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Tesla Model S “GT” Aero Kit Upgrade: A Futuristic Hot Rod

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Aftermarket aero kit transforms your Tesla Model S into a futuristic hot rod

At first glance, this might look like a Tesla Model S plucked straight from the GT Masters at Nürburgring. It even kind of drives like one. But the truth of the matter is, it’s a factory Model S – with a steroid addiction.

The R-Zentric Model S is one of the most race-inspired looking Teslas on the road today. One look and it’s evident this Model S has an innate ability to radiate Ludicrous performance without actually having to move a single electron. The seamless blend of the carbon fiber front splitter with factory bumper, along with its innocuous-looking side skirts that flow harmoniously into the factory contours, had me reduced to a whining child wanting my Christmas present five months in advance.

Maybe it was my inner “Gran Turismo” resurfacing in adult life (I played a heck of a lot of that game as a kid), which manifested itself into an insatiable desire to have my very own GT Model S. Or, maybe it’s because … well, it just looks damn perfect. So, I had to get it.

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A Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing

The Model S is a car that sits in a segment where its rivals are better known for being grocery-getter family sedans than tire shredding super cars. Except this modest looking four-door sedan plays with the best of them, and on many accounts, will hands down destroy any super car in a heads up drag race. One might argue that such super car performance (even more relevant with the latest P90D) deserves to be outfitted with something other than sheep’s clothing.

Enter RevoZport, design house and manufacturer of high-end composite products for some of the world’s top exotics; Lamborghini, Ferrari, the mighty Nissan GTR, and now, Tesla with its R-Zentric aero kit.

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RevoZport offers a variety of bolt-on aero kit components consisting of a front splitter, side skirt, rear diffuser, and a handsome rear spoiler that wraps the full length of the trunk from end-to-end. An optional fender kit can be added to provide a slightly wider (approximately 20 mm on each side) and more aggressive GT style appearance. No surprises here, but my affinity towards anything Gran Turismo had me opting for the full aero kit package.

 

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Putting It All Together

Enlisting the help of Ghost Motorsports out of Los Angeles for installation, body work and suspension tuning, the once modestly styled Model S, transformed into something slightly more character-enhanced. The team at Ghost Motorsports outlined key areas of the carbon fiber composite components with muted red pin-striping to complement Tesla’s factory red stitching found on the performance seats.

A set of adjustable air suspension lowering links was added to provide a sleeker look with more controlled handling. The ride height was adjusted to mirror Tesla’s previous “low” setting found in the early days of Firmware 5.0. Although the vehicle looks much lower to the ground than a factory Model S, the shape and depth of the aero kit gives the illusion that its lower than it actually is.

Tesla’s GPS enabled smart air suspension ensures that any high-ramped entryways or streets lined with large speed bumps are easily surpassed with no signs of scraping. Ride quality remains the same, if not, slightly tighter at higher speeds.

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The re-profiled front contour with dual-deck, upper and lower panel, splitter channels air through an adjustable center duct before exiting through the flat underbelly of the car. Make no mistake, RevoZport didn’t build this for nightclub valets: it’s all about the engineering and performance.

But, let’s be real, short of being a track junky, most Tesla Model S owners will just want the R-Zentric aero kit for its aesthetic appeal. Luckily, that it has.

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With the increase in aerodynamic downforce also comes range loss, right? Well, the short answer is, yes. But much to my surprise, the increase in energy consumption during my day to day drive, over the last 500 miles, was negligible. Maybe it’s because one never has much of a chance to drive beyond 50 mph in Los Angeles due to traffic, but the fact of the matter is, energy consumption hovered around my 318 Wh/m lifetime average. Occasionally, I’d see consumption come in at 322 Wh/m and as high as 333 Wh/m but it’s hard to gauge whether that increase was a result of a no-traffic-today-in-LA induced excitement or a result of increased drag.

Wind resistance would be more prominent at higher speeds. Using a 1,500 mile road trip as the benchmark for a range test, I found an additional increase of 5 – 8% in energy consumption when traveling at a consistent 75 mph. Just for fun, we did a quick and spirited dash to 100 mph on an empty stretch of road while making our way back from TMC Connect 2015. The purpose was to detect for any abnormal sound or change in driving behavior as a result of the aero kit. Nada. Zilch. Just insane fun.

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“… going about business like … James Bond in a racing suit”

The R-Zentric aero kit might be the closest representation of what a GT Model S would look like should Tesla one day enter into the Motorsports arena. The subtle outward swoop of the side skirt and dual-deck carbon fiber front splitter adds elements of uniqueness, and additional life, to the sleek curves of the Model S.

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For discriminating buyers looking for something a little different, especially those Ludicrous P90D and P85D owners looking for an air of exclusivity outside of having a plastic underline, the R-Zentric aero kit just might be your answer. It was for me. But then again, my Model S doesn’t mind going about business like it’s James Bond in a racing suit.

 

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PARTS SHOWN

I'm friendly. You can email me. gene@teslarati.com

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World’s fastest Tesla Model S Plaid undergoes major changes

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The "Plaidessey" creation of the BoostedBoiz (Credit BoostedBoiz YouTube)

You may have seen the formerly wrecked, then gutted 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid that had most of its body cut off and set the quarter mile record back in August, but now, it is a completely different creation dubbed the “Plaidessey.”

YouTube channel BoostedBoiz is making another major change by chopping off what little remained of the Plaid and dropping a 2001 Honda Odyssey body onto what’s left to create the “ultimate sleeper.”

