Tesla Model S and X get extra range, $20k Ludicrous Mode is now ‘Free’, more updates

Tesla Model S and Model X have gone through a refresh but this one is an engineering refresh rather than a design refresh — Tesla engineers were able to optimize the drivetrain design in such a way that these vehicles are able to give significantly more range than they were able to deliver previously using the same 100 kWh battery pack.

The new EPA estimated range for the Tesla Model S is now 370 miles (595 km) and the Tesla Model X can now go up to 325 miles (523 km) on a single charge, Tesla’s cars already had the longest range on any production electric vehicle on the globe, they just got even better.

Another big update for potential Model S/X customers is that the $20k value ‘Ludicrous Mode‘ is now ‘Free’ with the purchase of a Performance variant of both vehicles. Ludicrous Mode is not for the light-hearted, it gives a 20% boost to the acceleration which means a Model S Ludicrous will go from 0-60 mph in just 2.4 secs, putting million-dollar supercars to shame.

The updated new Model S and X are currently under production and if a customer places an order for any of these they will get their cars delivered with the latest technology in it, although the battery pack for both vehicles still uses the old 18650 cells, getting the extended range out of the existing battery setup is an impressive feat of engineering.

What the updated range on a Tesla Model S means? It means you can travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles on a single charge, Motor Trend just successfully tested the updated Model S on this journey.

Images: Newly upgraded Model S and X drive units rolling down the production line at Tesla Gigafactory 1

Tesla Model S and Model X Standard Range is back

A while back Tesla only kept the Long Range (100 kWh) variants available to order but now the automaker has brought back the ‘Standard Range (Model S 285 miles, Model X 250 miles)‘ variant for both vehicles, the 0-60 mph for Standard Range variants has also benefitted from the latest drive unit efficiency improvements.

Tesla invests a lot of time, energy, and money in R&D, probably the most of any traditional automaker, Tesla aims to keep refining the design and engineering to further improve the efficiency of their EVs, the company said the following in a detailed blog post on this matter:

To complement these changes, we’ve also re-engineered several other components of Model S and Model X in keeping with our philosophy of continuous improvement. These updates include new wheel bearings and a few new tire designs for certain variants to improve range, ride, and steering. While these changes may seem minor, together they have a meaningful impact when it comes to EV design.

New Adaptive Air Suspension for both Model S and X

Now the Model S and X drive will be more soft and agile, the new Smart Air Suspension from Tesla automatically adjusts the damping to the driving style and road conditions. According to Tesla, the new Adaptive Air Suspension will give an “ultra-cushioned feel when cruising on the highway or using Autopilot, and responsive, exhilarating confidence during dynamic driving”.

Tesla has built the smart air suspension software in-house, thanks to the company’s roots in the Silicon-Valley. Tesla’s ‘Adaptive Air Suspension’ will constantly be getting tweaked by getting time to time over-the-air software updates from the automaker, a feature unique to Tesla vehicles currently.

Tesla once wowed the entire world by decreasing the braking distance of the Model 3 by 20 feet with just a simple software update and getting back to the recommended list of cars by Consumer Reports.

Related:

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• Tesla increases power behind Model S/X center screen with new MCU
• Over 900 kms (560 mi) of Hypermiling on a single charge in a Tesla Model S