We put disclaimers on everything these days. But that’s because we’re aware of the existence of American reality TV and that same country’s legal system. It’s… not worth the hassle. So when we tell you not to try to make your Tesla Model S float, we don’t think you’d actually try to do it. We’re just covering bases.
As it happens, a floating Model S is actually a possibility, as the video below – shot in Kazakstan – demonstrates. In it, you’ll see the Tesla powering along around submerged dead dinosaur vehicles, more or less floating through some of the deeper sections of the flooded tunnel, before making it to the other side and blithely driving off.
According to Elon Musk, the Tesla can actually function as a boat for a short period of time. It’s not really a design feature, though, so people shouldn’t start driving off jetties and going for a swim. It’s just nice to know that if you do accidentally drive into the ocean, you’ve got a few minutes before you need to panic. We’re not going to judge you on why you’re suddenly bobbing around in the sea in a Tesla Model S.
We *def* don't recommended this, but Model S floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time. Thrust via wheel rotation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2016
Source: Ars Technica