This Is The Supercar Elon Musk Wanted To Match With The Tesla D

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McLaren F1 GTR

McLaren Automotive

The McLaren F1.

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At the unveiling of the Tesla D on Thursday night, CEO Elon Musk touted the "insane" acceleration of the new Model S P85D high-performance sedan. It can do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and for Musk, that puts the car in the same league as its inspiration, the legendary McLaren F1 supercar.

You might of course notice a slight difference between the F1 and the P85D. Supercars are supposed to look a bit crazy. The Model S P85D, by contrast, looks exactly like a regular old Model S, except of course that it has almost 700 hp and two electric motors.

Tesla D Three Quarter

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

It's not really going to turn heads at the valet stand.

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But then again, it's what's under the hood (so to speak) that counts.

When the F1 was introduced in the 1990's, it blew the automotive world away with its 0-60 performance (3.2 seconds, just like the P85D). Unlike Tesla, which derived its 691 hp from a pair of electric motors that are each about as large as a suitcase, the F1 needed a 6.1-liter V12 engine making 627 hp. Effectively, the F1 was a supercar built around a giant powerplant.

The Model S P85D, on the other hand, is a rather sleek and stately 4-door with comfortable seating for the entire family - a supercar that hides its true nature.