What is Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode? How does it affect performance? Which members of Tesla’s lineup even have it? These are all popular questions that come to mind when thinking about the speed and 0-60 times of Tesla vehicles.

And there’s no doubt that at some point during your search down the rabbit hole of Tesla speed and performance, you’ve likely seen 0-60 mph acceleration times that were achieved only “with Ludicrous Mode enabled.” But what does this really mean? And now that Tesla has had Plaid cars for years, does Ludicrous Mode still matter?

In order to help you understand everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode, we’re covering it today in our popular Tesla Features Explained blog series!

First, a bit of background…

Tesla got the name for this feature from the 1987 cult-classic spoof film Spaceballs (and if you’d like to see 80s star Rick Moranis holding on for dear life while his ship tears through space, this is the film for you). At its most basic, Ludicrous Mode is the extra power boost that gave certain Performance Model S and Model X vehicles a supercar-quality, rib-crushing forward jolt that will either leave you squashed into your seat with a huge grin on your face or leave you wanting your mommy.

In a nutshell, the already absurdly fast acceleration time of a Tesla got even faster when the battery was at just the right temperature and the output was regulated for speed over endurance. Ludicrous Mode was the king of Tesla acceleration for years. Then Plaid showed up and made the whole thing even more ridiculous.

Is it absolutely necessary to have an awesome drag strip time when all you need to do is commute or pick up groceries? Well, no, but half the fun of owning a Tesla is in being able to push the limits of what an electric car can do. If you think about it that way, Ludicrous Mode is practically an essential function when available.

Quick note for anyone shopping today: Ludicrous Mode is mostly a legacy Model S and Model X feature now. If you’re looking at newer high-performance Teslas, you’re more likely to see Plaid, Drag Strip Mode, Track Mode, or general Performance trim language instead of “Ludicrous Mode.” That doesn’t make Ludicrous any less awesome. It just means the naming has changed.

Let’s take a look through some of the most important performance features Ludicrous Mode has to offer, why you won’t find it as a normal add-on in newer Tesla production anymore, which Teslas have this incredible option, how Plaid changed the conversation, and where you can find the best deals on a Ludicrous-enabled used Tesla.

Tesla Ludicrous Mode 0-60 Time, Price, and Other Awesome Specs

Tesla first introduced Ludicrous Mode to the public in 2015. A change in some of the battery pack’s materials and a fresh design of the fuse that regulated battery output enabled Tesla to include the Ludicrous acceleration boost on the new 90 kWh Performance trim, the Model S P90D.

This change reduced the Model S’s best 0-60 mph acceleration time from a cool 3.2 seconds to a then jaw-dropping 2.8 seconds. Tesla offered a retrofit on the P85D at half price ($10,000 USD), allowing previous buyers to take part in the 2.8-second acceleration and reducing their quarter mile time to just 10.9 seconds.

The Model S P90D and P100D with Ludicrous made the jump to 60 mph in roughly 2.6 and 2.5 seconds, respectively, depending on year, launch setup, tires, battery temperature, state of charge, and testing method.

In 2016, the Model X joined the Tesla fleet and the Ludicrous Mode market (because if you can add crazy acceleration to a luxury SUV, why wouldn’t you?). While the Model S P85D, P90D, and P100D with Ludicrous Mode were making 0-60 mph acceleration times in the 2.5-2.8 second range and the quarter mile at about 10.8 seconds, the Model X P90D and P100D with Ludicrous managed 0-60 in roughly 3 seconds and the quarter mile in about 11.7 seconds. Fast enough for you and your cargo? We think Han Solo would approve.

In 2017-2019, as Tesla started dropping battery size options out of the lineup, Ludicrous Mode could mainly be found on Performance versions of the Model S and Model X, especially P90D, P100D, and later Performance variants.

To sum up, Ludicrous Mode was first available on the Model S P90D and as a retrofit for some earlier P85D vehicles, then continued as a major performance feature on Model S and Model X Performance cars. At one point, it could be a very expensive option, with pricing reaching around $20,000. Later, Tesla rolled the capability into Performance trims rather than treating it like a separate add-on.

The best pre-Plaid Model S Performance cars with Ludicrous/launch modes could get to 60 mph in the low-to-mid 2-second range under the right conditions. The Model X Performance was slower than the Model S, but still outrageously quick for a big SUV.

Then came Plaid.

What Happened to Ludicrous Mode After Tesla Plaid?

