Tesla Autopilot 8.0 upgrade would have averted fatal crash, Musk says

2016 Tesla Model STesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has a history of making bold claims about the capabilities of his company's products, and the latest version of Autopilot is no different. Over the weekend, Tesla announced the first major update of the driver-assist system since a fatal May crash involving a Model S electric car traveling with the system engaged...

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV first drive: 240 miles in an electric car

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Aug 2016We drove a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car 240 miles on a single charge last week. And that was the lowest range achieved among four journalists driving four Bolt EVs along the California coast. One driver covered essentially the same trip with fully 32 miles remaining, according to the car’s display. DON'T MISS: 2017 Chevy Bolt EV...

New Orleans: Big Easy to make life easier for electric car owners?

Nissan unveils New Orleans' first public charging station for electric cars (photo: Richard Read) New Orleans has a hot-and-cold relationship with environmentally friendly technology. Last week, however, the two were definitely on good terms as the city council voted unanimously to make life easier for current and future electric car owners. Crescent City crises Given the New Orleans' tenuous location--sandwiched between Lake Pontchartrain and...

Why VW diesel buyback pays owners to keep their cars for two more years

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEIf all goes according to plan, more than 450,000 owners of Volkswagen and Audi sedans, wagons, and hatchbacks with 2.0-liter TDI diesel vehicles from the 2009 through 2015 model years will start to receive buyback offers from VW late this year. Many owners have already indicated that they plan to take the buyout, some as soon as possible. But it...

Men may avoid green products because they seem feminine: hypothesis

2016 Nissan LeafThose tasked with selling electric cars and other products friendly to the environment must confront multiple obstacles as they try to win over often-skeptical consumers. That's something that comes with the territory when marketing new technologies or practices. But could public reticence to adopt green products be influenced by more than just...

Why new Tesla 100D battery may be crucial for the Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model S P100DLast month, when Tesla Motors announced new, even larger battery packs for its Model S sedan and Model X crossover utility vehicle, reaction was less than ecstatic. While even faster, even longer-range electric cars are nice and all, commentators said, shouldn't Tesla be sticking to its knitting? Specifically, shouldn't it be focusing every last...

Green cars at the Paris Motor Show: updated preview

Opel Ampera-eFall is approaching, which means it's time for the auto-show season to get underway once again. Press days for the 2016 Paris Motor Show begin at the end of this month, and we already know several notable green production and concept cars will make their debuts in the French capital. The show's organizers say no fewer than 24 electric cars will...

Renault delivered its 100,000th electric car on Friday, in Norway

The 100,000th Renault electric car is delivered in NorwayFrench automaker Renault hasn't sold nearly as many electric cars as its alliance partner Nissan. But Renault has steadily increased its electric-car sales volumes, particularly in Europe, with its main focus on the subcompact Zoe hatchback. That allowed the company to pass a notable milestone recently. DON'T MISS: Nissan and Renault together now...

Tesla Announce P100D Model S the World’s Quickest Production Car

Tesla have announced the Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode claiming it as the third fastest accelerating production car ever produced, with a 0-60 mph time of 2.5* seconds. The only remaining production road cars a Tesla Model S can't beat are the LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder.

However, both were limited run, million dollar vehicles and cannot be bought new. While those cars are small two seaters with very little luggage space, the pure electric, all-wheel drive Model S P100D has four doors, seats up to 5 adults plus 2 children and has exceptional cargo capacity.

The 100 kWh battery also increases range substantially to an estimated 315 miles on the EPA cycle and 613 km on the EU cycle, making it the first to go beyond 300 miles and the longest range production electric vehicle by far.

The larger battery pack is also available on the Model X, making the world’s quickest SUV even faster. Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode accelerates to 60 mph in 2.9* seconds and travels up to 289 miles EPA estimated and 542 km EU on a single charge. Model X is also a pure electric SUV and can seat up to seven adults.

Model S and Model X are engineered to be the safest cars on the road and to have the highest ratings from NHTSA. Both have access to the Tesla Supercharger network for the freedom to travel long distance for free. And every Tesla will improve over time with free over the air upgrades.

Tesla customers who have ordered a P90D Ludicrous, but not taken delivery, can upgrade to the 100 kWh pack for $10,000. Existing P90D Ludicrous owners can also upgrade to a 100 kWh pack, but for $20,000, as their used 90 kWh pack will have to be recycled.

While the P100D Ludicrous is obviously an expensive vehicle, Tesla want to emphasize that every sale helps pay for the smaller and much more affordable Tesla Model 3 that is in development. Without customers willing to buy the expensive Model S and X, Tesla says they would be unable to fund the smaller, more affordable Model 3 development.

Early adapters form an orderly queue here... Tesla

Tesla Model S P90D Ludicrous Refresh now a match for Rimac [VIDEO]

Following Rimac's recent video of their Concept One achieving 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds, it seems Tesla have that covered.

Drag Times recently tested a refreshed Tesla Model S P90D Ludicrous where the 5 door sedan ran 0-60 MPH just 2.6 second.

Sure, 60 miles per hour is only 96 kilometers per hour but it's close enough to make no difference.

A leading theory is that those vehicles already feature software-limited 100 kWh battery packs capable of higher power outputs.

Others speculate that Tesla developed new battery pack parts, like it did for the Ludicrous upgrade (new contactor and fuse), in order to optimize the upcoming 100 kWh pack and it introduced those parts in the existing packs before the release of the new one.

3 phase AC Induction motors, as used by Tesla, can withstand huge 'peak' performance in short bursts. Most of the mind numbing acceleration happens within the first second, as can be seen in the graph below. The P90DL leaps to 1.35g within the first 0.5 sec and maintains 1g+ for 1.5 seconds. The old P85D achieved a peak of 1.05 g for 1.2 second.

Driven | 2016 Toyota Prius

Toyota has been promising better handling with its cars, and it has delivered with the fourth-generation Prius. While it still does not look like a conventional car, the Prius now handles more like one.