Tesla Model S refresh features 520-mile radical steering yoke

During his earnings announcement in the fourth quarter On Wednesday, Tesla surprised everyone by introducing the long-awaited refreshment for its Model S sedan. (The Model X SUV also got major updates.) The Model S has a new front bumper on the outside with slightly different air inlets, a custom rear distributor and new 19- and 21-inch wheel designs. All the exterior is now finished in black to match the Model Y, but the paint color palette remains the same, with white as the only free option.

However, the revamped interior is the star of the show. It has been completely redesigned, which is the first major update of Model S, since its debut in 2012. It has a large 17-inch central screen, much like that of Model 3 and Y, but the orientation has changed – it is rather horizontal of portrait. The S also retains a 12.3-inch digital benchmark for the driver. Tesla says the new center screen is basically a gaming computer with 10 teraflops of processing power, and the released images show that it uses the popular RPG game Witcher 3.

The most radical is the new steering wheel. It’s not a wheel anymore, but rather looks like a yoke from Star Wars or Knight Rider. There are also no stalks, which means that the turn signals, lights and other typical features are now controlled by touch buttons on the ‘wheel’.

There is more carbon fiber or wood finish covering parts of the dashboard and door panels, and the door cards have been redesigned and apparently contain much-needed extra storage space. The new center console also has more storage space and looks much nicer, and it has wireless charging for multiple devices. The rear seats look more shaped and have a new armrest that can be folded up with the headrests. Rear seat passengers get an 8-inch screen that offers the same infotainment and gaming features as the main screen, and it even works with wireless game controllers. The Model S has three-zone climate control, a sound system with 22 speakers, heated seating all around (and ventilated front seats), ambient lighting and a glass roof as standard. White, black and beige remain the only interior color options.

The Model S is now available in three different specifications. The $ 79,990 long-distance version has two cars and four-wheel drive, with Tesla offering a 3 to 2 second time of 0 to 60 km / h, a top speed of 155 km / h and a range of 412 miles. The $ 119,990 Plaid gets a third car, “carbon sleeve rotors” and torque vectors. The Plaid has 1,020 horsepower and boasts between 0 and 60 seconds (Tesla) technical says 1.99 seconds), a top speed of 200 km / h and a distance of 390 miles.

Then there is the $ 139,990 Plaid Plus, which is the real case. Tesla says it has more than 1100 hp and will reach 60 mph in less than 2 seconds. It also offers a quarter mile time of less than 9 seconds, a top speed of 200 km per hour and a range of more than 520 miles. Tesla also says the Model S is now the most aerodynamic production engine in the world, a claim likely to be met by the Plaid Plus model

The only option other than color, decoration and wheels is Tesla’s complete self-driving range of driver assistance systems, which costs $ 10,000. (Tesla’s basic autopilot setup is standard.) The updated Model S is now available to order, and Tesla says the estimated deliveries for the long-range and checkered models will begin in March. If you want the Plaid Plus model, wait until late 2021.

Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel

See all photos