Aftermarket aero kit transforms your Tesla Model S into a futuristichot 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 – withasteroid addiction.
TheR-Zentric Model Sisone of the most race-inspired looking Teslas on the road today. One look and it’s evident this Model S has an innate ability toradiate Ludicrous performance without actually havingto movea single electron. The seamless blendof the carbon fiber front splitterwith factory bumper, along with itsinnocuous-looking side skirtsthat flow harmoniously intothe factory contours, had me reduced to a whining child wanting my Christmas present fivemonths 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 manifesteditself 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.
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 carin a heads up drag race. One might argue that such super car performance (even more relevant with the latestP90D) deserves to be outfitted with something other than sheep’s clothing.
EnterRevoZport,design houseand manufacturer of high-end composite products forsome of the world’s top exotics; Lamborghini, Ferrari, the mighty Nissan GTR, and now, Tesla with itsR-Zentric aero kit.
RevoZport offers a variety of bolt-on aero kit components consisting of a front splitter, side skirt, rear diffuser, and a handsome rearspoiler that wraps the full length of the trunk from end-to-end. An optionalfender kit can be added toprovide 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.
Putting It All Together
Enlistingthe help of Ghost Motorsports out of Los Angeles for installation, body work and suspension tuning, theoncemodestlystyled Model S, transformed into somethingslightly more character-enhanced. The team at Ghost Motorsports outlined key areas ofthe carbon fiber composite components with muted red pin-striping tocomplementTesla’s factory red stitching found on theperformance seats.
A set of adjustable air suspension lowering links was added to provide a sleeker look with more controlledhandling. The ride height was adjusted to mirrorTesla’s previous “low” setting found in the early days ofFirmware 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 surpassedwith no signsof scraping. Ride quality remains the same, if not, slightly tighter at higher speeds.
The re-profiled frontcontour 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 kitfor its aesthetic appeal. Luckily,that it has.
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 onenever has much of a chance to drive beyond 50 mph in Los Angeles due totraffic, 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 inducedexcitement or a result of increased drag.
Wind resistance would be more prominent at higher speeds. Usinga 1,500 mile road trip as the benchmark for a rangetest, I found an additionalincrease of 5 – 8% in energy consumption whentraveling at a consistent75 mph. Just for fun, we did a quick and spirited dash to 100 mph onan empty stretch of roadwhile making our way back fromTMC 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.
The R-Zentric aero kit might be the closest representation of what a GT Model S would looklike should Tesla one day enter into theMotorsports arena. The subtleoutward swoop ofthe side skirt and dual-deck carbon fiber front splitter adds elements of uniqueness, and additional life, to the sleek curves oftheModel S.
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 kitjust 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.
PARTS SHOWN
- RevoZport “R-Zentric” Complete Aero Kit
- RevoZport Carbon FiberTrunk Lip Spoiler
- Tesla Model S factory 21″ Turbine Wheel
- RimPro-Tec Wheel Bands (reversed colors – red track/black insert)
- MGP Removable Model S Brake Caliper Covers
