2022 Tesla Model S Plaid+ axed: World’s quickest car dead before reaching production
Tesla's sub-1.99-second 0-60mph car has been axed, leaving its marginally-slower counterpart to sit atop the range – though it will miss out on top honours.
The 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid+ has been axed, consigning what claimed to have been the world's fastest-accelerating car to history.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter this morning the Model S Plaid+ is "cancelled", stating there is "no need, as [the] Plaid is just so good".
"0 to 60mph [97km/h] in under 2 seconds [for the Plaid]. Quickest production car ever made of any kind. Has to be felt to be believed," added Musk.
Unveiled in January 2021, the Model S Plaid+ promised to be the quickest-accelerating production car ever built – irrespective of petrol or electric power – quoting a claimed 0-60mph (97km/h) time of "less than 1.99 seconds", surpassing the current record of 2.1 seconds, held by the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon muscle car.
A 0-100km/h acceleration time of under 2.1 seconds was also claimed, with the car's performance unlocked through three electric motors with torque vectoring and carbon-sleeved rotors combining to develop 820kW.
The axing of the flagship Plaid+ means Tesla will lose the title of the world's quickest production car, as the mid-tier, 761kW Plaid (no plus) that will remain claims a 0-60mph (97km/h) time of exactly 1.99 seconds (or 0-100km/h in 2.1 seconds), shadowing the Rimac Nevera's 1.97-second 0-100km/h claim.
It also claims a quarter-mile (402m) sprint time of 9.23 seconds, versus the sub-9.0-second figure purported by the Plaid+.
What the mid-tier Plaid can't match is the flagship's range, with the Plaid+ claiming to be capable of over 840km on a single charge – expected to be thanks to a new battery design and higher battery capacity – versus the Plaid's estimated 628km.
Interestingly, Tesla's US configurator still lists Model S Plaid+ deliveries as on track for mid-2022, with the Australian website listing an 'end of 2022' date – though given Musk's tweet is merely a few hours old, it's unlikely the website has updated in time.
First US deliveries of the 'regular' Model S Plaid will commence later this week (June 10), Elon Musk has confirmed.
Meanwhile, an Australian launch will occur for both 2022 Tesla Model S Long Range and Plaid variants at the 'end of 2022', Tesla's configurator confirms.