Plaid effectively replaced Ludicrous as Tesla’s top performance identity. When Tesla launched the refreshed Model S Plaid, the headline number became a claimed 1.99-second 0-60 mph time under Tesla’s rollout-subtracted conditions. Model X Plaid followed as the even-more-absurd SUV version, with Tesla advertising a 2.5-second 0-60 mph time.

That means Ludicrous Mode did not exactly “go away” in spirit. It was more like Tesla moved past the Ludicrous era and into the Plaid era. Instead of buying a Model S or Model X Performance with Ludicrous Mode, the fastest newer versions became Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid.

There are a few important distinctions here:

  • Ludicrous Mode is primarily associated with older Performance Model S and Model X vehicles.
  • Ludicrous+ and related launch settings were part of getting maximum performance from those cars.
  • Plaid is the newer high-performance powertrain family that replaced the old Ludicrous-era Model S/X performance hierarchy.
  • Drag Strip Mode on newer performance Teslas helps condition the battery and vehicle systems for hard launches.
  • Track Mode is a separate performance feature focused more on track driving, handling, cooling, stability, and power delivery than one straight-line launch.

For someone shopping used, this distinction matters. A P100D with Ludicrous is still an incredibly fast car. A Model S Plaid is faster. A Model X Plaid is faster than the old Ludicrous Model X. But the old Ludicrous cars have their own appeal because they represent one of the most iconic Tesla performance eras.

How Can You Tell if a Tesla Has Ludicrous Mode?

Now that you know what Ludicrous is and how it performs, how can you tell if any given Tesla has it?

If you’re trying to find a Tesla with Ludicrous Mode enabled, sometimes you’ll see a trim line listed with an L at the end, such as P90DL or P100DL. If you haven’t already guessed, that L is for Ludicrous Mode.

Not every Tesla Performance car before 2019 had the Ludicrous feature. For the ones that did, Tesla offered or installed a shiny little car badge upgrade with an underline (e.g., P90D) on the back of the car. Heads up, though: badges can be missing, changed, added, or wrong. You can absolutely find a used Tesla with Ludicrous Mode that did not get the badge upgrade, and you can also find cars where the rear badge does not tell the whole story.

The best way to determine if the Tesla you are looking at has Ludicrous is through the vehicle’s touchscreen menu and acceleration settings. You can also look for documentation, original build info, service records, screenshots from the car, or confirmation from Tesla where available. In most instances, though? We’re willing to bet that the current owner of the car knows whether or not Ludicrous Mode is an option on their Tesla. Wouldn’t you?

(And if you haven’t seen some of the Tesla Ludicrous Mode acceleration/launch reactions, we highly recommend checking them out!)

So, What is Ludicrous+? Or Ludicrous+ Warp Speed?

Ludicrous+ and Ludicrous+ Warp Speed are two more rungs on the Ludicrous ladder of performance. It’s absolutely worth noting that the way Ludicrous Mode is used affects the actual acceleration and quarter-mile times. To achieve the best performance, the Tesla’s battery does have to be at a favorable temperature (you can’t get max power from a cold battery) and a high state of charge, and the car needs to be set to Ludicrous+ Mode, which ups the temperature of the battery and the output from the motors even further.

Then, since the best performance from a Tesla is not necessarily the best for a Tesla long-term, Tesla added one more step to the maximum Ludicrous setup: the Warp Speed easter egg. Once Warp Speed is chosen through the touchscreen menu, the instrumentation will show an extra amount of battery heat that isn’t great for the battery over the long term but allows the max power output of the car to go up just enough to add one final boost of power. At that point, you are operating outside the recommended comfort zone of the vehicle, but your ability to perform a face-warping launch is at its peak.

All this rocketing around does take a toll on the battery, the motors, tires, brakes, and drivetrain components. Tesla has called this “accelerated wear and tear.” Exactly what this wear and tear is per launch hasn’t been made particularly clear, but it’s safe to assume that repeated hard launches are harder on the car than normal driving. What defines excessive use? That’s also been a highly debatable point, but a car that has spent its whole life doing party-trick launches at every stoplight is not the same thing as a gently driven cruiser.

Ludicrous Model S vs. Model X—Which is Better/Faster?

While the Model X is one of the fastest SUVs of its era, its weight and height keep it from comparing favorably to the sport sedan styling of the Model S. The Model S with Ludicrous accelerates faster and performs better over the quarter mile than the Model X, but that’s not really a surprise. The real surprise is that while the Model S is always out front in a Ludicrous Mode race, the Model X isn’t that far behind.

