2021 Tesla Model S price and specs

Tesla has given its oldest car a significant update.

UPDATE, 2:00pm 11/06/21 – Tesla has revealed full details for the Model S Plaid, and confirmed the death of the Plaid+. This story has been updated accordingly.

The Model Shas been overhauled inside for 2021, with a new screen inspired by the Model 3, a new digital dashboard, and a radical new steering wheel.

The range has two options, headlined by the new Plaid that, with a tri-motor powertrain, is even faster than the already face-meltingly quick Ludicrous.

Tesla initially planned an even faster Plaid+, but pulled the plug a week ahead of its planned launch.

Tesla says it has added the new heat pump from the Model 3 and Model Y to improve range in cold weather.

Orders placed now are expected to arrive in Australia during 2022.

Pricing

• 2021 Tesla Model S Long Range: $129,990 ($154,310 drive-away)
• 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid: $174,990 ($215,150 d/a)

All prices exclude on-road costsunless otherwise specified.

Engine and Range

There are two powertrains on offer in the Model S.

The first is a dual-motor setup good for a claimed 3.2-second sprint to 100km/h.

Claimed range is 663km on the more generous NEDC test cycle, and peak power is 500kW.

Moving to the Plaid adds a third motor, and drops the 100km/h sprint time to just 2.1 seconds and the quarter mile time to just 9.23 seconds.

Tesla says it has 761kW of power, but doesn’t quote a torque figure. Claimed range is 628km.

Tesla doesn’t publicly quote battery sizes, however the pre-update Model S Long Range featured a 95kWh battery, and the Performance packed a 100kWh unit.

Dimensions

Tesla says the pre-update Model S measures 4979mm long, 1964mm wide and 1445mm tall, with a 2960mm wheelbase.

Given this is a facelift, don’t expect the dimensions to change dramatically for 2021.

Boot space is a claimed 793L across the front boot (or frunk) and the boot beneath the liftback.

Servicing

The Tesla Model S is backed by a four-year, 80,000km warranty on its mechanicals and an eight-year, 240,000km warranty to guard against battery degradation.

Given it has very few moving parts, there isn’t much maintenance required on the Model S.

Tesla recommends having the air-conditioning filters changed every two years, and checking the tyre tread, balance, and rotation every 20,000km.

Safety

The Model S has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, and has been lauded in the USA for its impressive crash performance. 

All 2021 Tesla Model S models come standard with front airbags, plus side and curtain airbags. Other standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control 
• Lane-keeping assist 
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Autonomous emergency braking 
• Reversing camera
• Surround-view camera 

Thanks to regenerative braking, the brake pads and discs require work less frequently than in internal-combustion vehicles.

However the Model S will need to have brake fluid checked every two years, and the pads and discs lubricated every 12 months in colder climes. 

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment on the 2021 Model S Long Range includes: 

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Black leather seats 
• Woodgrain console and dashboard trim 
• Premium audio 
• Heated seats for all passengers 
• Cooled front seats
• HEPA air filters 
• Satellite navigation 
• Live traffic updates
• In-car music/media streaming 
• Tinted glass roof 
• Auto-dimming mirrors 
• Power-folding mirrors 

Moving to the Plaid brings: 

• Carbon fibre interior trim  
• Torque vectoring
• Carbon-sleeved rotors

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