Named after a spaceship’s power boost from the 1987 cult-classic Spaceballs, Tesla Ludicrous Mode is an easter egg performance enhancement setting upgrade that increases peak torque by about 60 percent—allowing your Tesla maximum performance acceleration speeds. It does so by transferring energy from the battery pack to the electric motor.

Ludicrous Mode was improved upon in 2017 with the introduction of Ludicrous Plus Mode, which enables Max Battery Power for even greater acceleration beyond base-level specs. Essentially, this enables 100% of your battery’s power to go toward the electric motor.

Ludicrous Plus also comes with Launch Mode, which adds an intense acceleration thrust intended for closed circuit driving settings. Doing so requires the battery to reach an optimal temperature, however, which can take up to an hour if your Tesla has been idle.

Whereas a Model S in Ludicrous Mode can take off from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, a Model S in Ludicrous Plus can shave that time to just 2.3 seconds. When testing out the Tesla Model S Performance in Ludicrous Mode, car reviewers have commonly clocked its quarter-mile time at between 10 and 11 seconds.

Keep in mind: Tesla warns that operating your electric car in Ludicrous speed mode for long periods will lower your Tesla’s range and efficiency more quickly. Operating in Ludicrous Plus Mode for extended periods is unadvised as it accelerates wear on your Tesla’s motors and diminishes battery power.

How to turn on Tesla Ludicrous Mode

To put your Tesla in Ludicrous or Ludicrous Plus Mode, all you have to do is press the “Ludicrous” or “Ludicrous Plus” button on the dashboard’s touchscreen. You can find it under the “Acceleration” tab.

Engaging Ludicrous Plus will prompt you to activate “Max Battery Power.” This will heat your battery to a higher temperature than Ludicrous Mode to allow it to have even lower impedance for acceleration and performance.

Engaging Launch Mode is a little trickier than pressing a button, so here’s what you’ll need to do:

While pushing on the accelerator pedal, depress the brake pedal

Wait for the touchscreen to signal that the battery has reached optimal temperature

Release the brake pedal, and enjoy the instant thrust

You don’t have to wait for the battery to reach the optimal temperature to use Launch Mode, but doing so will give you the full thrust power.

How long can you leave Tesla Ludicrous Mode on?

While it’s possible to leave Tesla Ludicrous Mode on all the time, doing so will use about 1% of a full battery per charge—or around 4 miles of range.

If you forget to turn Ludicrous Mode off: Most Tesla electric vehicle models will automatically deactivate the setting after three hours.

Use Ludicrous mode sparingly: Overusing Ludicrous Mode, Ludicrous Plus Mode, or Launch Mode will cause fatigue damage to your battery which can lead to a long-term decrease in power. It’s therefore recommended that you only use these modes in short intervals.

Which Teslas have ludicrous mode?

Ludicrous Mode was introduced as an add-on feature in 2016 for the Model S P90D sedan and Model X SUV.

Though it’s discontinued now, you may find Ludicrous Mode equipped in used performance models of the Model S and Model X between the 2016 and 2021 model years.

In current Teslas: The Tesla Model S Plaid performance grade, also available on the Model X, offers a similar thrust of acceleration power. Unlike Ludicrous Mode, Plaid’s maximum thrust is always available, as it depends on a third electric motor rather than diverted battery power.

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FAQs

Was Ludicrous Mode discontinued?

Ludicrous Mode was discontinued in 2021, but its acceleration power has been packaged into the high-performance Plaid grade for 2022 Model S and Model X models.

Does the Tesla Model 3 have Ludicrous Mode?

Contrary to Elon Musk’s Twitter promises, the Tesla Model 3 does not have Ludicrous Mode enabled.

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