk rewarded Hughes with this tweet, “Good hacking is a gift.”

Now European website Kenteken.tv has combed through the database of Dutch RDW and discovered that Tesla Motors has been approved to market cars in Europe with 100 kWh batteries. The European certification process is required before any vehicles can be sold in a European country. The certification is for a Model S 100 and a Model X 100. Both cars are rated at 380 miles of range, using the notoriously generous European testing standard.

That range number is completely credible. The current Model S 90D carries an EPA rating in excess of 300 miles. With the larger battery, that number in the US could be 325 miles or more. The odds are it won’t be long before a performance version of the new model comes available, which should be known as the P100D. The blogosphere has already nicknamed it the plood — a variation of the model designation. All Teslas except for entry-level models have dual motors.

Tesla has pioneered a new wrinkle for its electric cars — the software-limited battery. The company introduced a new entry-level model — the Model S 60 — with a price $4,000 less than the old Model S 60. The trick is the car actually comes with a 75 kWh battery, but it is restricted to 60 kWh by the car’s software. The owner — or a subsequent owner — can upgrade to the full 75 kWh for an extra fee.

That raises the possibility that Tesla could use a similar strategy on other models. Perhaps the company will manufacture only two batteries — a 75 kWh and a 100 kWh — but offer both in software-limited versions in order to offer more options and price points to buyers.

The other thing we can expect is an ultra-high-performance version based on the larger battery. Previously, Tesla has offered an Insane Mode upgrade and a Ludicrous Mode for those willing to part with an extra $10,000 in order to accelerate to 60 a few tenths of a second faster. Perhaps the new car will get a Ridiculous Mode option, or better yet, the ultimate performance upgrade — Maximum Plaid.

Things just keep getting better and better for Tesla Motors.

Source and Photo Credit: Teslarati