Elon's Coming
Tesla Model S: A Tesla for the Resta Us
Yesterday, Tesla head Elon Musk formally unveiled the Tesla Model S Sedan. Now Tesla, a car maker who has been accused of spending a couple hundred million dollars on vaporware has one model (the Roadster) in series production and a higher volume model in running prototype form.
The Model S is interesting, this 4 door sedan seats not 4, not 6, but 7 -- two in the front, three in the back, and two rear-facing jumpseats extending into what would ordinarily be the trunk area. I say ordinarily because the main storage compartment is under the hood. The Model S, being all electric, doesn't need that space for an engine, since it doesn't have one.
The model S will apparently have almost the same va-va-voom as the roadster, with 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. The base model will run approximately 160 miles per charge. You can add a long-range battery pack to extend the range up to 300 miles. The price for all this 21st century goodness? $57,500, but it is projected to be $49,900 after federal tax credits. There are a lot of slower, less roomy, less interesting cars that cost a lot more than that. Tesla would like to produce 20,000 units per year if they can get a government loan to build a new factory.
Since the government is currently paying Chrysler and GM to build thousands of gas-hog SUV's and may in the future pay Chrysler to tool up to build Fiats, it seems defensible to pay Chrysler or GM to subcontract to build the Model S instead.
I'm sure the car has plenty of bugs to work out, but you have to start somewhere, and the Model S is as good a place to start as any.
(information and picture via Autoblog Green)
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