An updated version of Tesla's Model S. Photo: Tesla
An updated version of Tesla's Model S. Photo: Tesla
An updated version of Tesla's Model S. Photo: Tesla
An updated version of Tesla's Model S. Photo: Tesla

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Hacked Tesla Model S Plaid hits record-setting 348kph

Audio recorded of record-breaking attempt resembles that of a plane taking off

The National

July 01, 2022

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A Tesla Model S Plaid hit its fastest recorded speed after its vehicle software restrictions were hacked by a software company.

Guillaume Andre, chief executive of Ingenext, took his Tesla vehicle for a drive on Thursday at Trois-Rivieres Airport in Quebec, Canada.

Mr Andre shared a clip on Facebook showing his car reaching 348 kilometres per hour on the tarmac.

Audio captured in the video resembles a plane taking off as the Tesla reached its top speed.

Ingenext had made previous attempts to set the record-breaking speed, but literally ran out of space to do so.

Trois-Rivieres Airport briefly shut down its three-kilometre runway to allow the software company to attempt the record-setting drive.

The attempt eclipsed the top speed of 322kph Tesla had promised when it first announced the Model S Plaid, but after it was released last year, the car was shown to have a top speed of 262kph.

Tesla then released the Plaid Track Mode to help the vehicle go slightly faster.

  • Tesla chief executive Elon Musk speaks during the opening day of the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. EPA
    Tesla chief executive Elon Musk speaks during the opening day of the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. EPA
  • Musk speaks next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime minister of Brandenburg state, Dietmar Woidke, during the opening ceremony. AFP
    Musk speaks next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime minister of Brandenburg state, Dietmar Woidke, during the opening ceremony. AFP
  • The Tesla chief, right, was cheered as he oversaw the handover of the car maker's first German-made cars at the Gruenheide plant. EPA
    The Tesla chief, right, was cheered as he oversaw the handover of the car maker's first German-made cars at the Gruenheide plant. EPA
  • Musk described the opening as "another step in the direction of a sustainable future". EPA
    Musk described the opening as "another step in the direction of a sustainable future". EPA
  • Tesla is likely to launch a test version of its new "full self-driving" software in Europe, possibly next year, the chief executive said. EPA
    Tesla is likely to launch a test version of its new "full self-driving" software in Europe, possibly next year, the chief executive said. EPA
  • Musk dances as he hands over the first Teslas from the new factory. Getty Images
    Musk dances as he hands over the first Teslas from the new factory. Getty Images
  • Musk said battery production will be a "challenge" next year and a "limiting factor" in the coming years. Reuters
    Musk said battery production will be a "challenge" next year and a "limiting factor" in the coming years. Reuters
  • Tesla cars are parked at the site of the new Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. Reuters
    Tesla cars are parked at the site of the new Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Germany. Reuters
  • Tesla was handing over the first Model Y cars made at its €5 billion Gruenheide plant to clients on March 22, the company said. Getty Images
    Tesla was handing over the first Model Y cars made at its €5 billion Gruenheide plant to clients on March 22, the company said. Getty Images
  • The new Tesla Gigafactory is the company's first European production centre. Getty Images
    The new Tesla Gigafactory is the company's first European production centre. Getty Images
  • Newly completed Tesla Model Y electric cars parked at the site near Gruenheide. Getty Images
    Newly completed Tesla Model Y electric cars parked at the site near Gruenheide. Getty Images
  • The new factory is the largest investment in a German car factory in recent history. Getty Images
    The new factory is the largest investment in a German car factory in recent history. Getty Images
  • A road sign reading 'water protection area' next to the Tesla logo at the site of the Tesla factory. EPA
    A road sign reading 'water protection area' next to the Tesla logo at the site of the Tesla factory. EPA
  • A road sign reading 'Tesla Street' at the new plant. EPA
    A road sign reading 'Tesla Street' at the new plant. EPA
  • A building under construction at the Tesla factory. EPA
    A building under construction at the Tesla factory. EPA
  • At full capacity, the factory will produce 500,000 cars annually. EPA
    At full capacity, the factory will produce 500,000 cars annually. EPA
  • Tesla plans to hire 12,000 workers at the plant. Bloomberg
    Tesla plans to hire 12,000 workers at the plant. Bloomberg

Though the Model S Plaid is a four-door family sedan, Tesla claims it has the fastest acceleration of any vehicle in production, with a peak of 1,020 horsepower.

The vehicle can go from 0-96kph in less than two seconds, car publication Motor Trends reported in 2021, but it takes 15 minutes to set up.

Most drivers would not be able to reach that kind of performance on a regular road, Tesla said.

The six points:

1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences

2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it

4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow

5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided

6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before

The biog

Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha

Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude

Holiday destination: Sri Lanka

First car: VW Golf

Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters

Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars

How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Founded: 2018

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Sector: Startups

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Updated: July 01, 2022, 8:54 PM
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