Test Driving Tesla’s Ludicrous Speed: A Jolt of Electric Insanity
By Green Living Guy Staff
There are moments in driving that redefine everything you’ve known about motion. One of those moments—possibly the most unforgettable—arrives the instant you press the accelerator of a Tesla Model S P90D set to Ludicrous Mode. In that brief but electrifying launch, Tesla’s electric powertrain does something few gasoline engines can: it obliterates your expectations of what a car can feel like.
This wasn’t just a test drive. It was a recalibration of reality.
Instant Torque, Zero Apology
The Model S P90D is a sleek, all-electric luxury sedan that looks like it could be parked at a law office or a tech campus. But beneath its clean, understated lines lies a beast. Equipped with Tesla’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive system and a 90 kWh battery pack, the P90D generates a staggering 762 horsepower.
Yet what separates it from anything else on the road is the Ludicrous Mode setting—a performance feature buried in Tesla’s touchscreen menus. Once activated, it unlocks the car’s full launch potential, shaving the 0 to 60 mph time down to a breathless 2.8 seconds.
Let that sink in. A four-door sedan—one that weighs over 4,800 pounds—can out-accelerate most Ferraris and Lamborghinis. And it does so in eerie, ghostly silence.
The Launch: A Physics Experiment
Press the pedal, and it’s not a gradual surge. It’s a warp-speed event. Your body compresses into the seat. Your head snaps back. The scenery blurs. For those first few seconds, it’s more rollercoaster than car. The acceleration is linear, clean, and instantaneous—thanks to the direct-drive nature of electric motors.
There’s no gear change. No engine roar. No lag. Just torque. Relentless, uninterrupted torque.
A fellow passenger let out a half-laugh, half-gasp. “That’s not driving,” he said. “That’s teleportation.”
He wasn’t far off.
Handling the Power
Fortunately, the P90D’s engineers anticipated the need to keep this wild force grounded. The car’s low center of gravity, thanks to its floor-mounted battery, gives it an incredibly planted feel through corners. Steering is responsive, with adjustable settings for comfort or sport.
Even under aggressive throttle, the car remains composed—never jittery or unpredictable. The dual-motor setup sends power where it’s needed, helping the car hold lines with quiet confidence.
Braking is equally impressive. The regenerative system feeds energy back to the battery while providing smooth deceleration, and the physical brakes step in seamlessly when needed.
Luxury Interior, Futuristic Controls
Inside, the Model S is more spaceship than sedan. The minimalist cabin is dominated by a 17-inch touchscreen, controlling everything from air conditioning to suspension settings. The display is crisp, responsive, and surprisingly intuitive.
Seats are comfortable and well-bolstered, though not overly plush. The P90D isn’t a luxury barge—it’s a performance machine first, with a premium layer wrapped around it.
That said, it’s still Tesla. You get creature comforts like a high-end audio system, panoramic glass roof, and over-the-air software updates that can make your car better while it sits in the driveway.
Ludicrous!
The EV Curveball
Driving the P90D is a reminder that electric vehicles aren’t just about saving the planet. They’re about changing the driving experience altogether. There’s no rumble of internal combustion. No vibration. No shifting.
In Ludicrous Mode, the car behaves more like an electric jet than a street-legal sedan. And it does all this with zero tailpipe emissions.
Of course, this kind of performance comes at a cost. When new, the P90D’s price hovered around $115,000. Range anxiety still lingers in some minds, even though the car offers over 250 miles of range per charge.
Still, the experience is undeniable—and addictive.
Final Thoughts
After the drive, stepping into a gas-powered car felt like returning to analog from digital. It was a reminder that we’re not just watching the future of mobility unfold. We’re driving it.
The Tesla Model S P90D in Ludicrous Mode isn’t just a car. It’s a statement. A disruption. A fully electric hammer blow to the supercar status quo. And if you’re lucky enough to drive one, be prepared. It’ll ruin almost everything else.
