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Watch People Freak Out Over Tesla's 'Insane Mode'

 & David Murphy Freelancer

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If only all cars came with an "Insane Mode" button. But for now, we'll have to make do with Tesla's new P85D electric vehicles—you know, the ones that can get you from zero to 60 miles per hour in about three seconds.

Yes, you've probably seen the video of normal people being subjected to the P85D's impressive, dual-motor-based acceleration. You've probably even read a few snippets from other websites and forum posts that detail how this aptly named Insane Mode on the vehicles has caused some to spill coffee all over their super-expensive cars—or drop the very cameras they were using to try and film the quick acceleration.

The videos are rather enjoyable to watch—especially the uncensored version, which has a loveable older lady throwing out some less-than-PG language as she's being rocketed down the street at freeway speeds.

And even though this issue is surely only going to affect the 1 percent of the 1 percent, the absurd acceleration of Tesla's car—and the ease with which one can unlock the feature—does make us wonder one thing: Is there a way to easily disable it? Suppose you've purchased a Tesla P85D for your more elderly parents or, worse, your teenage kid, but you want to make triple-sure that they don't accidentally fool around with a mode they shouldn't and send themselves rocketing into the nearest mailbox (or worse).

We're not alone, it seems.

"Planning to pick up my first Tesla (P85D) in December with my 16 YO son. I assume that my son will use the car on occasion, and wondering if there will be / can be a lock on the INSANE mode, My wife is probably asking the same Q," wrote one Tesla forum poster in November of last year.

While Tesla didn't pop in to offer up an official reply, a number of others opined that the original poster would have to be crazy to let a kid drive a $120,000+ vehicle. Fair enough.

About Our Expert

David Murphy

David Murphy

Freelancer

David Murphy got his first real taste of technology journalism when he arrived at PC Magazine as an intern in 2005. A three-month gig turned to six months, six months turned to occasional freelance assignments, and he later rejoined his tech-loving, mostly New York-based friends as one of PCMag.com's news contributors. For more tech tidbits from David Murphy, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

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