All new Tesla D is faster, more efficient and comes with auto-pilot

Elon Musk unveiled the new Tesla D at an event on Thursday at an airport just outside the headquarters of his other company, SpaceX. The new car is an all-wheel-drive version of the Tesla S which offers improvements in almost every way with increased efficiency, range, acceleration, top speed, and new auto-pilot features.

The car boasts the same 0-60mph acceleration as the Maclaren F1 – 3.2 seconds! The top speed is 155mph, 35 more than the Model S, and it will come with three option settings: normal, sport and insane. The battery offers 275 miles on a single charge which is 10 miles more than its single-motor cousin.

“We’re able to improve everything about the car,” Musk said at the event. “This car is nuts. It’s like taking off from a carrier deck.”

The D (which was subject to lewd jokes over the internet) gets its name from its dual motor setup. With petrol engine based cars, the second motor results in extra weight which lowers the cars acceleration and efficiency. However, the digital dual motor system can adjust the power distribution at a millisecond rate, allowing the car to constantly be in the most efficient state.

The car also comes with auto-pilot technology which adds extra safety to driving. A front-facing camera recognizes stop signs, speed limits and traffic lights, and sonar also allows the car to have 360 degree awareness of its surroundings. This technology means the car can automatically brake if it is about to hit something and also change lanes safely and automatically with just a flick of the indicators. It can also parallel park on its own and drivers can leave the car park itself in the garage when they get home.

Another interesting feature of the auto pilot technology is that owners can summon their cars to them, rather than trying to remember where they parked their car. Unfortunately though this can only be permitted on private land. The auto-pilot is not fully autonomous driving either, Musk noted that you still can’t safely fall asleep.

There will be three configurations: the 60D and the 85D, along with a top of the line P85D. The P85D starts going out to buyers in December, with the 60D and lower-end 85D going out in February. Not a lot was mentioned on pricing but the P85D is $120,170, a $14,600 premium as part of an options package from the standard P85 model.

After analytics noted that Tesla need to increase sales in places with cold weather, Musk hopes the four wheel drive setup will entice those outisde of hot countries to consider the switch to electric. The Palo Alto-based company will also be releasing its first SUV, the Model X, in 2015.

Source: [Wired]