What it’s like to drive in Tesla’s ‘Insane’ mode
Before this account, I had never driven a Tesla – or any other electric vehicle – before. I was curious what the hype was about.
Well, now I know. It’s insane.
The first thing I noticed when I entered the Tesla Model S was the enormous, 17-inch touchscreen console, which is about one and a half times the size of an iPad. From here, drivers can operate the car’s navigation and infotainment system. The display is also surrounded by a very attractive interior that includes Nappa leather and a sleek panel design.
The console can also modify key settings, including the car’s suspension height and its two different driving modes, Sport and Insane.
Let’s cut to the chase: Tesla’s Insane mode lives up to its namesake.
I first experienced it as a passenger when my coworker, Matt, pulled on to the onramp of I-93 North. Leaving enough room between our car and the car ahead of us, Matt hit the gas (er, sorry, accelerator) and we could immediately feel the car’s power.
It jolted at such a speed that our mounted camera fell off the dashboard. Inside the cabin, I felt like I was sitting in a jumbo jet barreling down the runway. The power from the car’s battery can be felt in the chest cavity and it’s a sensation that doesn’t want to quit.
While the Tesla is a powerful performance machine, it’s not an attention-grabbing vehicle like a Lamborghini or a Maserati. It’s sedan shape gives the car a more subtle appeal.
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But as we stopped at a red light, it was hard to ignore the stares as pedestrians moved across the crosswalk. Some took a few seconds to linger. Subtle, maybe. But invisible, definitely not!
We were in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood when I got my chance behind the wheel. It was my first time driving an electric car and I was very curious to see how it handled. More to the point, I wanted my turn at driving in “Insane’’ mode.
As we pulled into traffic, one of the first things I noticed was how quiet the car is. This may have a lot to do with having fewer moving parts than a traditional combustible car engine. I’ve driven a car that runs on hydrogen only, and sound level from this car rivals that experience.
The second thing I felt was a slightly sluggish feeling when I eased up on the accelerator. It’s as if the car was braking, even though my foot was far away from the brake pedal. This was the Tesla’s regenerative brakes at work, which redirect energy from the car’s motion back into the battery to sustain its range.
Finally, we arrived at a part of Jamaica Plain near the Arnold Arboretum and I had enough open road ahead of me to put “Insane’’ mode to a proper test.
According to Telsa’s website, the Model S has 221 horsepower from the front engine and a total of 470 horsepower with rear motor power.
I hit the accelerator and suddenly the Tesla felt like a rocket. I could feel my heart pounding as we bolted down the open road. Matt held down the mounted camera so it didn’t fly off the dashboard again.
Because we were still in an urban environment, I didn’t want to push my luck with “Insane’’ mode. Tesla says the Model S gets a top speed of 155 miles her hour, but it felt like 200 behind the wheel well before I hit that speed.
While “Insane’’ mode allowed me to feel the car’s power, I’m surprised how much control I was able to maintain while pushing the car’s speed. At no point did I need to slam the brakes to regain control, because as I let up on the accelerator the regenerative brakes kicked in to ease the car to a more relaxed speed.
We wrapped up our test drive and I was still excited from the “Insane’’ mode sensation. I already knew when I got back to driving my traditional gas-only car, a feeling of disenchantment awaited me.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 2015 Tesla Model S is $69,900. But our test vehicle, the P85D, has an 85 kWh battery with high performance all-wheel drive that brings the price closer to $133,000.
One of the drawbacks about driving the Model S is the 17-inch center console display. The display comes in very handy and includes voice-activation technology, to avoid distracted habits. The navigation also appears behind the driving wheel so drivers don’t have to look away from the road. But because of the console’s unusual size it’s very hard to not keep glancing at it, which defeats its purpose.
Tesla has made quite an impressive driving machine with the Model S. But Tesla’s automotive advancements have also led CEO Elon Musk to predict the end of legalized human driving as we know it sometime in the future. After driving around in a car like the Model S, it’s sad to think humans may not be allowed to experience driving it someday. Oh well, Tesla giveth and Tesla taketh away.
While the Tesla is a fun car to drive, there are other affordable sedans out there for speed-demons and thrill-seekers.
Speed-demon sedans for sports-car lovers
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