It’s pretty amazing that Tesla can upgrade not just the capabilities, but also the performance of its electric cars just by beaming across a software update to them over the air.
Its latest trick is to make the P100D variants of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV go faster than they already do. Both cars will see a tenth of a second shaved off their 0-60 mph acceleration times.
Looks like the Model S P100D Easter egg will allow it to do 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 sec and a 10.6 sec 1/4 mile via software update next month
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 16, 2016
As Bloomberg notes, the update will see the high-end $135,000 Model S beat out much more expensive supercars, like the $2.25 million Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the $1.42 million Ferrari LaFerrari.
The <3 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Owners will be able to experience the upgraded performance by engaging Ludicrous mode in their cars; it’ll apply to both new and previously manufactured P100D models.
That’s certainly worth updating your car’s firmware for. A previous easter egg from the company allowed drivers to turn the graphic representation of their car in the in-dash control system into James Bond’s submersible Lotus from the 1977 movie, ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. Another turned the road in Tesla’s lane indication display into a Rainbow Road, a la Mario Kart – complete with cowbell audio.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.