Cd 0.208 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid

[aerohead]

Cd shared this at another forum today.
The car hit 200-mph, 0-60 in 1.9-seconds, 390-miles range, 1020-hp.
For 2021, the Model S received changes at the front facia / lower splitter, panoramic glass roof, new wheel design, new diffuser, wider side skirts, flared wheel arches, and Plaid version has a new rear duckbill spoiler.
She now holds the title of lowest drag production sedan.
Lightyear One is advertised at lower drag, however, it's tires probably limit its utility / performance.
We can wait and see if Porsche can 'see' Tesla with their Taycan Turbo, and then, raise the ante even higher.
If the US DOT ever allows for synthetic vision, allowing the loss of side mirrors, cars like Model S will immediately fall to Cd 0.19, saving Giga-Watts each year.

[redpoint5]

I hope this drives used values down to the point I'm tempted to get one.

[mort]

Originally Posted by aerohead

The car hit 200-mph, 0-60 in 1.9-seconds, 390-miles range, 1020-hp.

Online calculators estimate 0-60 times of around 1.9 seconds for electric drive with 1000 hp and 5000 lb curb weight
But - assuming 25 sq ft frontal area, the ecomodder mpg estimator only requires 308 hp to reach 200 mph. It seems the top speed of the plaid+ should be much higher. This top speed to power calculator suggests 300 mph.
-mort

[Piotrsko]

Yes but remember that electric motors suffer from back EMF as the motor speed increases reducing available torque and hp.

[Cd]

Aerohead, where did you find pictures of the updated car ?
I'm seeing lots of artists' renderings online, but on Tesla.com the car doesn't look drastically different.

The main difference I see right away is an integrated splitter below the front bumper area, wheel curtains like the Model 3, and flared fenders.

[Hersbird]

But if the widened the car they may not have really lost much in overall drag. If it's anything like that widebody they were testing I bet it's a wash.

[freebeard]

Piotrsko: Buried Permanent Magnet motors don't suffer at higher RPMs.

[RedDevil]

The new S isn't drastically different, but the little changes do a lot.
Like the slots in the corners of the front bumper, presumably for an air curtain in the front wheel well.

For comparison: my Insight has a Cd of .28, while the very similarly dimensioned Hyundai Ioniq has a Cd of .24. Crazy no?
It all comes down to little details like the air curtains (there too) and tweaks from more time in the wind tunnel and better CFD.

About the top speed. They can make it faster, but shouldn't.
Going faster than 200 mph in an EV makes no sense, as the time gained doing that would be more than lost in recharging times even at extreme charging speeds.
Safety wise it makes no sense either. It would still be a car, not a Formula 1 racer that can brake with 6G; without added downforce it would still take at least 6 seconds to come to a standstill, and it travel almost 300 meters during braking. If you take a second to react to spotting a potential danger, it better be over a quarter mile away or you're bound to hit it.

[Ecky]

Top speed could be gearing / max motor RPM limited.

[Piotrsko]

Top speed is more probably back EMF limited