Quick Facts About Ludicrous Mode
- In 2016, Tesla introduced Ludicrous Mode as the ultimate performance version of the Model S and Model X.
- Tesla brought out the even quicker Ludicrous Plus Mode in 2017.
- Ludicrous as a measure of speed was introduced in the 1987 Mel Brooks film “Spaceballs.”
- Tesla discontinued Ludicrous Mode and Ludicrous Plus Mode for the 2022 model year.
Elon Musk and his Tesla brand were having a little fun when they named the high-performance setting of early Tesla models Ludicrous Mode and Ludicrous Plus Mode.
Tesla lifted Ludicrous Mode as a performance plateau directly from the 1987 Mel Brooks “Star Wars” parody “Spaceballs.” As the bad guys prepare to chase down the heroes in space, they bypass Light and Ridiculous speeds in favor of, gasp, Ludicrous speed.
Not surprisingly, the villain’s vessel overshoots the heroes when it accidentally reaches Plaid speed. “They’ve gone to Plaid,” one hero utters in wonder as the villain ship shoots by, engulfing them in a tartan jet stream.
At one point, Tesla had planned to supplant its Ludicrous and Ludicrous Plus designations in the Model S and Model X with Plaid and Plaid Plus. However, Tesla never traveled farther than Plaid as its maximum performance package, scrapping the idea for an even quicker Plaid Plus. Tesla did develop a Track Mode software enhancement, which we discuss in more detail below.
Tesla discontinued Ludicrous and Ludicrous Plus with the model year 2022 but continues with the Plaid designation for Model S and Model X higher performance versions. The Model 3 and Model Y get Performance models.
However, used examples of the Model S and Model X from 2016 until the updated 2022 Plaid editions live on with the Ludicrous and Ludicrous Plus modes. These modes demonstrate that obtaining extra power and quickness in battery-powered electric vehicles isn’t always about boosting battery capacity. Tesla engineers discovered a way to squeeze out more performance with the existing battery pack.
What Is Ludicrous Mode?
Ludicrous Mode debuted in 2016 on the Model S sedan and Model X SUV as an increased-performance level. The boost comes from software enhancements plus a piece or two of hardware. Whether or not your 2016-2021 Model S or Model X features Ludicrous Mode, the battery array is the same.
Tesla achieved its extra burst of power by increasing the current drawn from the battery and fed to the electric motors. More juice flowing to the motors equals more energy, which enables explosive acceleration.
What Is Ludicrous Plus Mode?
Arriving in 2017, Ludicrous Plus Mode maximizes speed by heating the battery to its optimum temperature. If the car has been running, this process might take a few minutes. The process might require an hour or more if it has been sitting idle for a while. Ludicrous Plus replaced the “Max Power” setting on older versions of the Model S and Model X. Think of Ludicrous Plus as Tesla’s track-ready feature. Here’s why.
When you engage Ludicrous Plus, not only does it enable Max Battery Power, but also Launch Mode. Launch Mode delivers even more robust off-the-line acceleration.
How to Turn on Tesla Ludicrous Plus Mode
- Activating Ludicrous Plus Mode is as simple as tapping the “Ludicrous Plus” button on the touchscreen. Achieving the quickest acceleration times then requires activating Launch Mode.
How to Turn on Launch Mode
- Fully depress the brake pedal
- Watch for the message that the battery has reached its optimal temperature
- Release the brake pedal
Tesla discourages drivers from operating in Ludicrous Plus Mode for extended periods. It warns of extra wear on the motors and other systems.
The Model S can dash from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds in Ludicrous Mode. If that isn’t quite fast enough, Tesla says with Ludicrous Plus Mode, it can reach 60 mph in 2.3 seconds.
What Is Tesla Plaid Mode?
Plaid is the performance grade for the Model S and Model X from 2022 to the current models. Unlike Ludicrous and Ludicrous Plus, which offer a burst of extra power, Plaid’s maximum thrust is always available.
As with the Ludicrous and Ludicrous Plus modes of yore, the Plaid grade doesn’t gain additional performance by increasing battery size.
Instead, it does so by adding a third electric motor.
In the movie, Plaid is even quicker than Ludicrous Mode, which plays out in reality. The 2020 Model S with Ludicrous Plus Mode sprints to 60 mph in the aforementioned 2.3 seconds. Tesla says the Plaid’s sprint to 60 mph requires a mere 1.99 seconds.
What Is Tesla Plaid Drag Strip Mode?
Helping achieve the quick 0-60 times of the Model S and Model X Plaid variants is Plaid Drag Strip Mode, which is more widely known as “launch control.” It maximizes thrust when accelerating from a standstill. Similar launch-control technology appears on other high-performance models like the Dodge Charger Hellcat. Engaging Plaid launch control is rather simple. Here’s how.
- Access the Menu screen
- Select the Controls icon
- Tap “Pedals & Steering”
- Select “Plaid” under “Acceleration”
- And then “Drag Strip” Mode below “Plaid”
- Patiently wait for the “Peak Performance Is Ready” message (this can take some time, depending on battery temperature)
- Once the message appears, fully depress the brake pedal
- Fully depress the accelerator pedal, initiating a lowering of the front suspension (five to 10 seconds)
- Watch for the “Ready to launch” message
- Remove your foot from the brake pedal
- Hang on
Claiming a current Model X Plaid will set you back $86,090. That price is $17,500 more than the standard Model X, which is good for a 0 to 60 time of 2.5 seconds. Tesla is also marketing today’s Model S Plaid for $86,090. That’s $15,000 more than the standard Model S. The Model S Plaid is good for a 1.99-second sprint from 0 to 60.
What Is Tesla Track Mode?
The Tesla Track Mode is an over-the-air (OTA) update, maximizing handling capabilities, available for the top-performance versions of each Tesla model. In other words, it can be added to the Model S Plaid, Model X Plaid, Model 3 Performance, and Model Y Performance variants.
Having no impact whatsoever on acceleration, Track Mode enhances stability and handling to maximize lap times on a racetrack. It achieves this by the following:
Optimized Powertrain Cooling: Driving on a track increases the heat generated by the battery and electric motors. Track Mode manages that extra heat when activated by cooling the batteries and motors. Furthermore, it increases the regenerative braking, re-capturing more energy during deceleration, reducing the load on the friction brakes, and providing the driver with more controllability with one-pedal driving.
Lateral Torque Vectoring: With a motor controlling each axle, increasing and decreasing the torque of the front and rear motors improves cornering. For example, the rear motor torque increases going into a corner and pushes the nose into the turn, while increasing the front motor torque coming out of a turn helps straighten the car. A third motor in models with Plaid Mode means each rear wheel has its own motor. This allows full torque vectoring across the rear wheels. This further increases steering response and improves stability and cornering speed as the torque increases on the outside wheel and decreases on the inside wheel.
Adjustable Vehicle Dynamics: Sensors keep track of inputs like brake-pedal pressure, steering angle, and so forth. Then, the system increases and decreases motor torque to help keep the vehicle on the driver’s intended path. Think of it as an advanced stability control system.
Adaptive Suspension Damping: When in Track Mode, the adaptive suspension becomes more aggressive to minimize pitch during hard braking and acceleration, quicken response time, and maintain a lower vehicle driving height once set.
Moreover, Track Mode includes a track-focused user interface, providing performance data like a thermals monitor, lap timer, G-meter, dash camera, and more.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since it was originally published.
So ludicrous+ was plaid before plaid?