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Tesla Model S P85D Snaps A Dyno Belt Like A Boss: Video

Way back when the Tesla Roadster was preparing to ship for the first time, the automaker had a problem on its hands: the electric drive motor provided too much instantaneous torque for the planned two-speed transmission. In a panic, Tesla Motors responded by shipping the first cars with the gearbox locked into second gear, and quickly followed up with a more ideal single-speed unit.

That’s the thing with electric motors; they’re characteristically torquey devices. It’s not at all surprising, then, that a Tesla Model S P85D recently snapped a dyno belt during testing, as seen in the video below. According to Drag Times, the super high performance Model S P85D went full tilt from a slow roll, and registered an instant torque of 700+ lb-ft when the AWD dynamometer’s belt snapped like a rubber band.

Since it doesn’t say, we’ll go ahead and guess that’s a derived “at the crank” torque figure. Except, you know, there’s no crankshaft.

Drag Times reports that on a previous run, this group managed to get the Tesla Model S P85D up to its 155 mph top speed, and measured a peak 435 HP; clearly short of where it should be.

Someday, perhaps someone will devise an AWD dyno that can properly measure the Model S P85D without sacrificing itself in the process.

Aaron Birch is an automotive enthusiast and writer/filmmaker from Detroit, MI. As a rule, he only buys cars older than himself.

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