Images: Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
The 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid was a sedan produced from 2021 to 2024. It features a tri motor (permanent magnet, carbon-sleeved rotors) AWD powertrain. EPA-rated range is 396 miles with 115 MPGe. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds. Top speed is 200 mph. Manufactured at Fremont, CA.
The Plaid is, by the numbers, one of the fastest production sedans ever built. Three permanent magnet motors with carbon-sleeved rotors deliver 1,020 horsepower and a 1.99-second 0-60 (with rollout subtracted). Tesla developed the carbon-wrapped rotor technology specifically for the Plaid, allowing the motors to spin at higher RPMs without flying apart.
It debuted at a delivery event in June 2021 where Elon Musk drove one down a drag strip. The Plaid holds a 7:25.231 Nurburgring lap time for production electric sedans. A planned "Plaid+" with a 200+ kWh structural battery was canceled before production. The tri-motor Plaid turned out to be enough.
- First Plaid: tri-motor 1,020 HP and 1.99s 0-60 mph (with rollout)
- Top speed raised to 200 mph with track-package brakes/tires
- New 9,800-rpm carbon-sleeved rotor design
- Yoke steering wheel (round wheel later offered as a no-cost option)
- Horizontal 17" center display, rear gaming display, AMD Ryzen MCU
| 19" Tempest | 396 mi |
| 21" Arachnid | 348 mi |
| Peak DC Fast | 250 kW |
| DC Fast 10-80% | ~27 min |
| AC Onboard Charger | 11.5 kW |
| Home L2 (full charge) | ~8.7 hrs |
| Connector | NACS (retrofittable) |
| Model Years | 2021–2024 |
| Model | Tesla Model S |
| Variant | Plaid |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Generation | Model S (Palladium) |
| Body Type | Sedan |
| Seats | 5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Motor(s) | Tri Motor (Permanent Magnet, carbon-sleeved rotors) |
| Battery Capacity | 100 kWh |
| EPA Range | 396 miles |
| MPGe | 115 |
| Efficiency | 29 kWh/100mi |
| 0-60 mph | 1.99 sec |
| Top Speed | 200 mph |
| Horsepower (est.) | 1,020 HP |
| Curb Weight | 4,828 lbs |
| Cargo Volume | 28 cu ft |
| Length | 197" |
| Width | 77.3" |
| Height | 56.9" |
| Wheelbase | 116.5" |
| Production Start | 2021-06 |
| Production End | 2024-12 |
| Autopilot | Autopilot standard, FSD optional |
| Factory | Fremont, CA |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Battery & Drive Unit | 8 years / 150,000 miles |
- Sub-2-second 0-60
- 1,020 HP
- Carbon-sleeved rotors
- Tri-motor
- 200 mph top speed