Model S Plaid

Sardinia is to be listened to as much as looked at: the flamingos on the lagoons at the edge of Cagliari, the wind over the salt pans, the absolute hush of certain Sulcis roads at eight in the morning. The Model S Plaid is the only flagship capable of passing through all of it without adding a single vibration: it slips by silently, and the landscape stays intact. A new kind of luxury — one you appreciate most where nature is the real protagonist.

Its ideal territory is the south: out of the capital, along the coast to Chia, then back up the shoreline towards Villasimius. It is a loop we have described kilometre by kilometre in our Cagliari – Chia – Villasimius grand tourer itinerary — and with delivery through our car rental in Cagliari, it begins right outside your hotel.

There is no roar to announce it and no gearshift to interrupt it: the Plaid's acceleration is one continuous, instant, almost unreal surge that presses you into the seat and recalibrates every reference point you had. Three motors, 1,020 hp, a single ratio: you press, and you are already somewhere else. Your brain takes a moment to catch up — and it is precisely that lag that becomes addictive.

The rest of the driving experience is surgical: a centre of gravity kept extremely low by the floor-mounted batteries, quick steering, and regenerative braking that has you driving on one pedal within a few kilometres. The cabin is ruled by silence and the 17-inch landscape screen, through which everything flows: climate, navigation with charging stops planned for you, even entertainment for the pauses.

The Model S Plaid's range covers a typical holiday day on the island with room to spare: the southern loop, the run from Cagliari to Villasimius and back, evenings in town. Sardinia's charging network keeps growing along the main corridors, and at the quotation stage the concierge flags the most convenient points relative to where you are staying — hotels with their own chargers included.

Then there is a practical advantage that catches people out: two luggage compartments, the rear boot and the front frunk, for a combined capacity that puts many estate cars to shame. Within our selection of luxury sedans for rent in Sardinia, the Plaid is the choice for those who want the absolute peak of technology with five proper seats: check availability with your dates.