The nose of the white, bone-stock Tesla Model 3 Performance arrives at the traffic-cone gate at 40 miles per hour. My foot slams the wide pedal relentlessly to the floor. The seatbelt grabs at my chest while the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) leaps into action, furiously pumping the pistons within the red brake calipers in an effort to prevent skidding.
Vibrations from the opening and closing of the system’s valves travel through the brake pedal and steering wheel and the system makes a thrumming sound as the speedometer plunges toward zero. The deceleration is violent as I twist the wheel to simulate an emergency avoidance lane-changing maneuver on the wet pavement.
