If you can do this as a $10k update "safely" with a computer-controlled pyro fuse, I wonder what you could do by hacking the firmware and replacing it with a piece of busbar. 2 seconds?
I feel like the limit of what these motors can do now is being held back by something they can't control anymore, tire grip.
I think a lot of these software updates on the acceleration speed aren't because they all of the sudden figured out how to get more power from the electric motor. I think it's from tweaking the "no-slip" system or whatever they call theirs. Basically when the car detects it's losing grip, it cuts back the power. I think this is a balancing act on how to get the system to push the limits of slipping without putting the average user into a ditch because they tried out the "ludicrous" mode.
I'm sure on static conditions in a lab, Tesla can make the thing do something like 2s. It would require something other than a regular tire on a regular road though.
What if the car actually used the suspension to 'drop' just a fraction of an inch lower to the ground (to increase its momentary, apparent weight) as soon as you punch the accelerator to get some extra grip? I wonder how much of a difference the momentary 'downforce' would make.
You'd be better off raising the ride height as the dynamics of raising the ride height will increase downforce on the wheel/tire assembly at the start of the transient.
It probably will do that. Atleast to compensate for the added apparent weight on the rear at acceleration. And slightly decrease air flow resistance under the car. Formula 1 cars do something like that
Tire grip is a huge one. I'm sure the improvements are as you said it's been a theory of mine too. Suspension also has an effect however obviously wouldn't be affected by this update.
I think they do these test with the stock tires. It would be nice to see what the Model S could do with a set of R compounds or Hoosiers in a straight line.
It is actually possible that the suspension was affected by the update. It wouldn't be the first time that the suspension's behavior has been tweaked by a software update to the Model S.
I also wonder if there will be a way to "update firmware" on the fuse, so as to disable it, allowing remote self destruct mode. The advantage of a dumb fuse is it's basically going to work unless the laws of physics change, even though it's not as precise.
