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Review: Luna X2 Enduro e-bike is too Ludicrous to be true

Luna X2 Enduro

Luna is selling a bike with specs that don’t seem to be possible. A 58-pound carbon-fiber full-suspension mountain bike with a Bafang M600 motor and a 48V 18.5Ah battery that somehow achieves 2.5kW of power. That makes it a recently marked down $4,000 mountain bike with light moto-like speed that can propel the bike past 30mph on flat dirt.

I’ve been riding the Luna X2 with the $350 Ludicrous option for almost a year now, and I’ve grown to love this thing, but with some important caveats…

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The difference 5 kWh can make: Tesla Model S P85D vs P90D both with Ludicrous mode [Video]

P85D vs P90D

The main difference between the top two performance versions of the Tesla Model S is simply 5 kWh of energy capacity. Tesla used to offer the Model S P85D, a performance (P) Model S with a 85 kWh battery pack (85) and dual motors (D). The vehicle’s top performance mode was called ‘Insane’.

The automaker later introduced a new version, the Model S P90D, which is the same car, but with a 90 kWh battery pack. When introducing the new pack, Tesla also introduced a new performance mode, ‘Ludicrous’, which is obviously better than ‘Insane’. 
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Tesla is secretly adding over 50 hp to the Model S P90D Ludicrous based on 3rd party testing, what does it mean?

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Last year, Tesla had some troubles with the way it calculated the power output of its electric vehicles. The company had to go in mediation with over hundred of its customers in Norway and eventually changed the advertised horsepowers of the Model S P85D from 691 hp to 463 hp.

The issues mostly revolved around defining electric power in terms of horsepower and the power output being dependent on the state of charge of the battery pack feeding the car’s two electric motors. The issues have been mostly resolved after Tesla updated its advertised numbers, but since the introduction of the Model X and the ‘Ludicrous mode’, things have been more complicated again…
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Tesla Model 3 will have a ‘Ludicrous’ mode, says Elon Musk

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Elon Musk went on another Tweetstorm last night and although it was mostly about SpaceX’s upcoming missions (not that we mind – it’s just not what we cover), he did reveal a few tidbits of information involving the Tesla Model 3.

The CEO said that the higher-end version of the Model 3 will have a ‘Ludicrous’ mode option, like the Model S and X.
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Tesla is now offering ‘Ludicrous’ battery upgrade as a retrofit for the Model S P90D

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Last summer, Tesla introduced both a new and bigger 90 kWh battery pack and the ‘Ludicrous mode’ upgrade for a higher level of performance on the already insane Model S. The automaker offers the upgrade for a $10,000 premium when configuring a Model S P90D or as a retrofit for Model S P85D owners who, at the time, had just witnessed their less than 1-year old cars already outperformed by the new version.

Tesla ended up significantly reducing the price of the retrofit to just $5,000 for the P85D and now for the first time, the automaker is offering the upgrade as an aftermarket retrofit for the Model S P90D – meaning that someone configuring the Tesla’s top of the line vehicle could decide to pass on the ‘Ludicrous mode’, but later add it for the same price plus labor.
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Tesla reduces the price of the Ludicrous upgrade from $7,500 to $5,000

Tesla-ludicrous-test driveTesla sent out an email this weekend to Model S owners on the waiting list for a retrofit of their Performance Dual Motor Model S to enable the ‘Ludicrous’ mode. In the email, Tesla explained that due to parts and process improvements, the company is now able to offer the upgrade at a reduced price of $5,000 instead of the previously announced $7,500.

The Ludicrous upgrade consists of two improvements to the electronics of the Model S’ battery pack. The first improvement is the replacement of a standard fuse to an “advanced smart fuse” which enables the monitoring of current to the millisecond, and makes it possible to cut the power with “extreme precision”.
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Tesla now offers free Powerwalls through its referral program – the top referrer already sold 88 Model S’s

EV_Rally_Trollstigen_Tesla_Model_SThree months ago Tesla announced a referral program for Model S owners. By referring someone who ends up buying a Tesla Model S, the owner gets $1,000 credit from Tesla to put toward accessories, service or a car, and the new buyer gets $1,000 off his new Model S. The program is only in a “trial phase” until October 31, but the deadline is also a competition for top referrers.

Today, less than two weeks before the end of the trial, the automaker upped the ante by announcing that those who make 5 referrals will receive a Tesla Powerwall for free…
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Tesla opens Ludicrous battery pack retrofit pre-orders to P85D owners

Screen Shot 2015-09-25 at 9.06.15 PMOn Friday, Tesla opened pre-orders for the ‘Ludicrous’ battery pack retrofit upgrade to Model S P85D owners. Tesla announced the ‘Ludicrous’ mode over 2 months ago as a $10,000 option on Tesla’s top performance model, which had become the P90D at that point since the company announced a battery pack capacity increase to 90 kWh alongside the Ludicrous option. The new package enables faster acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds.
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Musk says Tesla’s referral program “seems to be working” and they are removing the 10-referral limit

In an email to Model S owners today, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the company’s new referral program “seems to be working” and they are removing the 10-referral limit. More than 9 Model S owners have already referred 10 or more leads which turned into sales.

The company is also adding one more reward to the program. Now not only the first owners to get to 10 referrals in each region (North America, Asia and Europe) will get a free Model X, but the customer who makes the most referrals by the end of the program in October will be able to trade their current Model S for a brand new fully loaded Ludicrous P90D Model S for free.
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Aston Martin plans on making an all-electric Rapide within 2 years

1624_aston_martin_rapideSpeaking at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last weekend, CEO of Aston Martin Andy Palmer, confirmed to Automotive News that the British automaker plans on bringing to market a 800 hp all-electric version of the Rapide in 2 years.

The executive also expects an all-electric version of the DBX to follow shortly after the Rapide.
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Elon Musk’s recent “Ludicrous” announcement hints at more synergy between Tesla and SpaceX

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Last week, Elon Musk, CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, announced new options and trims for Tesla’s award winning electric sedan, the Model S. One of the new option is a battery pack electronics upgrade, the Ludicrous Speed Upgrade, which enables faster acceleration for the existing Model S P85D and the new P90D. On this new driving mode, the Model S can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 second, making the 5,000 lb 4-door sedan faster than a McLaren F1.

Earlier this year, we wrote about SpaceX transferring some technology and welding equipment to Tesla. Now it seems like the new “Ludicrous” upgrade might have been made possible due to knowledge acquired through rocket engine manufacturing at SpaceX.
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