California-based UP.FIT, a division of Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance, has turned a Tesla Model S Plaid into a police car.
Debuting at the 2024 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Plaid police cruiser is destined for a community outreach program of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, according to Unplugged Performance. The company’s UP.FIT division has done several Tesla police conversions, including a Cybertruck police cruiser, and made similar modifications to this Model S.
Tesla Model S Plaid police car by Unplugged Performance
A new wiring harness integrates police lights, which are mounted behind the windshield and rear window, as well as along the side skirts, to eliminate the aerodynamic drag created by a conventional light bar, according to Unplugged Performance.
Other police equipment includes a push bar, high- and low-frequency sirens, and a public address system. All of this equipment adds weight, but Unplugged Performance estimates a relatively small drop in range to 345 miles, compared to 359 miles for the standard Plaid.
Tesla Model S Plaid police car by Unplugged Performance
The police car retains the stock Plaid’s tri-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, which generates 1,020 hp and gets the civilian version from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, according to Tesla. But the police conversion included lighter wheels and upgraded brakes.
While Tesla does not offer factory police packages, forcing departments to rely on aftermarket companies like Unplugged Performance, several other automakers do sell electric police cars. General Motors offers a police version of the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Ford does the same with its F-150 Lightning, and has built a limited number of Mustang Mach-E police cars for the New York Police Department. Stellantis looks set to launch a police version of the Dodge Charger Daytona as well.