A better comparison of the two Ludicrous Mode options would be by the purpose of the driver. Do you want to be the fastest on the freeway? Pick a Model S with Ludicrous Mode. Do you want to terrify your carpool buddies while carrying a ridiculous amount of cargo? Pick a Model X (but you probably should cut down on the cargo, because that extra weight does slow you down).

If you move into Plaid territory, the same basic relationship applies. Model S Plaid is the quicker, lower, more performance-focused car. Model X Plaid is the wildly fast family/cargo/people-hauling version. Both are ridiculous. One is just more ridiculous.

What’s more important than knowing whether the Model X or Model S is faster? Remembering that your steaming hot coffee isn’t wearing a seatbelt when you floor the accelerator. Always batten the hatches and secure the cargo before things get Ludicrous.

Can You Order Ludicrous Mode on the Model 3 or Model Y?

Nope! While both of these vehicles have had Performance versions, they don’t use the old Ludicrous Mode package name or the old Model S/X Ludicrous setup.

That doesn’t mean Model 3 or Model Y Performance cars are slow. Far from it. The Model 3 Performance and Model Y Performance have been embarrassingly quick compared with most normal gas cars, and newer performance versions continue to offer serious acceleration without needing a Ludicrous badge. But if you specifically want Ludicrous Mode, you’re looking at legacy Model S and Model X Performance cars, not Model 3 or Model Y.

Putting it in perspective, the 2021 Model 3 Performance could hit 0-60 mph in about 3.1 seconds without the option for Ludicrous Mode, which is more than enough to make any unsuspecting passenger giddy. Newer Model 3/Y Performance variants may use different naming, batteries, motors, software, and launch behavior, but the bottom line is the same: they’re very quick, just not Ludicrous.

Is Ludicrous Mode Still Worth It in 2026?

Yes, but the answer depends on what you’re buying.

If you’re shopping older Model S or Model X Performance cars, Ludicrous Mode is still a very cool feature to have. It helps separate the special performance cars from the merely fast ones, and it’s one of those classic Tesla party tricks that helped build the brand’s reputation for EV performance.

That said, Ludicrous Mode is no longer the top of the Tesla performance mountain. Plaid sits above it. So, if you want the quickest Tesla possible, you’re looking at Model S Plaid first, then Model X Plaid. If you want the older-school Tesla performance experience at a lower used price, a clean Ludicrous-equipped Model S or Model X can still make a ton of sense.

As always with older high-performance Teslas, condition matters. Battery health, drive unit history, tires, brakes, suspension, title status, service records, software configuration, and how the car was treated all matter more than one word on the touchscreen. Ludicrous is awesome. A beat-up, neglected Ludicrous car is less awesome.

Finding a Tesla with Ludicrous Mode for Sale

So if you are ready to test out one of the most gut-punching acceleration modes Tesla ever offered, where do you start your search for a Tesla with Ludicrous Mode enabled?

You can still find used Teslas with Ludicrous Mode through Tesla itself when the right inventory appears. Tesla’s used inventory includes an inspection process and what Tesla calls a Used Vehicle Limited Warranty. If you are looking for manufacturer-side inspection security and warranty coverage, this can be a solid route. However, the main drawback for Tesla’s used inventory program can sometimes be the price. For both buyers and sellers, the difference can be several thousand dollars. When you are already looking for the Ludicrous cream of the crop, forking over that extra money can be a real pain in the pocketbook.

If you want to score a deal, there are plenty of websites and dealers that would love to offer you one. Lots of used car websites have listings for pre-owned Teslas, whether sold by a dealership or for sale by the owner. The drawbacks? Slogging through listings that aren’t easily filtered by important Tesla criteria, but hey, that’s where we come in!

We are definitely biased, but we believe that a great place to find a used Tesla is a marketplace built around EVs and Tesla-specific features. Our site was created by EV enthusiasts (that’s us!) for EV enthusiasts (if you’re checking out Ludicrous Mode, that’s definitely you!). With Find My Electric’s filters and sorting functions designed around used Tesla trims, packages, add-ons, and more, you’ll be able to check out available Tesla Model S or Model X listings with Ludicrous Mode in no time at all. Check out our used Tesla listings to get started searching for a Model S or X with Ludicrous Mode today!