If you time-traveled back about 55 years to the height of muscle car era with a Tesla Model S Plaid, you would upset a lot of people at your local racetrack. Right out of the box – or off the assembly line, in this case – the Plaid touted sky-high ratings of 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. It could sprint to 60 mph in fewer than two seconds and was capable of clocking the quarter-mile at 9.34 seconds.
To say that this vehicle has rocked the performance-car industry is a massive understatement. It is now the speed-standard by every other performance car will be measured. And this isn’t a two-seat exotic or a non-street-legal dedicated drag racer; the Plaid is a bona fide “executive” family sedan with luxury appointments and all the latest in safety technology. Mind boggling, that’s what it is.
The Barrett-Jackson Collection Showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona, is currently selling a 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid in vivid “Ultra Red” with only 8,487 miles on the odometer. The car is stunning inside and out, and it comes with a long list of options including a carbon fiber rear spoiler, 21-inch Arachnid wheels, yoke steering, enhanced autopilot, “Smart Summon,” and more. Basically, this car is what you’d call “fully loaded.”
Model S History
It is hard to believe, but the Model S has been in production for over a decade now. Assembly first started in 2012 in a five-door liftback body style with various different available motor and battery configurations. The platform went through incremental changes in the years that followed, including the addition of available all-wheel drive, camera systems, improved batteries, and air suspensions. One unique feature for the earlier cars was a rear-facing third row seat for children (discontinued after 2018).
The “Plaid” version of the Model S, as seen in the Barrett-Jackson Collection Showroom, debuted in June 2021 with enhanced performance, an upgraded suspension, and additional interior appointments. Adding to that, its refined body slipped through the area with a drag coefficient of about .20Cd – an important achievement for a car that emphasizes efficiency. By comparison, a Jeep Wrangler’s coefficient is .45Cd.
Power and Appointments
Where does all the insane power come from? The Plaid has triple electric motors with carbon-sleeved rotors: one for the front axle and two for the rear axle. The battery pack forms the floor of the vehicle between the axles; having the bulk of the mass there gives the car an optimal center of gravity as well as augments the rigidity of the passenger compartment. Just as impressive as the power output is the car’s long-distance driving range, which is strong by electric vehicle standards at over 350 miles.
Inside the cabin, the Model S Plaid has some of the industry’s most generous luxuries like heated and cooled synthetic leather seats. A 17.1-inch touchscreen instrument panel puts the pilot in command, and the 960-watt audio system has 22 speakers. Speaking of pilots, the yoke-style steering wheel puts an entirely new look and feel into the driving experience.
Time to Electrify Your Drive
Barrett-Jackson knows a thing or two about performance cars, and this Tesla is no exception. You will be hard pressed to find a low-mileage 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid in this kind of condition.
When new, the top-dog Plaid performance sedan carried a retail price of about $131,100. If you have ever wanted to own one of these cars, here is your chance to own one with only 8,487 miles on the odometer for a relative bargain of $79,500. You will undoubtedly have the fastest vehicle on your block – and there’s even passenger room for a couple friends to join in on the thrill ride.
Why would you have to travel back in time 55 years? You can upset a LOT of people at the racetrack in 2024 with a factory Model S Plaid!
Hmmm, what a dilemma. Buy my lifelong dream car, a driver quality (but still nice enough to enter local car shows), Tri-five Chevy, or a slightly used, very clean, Tesla S Plaid that can outrun most street legal cars. I’m torn.