All-wheel-drive coming to Tesla Model S? Maybe.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said in the past that , which led us to speculate that one would likely be an all-wheel-drive version built using the dual-motor setup previewed in the . Since both cars are spun from the same underlying structure, installing the Model X鈥檚 all-wheel-drive system in the Model S should be a no-brainer for the Californian electric car startup.
Now , citing an inside source, is reporting that the all-wheel-drive Model S is a sure thing and that the car may be launched as early as next year. Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] is likely to initially offer it on its range-topping P85 trim and, depending on demand, may extend it across the range.
All-wheel drive would improve the car鈥檚 popularity in the Northern states, where winter driving demands extra traction for performance-oriented vehicles. It鈥檚 one of the reasons Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 go-fast division AMG is gradually switching its full lineup to all-wheel-drive cars and Jaguar is offering the option for the first time on its and sedans.
If you鈥檙e a performance fan, which you must be since you鈥檙e reading Motor Authority, you鈥檙e probably wondering what the extra traction could do for the Model S鈥� acceleration times (we've seen one do ). Hopefully we won鈥檛 have to wait too long to find out.