In all fairness, the Odyssey body actually fits pretty well over the Model S, with less than two inches separating the wheelbase and only minor changes needed for the fenders.

One hurdle was the B pillar of the van not lining to where the Model S had its B pillar, but once the front windshield of the Model S was cut off, it made the accessibility into the car much easier.

The “Plaidessey” halfway through the changes (Credit: BoostedBoiz YouTube)

Before this major alteration, they set the Model S Plaid quarter mile world record by running 8.71 seconds down the dragstrip after cutting off the body and adding an aluminum shell to help with aerodynamics.

After setting the world record, they ran into another problem with the suspension getting stuck in low mode and even took it by a couple of Tesla dealerships in Florida to see if they could help with the issue. Unsurprisingly they weren’t able to get much help considering the changes made.

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They were eventually able to enlist the help of Electrified Garage to help narrow down their issues and get a replacement part shipped out to fix the suspension.

Check out the transformation on the BoostedBoiz’s channel below!

What do you think of this creation from a 2022 Model S Plaid turned “Cyberkart” and now the “Plaidessey?”

Questions or comments? Shoot me an email at rangle@teslarati.com, or Tweet me @RDAnglePhoto.

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Tesla Model S conversion project births stunning two-door convertible

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The Tesla Model S was a subject of a conversion project at Ares’ Design, turning the flagship sedan into a stunning two-door convertible.

The Model S was Tesla’s second car behind the original Roadster from 2008. Since its original release in 2012, Tesla has made several small refinements to the car. One of the most notable is the omittance of the nosecone in favor of a new, more modern design. Tesla implemented this change in 2016, and it has been highly-accepted among the community.

Recently, rumors of a refresh to the Model S design have been circulating within the Tesla community. Because the flagship sedan and subsequent Model X vehicles have not been updated in several years, Tesla may be considering updating the design. While possibilities are endless and everyone has their opinion on what should be done, the folks at Ares Design in Modena, Italy put their own spin on the Model S, ridding it of the rear passenger doors and doing away with the top of the car.

The project started with the removal of the roof and central B-pillars, along with the rear doors. The wheelbase was then shortened to make the two-door design more reasonably aesthetic, and Ares designed their own doors that were fabricated to the specifications of the newly-refined Model S chassis. Structural reinforcements were added as well to ensure the safety of passengers.

Paired with interior upgrades that include new seating and a colorful new steering wheel with matching accents, the Model S from Ares is certainly one of the more interesting revisions to Tesla’s flagship sedan. However, it isn’t an ugly or unruly conversion by any means. However, some enthusiasts may have something to say about the revisions to the Model S’ design, as it was many early Tesla enthusiasts first EV.

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Ares has many projects that will fit the taste of nearly every automotive enthusiast on Earth. With projects that span from Tesla to Lamborghini, there are several different routes the design studio has taken over the years to ensure the satisfaction of their customers and fans.

“At Ares, our co-create philosophy allows clients to work side by side with our designers and engineers to create their very own bespoke vehicle, a service that is unique to ARES,” CEO Dany Bahar said in a statement on the company’s website. “This Tesla project is a superb example of this; it was a pure coachbuilding project which we very much enjoy doing and seeing the results of our uncompromising standards.”

What do you think? Leave a comment down below. Got a tip? Email us at tips@teslarati.com or reach out to me at joey@teslarati.com

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Unplugged Performance Tesla Model 3 in Street Spec Beats Legendary McLaren F1 at Tsukuba

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Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R 2 at Tsukuba Circuit, Japan (Source: Unplugged Performance)

A Tesla Model 3 Performance with modifications from EV tuning house Unplugged Performance has achieved an elusive feat. During a run in Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit, a location famed for its twists and turns, the modified all-electric sedan managed to beat the record of a legendary naturally aspirated supercar, the McLaren F1, with an impressive lap time of 1:03.3.

What’s rather interesting is that the Model 3 Performance was actually in its street settings when it was brought to the track, and its driver was a neophyte with electric cars. While the vehicle had a slew of modifications, the Model 3 was not tuned or modified specially for the Tsukuba Circuit. It was even equipped with OEM tires from a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997), which are good on the track but also great for regular driving.

The Model 3 that was used for the Tsukuba Circuit run was the same car that Unplugged Performance brought to the Tokyo Auto Salon. The vehicle, which belongs to Tesla owner enthusiast Erik Strait and dubbed as the Model 3 Ascension R, was brought over to Japan this January following its showcase at the SEMA 2019 show. The all-electric car was showcased in Japan as a way to demonstrate how classic tuning methods could be applied for high-performance EVs.

It should be noted that its record-breaking lap was not the first time Unplugged Performance’s Model 3 Ascension R was brought to Tsukuba Circuit. After its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the vehicle was brought to the track, where it came close to beating the McLaren F1’s lap record with a time of 1:04.7. This was just one-tenth of a second slower than the McLaren F1’s record of 1:04.6.

While the McLaren F1 is no longer the world’s fastest supercar today, the vehicle remains one of the most formidable forces of automotive engineering ever created. The car, which saw production between 1992 to 1998, was considered groundbreaking and insane at the same time. In 1998, the F1 took the title as the world’s fastest production car with a speed of 240.1 mph, and it held on to its crown until it was beaten by the Koenigsegg CCR in 2005. Even decades after its release, the McLaren F1 remains the world’s fastest naturally-aspirated production car in the industry.

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For Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Shaffer, The Tesla Model 3 Ascension R is a love song of sorts to his background in JDM vehicles. It’s a fast electric car that is very capable on the track, of course, but it is also a proper road car that can be used for everyday driving.

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