| | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 Tesla Model S 
Tesla has given the full reveal on the all-electric Model S. The company’s first sedan will start at $57,400. Tesla is promoting this as a family car, and that’s not hard to believe with seating for up to seven. This sedan has normal seating for five full adults, but it also is taking a page from the old station wagons and has a child-size set of reward facing seats. Just like the rest of the domestic automakers, Tesla’s Model S comes with a list of options. The standard car comes with a lithium-ion battery pack that is good for 160 miles, but there will also be battery packs good for 230 and 300 miles. The base Model S will do 0-60 mph in under six seconds, and a optional sport version should shave about a second off that time. All cars will be electronically limited to a top speed of 130 mph. Tesla says the Model S can be charged in any 110V, 220V or 440V outlet. While the 440V takes a convenient 45 minutes for a full charge, we may be a little displeased with having to devote a room in our homes just for the new electrical set up required for 440V service. UPDATE 01/20/11: Months of research and development has finally led to this point. Tesla is now in the middle of running the first of two stages of testing for the Model S. The first phase, which is called the ’Alpha’ phase, has been running for a few months now, will continue on as the Model S is subjected to extensive testing in all types of climates. Before the car is green-lighted for production, the Model S will need to complete both the Alpha and Beta test phases the feature a thorough examination using computer simulations and test vehicles. In this video released by Tesla, we get a peek at the Model S doing some Alpha road testing. Check it out after the jump to see how far the Model S has come from being just a pipe dream a few years ago. UPDATE 03/09/11: The price for the highly anticipated Tesla Model S has been set at $57,000 for the Model S with the 160-mile range, or about $49,900 when you deduct the federal tax credit (worth $7,500) when it gets applied. If you think 160 miles isn’t far enough, Tesla is also offering a 230-mile version for $67,000 and the top-of-the-line 300-mile version for $77,000. We’ve also learned that the first 1,000 units of the Model S that will be sold in Noth America will be Signature Series editions that will come with the range topping 300-mile battery pack, which will begin to go on sale in the middle of 2012. Eventually, the base model and the mid-range model will be available later in 2012 with Tesla setting a 5,000-unit benchmark for 2012 with an expansion of 20,000 units beginning in 2013. Press release after the jump. Full story Tesla Model S priced at $57,400 ($49,900)
Tesla is gearing up for the official debut of the Model S sedan on March 26. The design shouldn’t be too much of a surprise considering the latest teaser image we saw last month has already given us a pretty good idea of what the all-electric sedan will look like. Instead the big news from Tesla today is the pricing. The Model S will start at $57,400, but that is reduced to $49,900 after applying a federal tax credit of $7,500. Production of the Model S should begin in 2011. We expect Tesla’s sedan to have a range of at least 160 miles from its lithium-ion battery pack, and all this will likely be confirmed at the unveiling next Thursday. Press release after the jump. Full story
Tesla Model S - new teaser image
Back in October Tesla lifted the car cover to show us the Model S sedan’s rump, and now the company is back lifting the same same tarp to show us all there is more to this electric car than just its ass. Tesla is in a similar predicament to many of the other larger U.S. auto companies, and it has its hand out to the U.S. Government for aid. Because of this the company is looking to get as much as publicity as possible, the Model S sedan has been promised to make its debut on March 26 — right around the same time it will hear about its loans from the Department of Energy. If all goes right the Tesla’s sedan will hit the streets 2011 to the tune of about 20,000 units per year. The price is expected to start under $60,000 (more than half off the Roadster Sport’s $128,500.) Range for the all-electric sedan is expected to start at around 160 miles but may possibly be available in a model that has an extended range to as much as 240 miles.
Tesla needs more cash to get Model S off the ground
Tesla wants a piece of the bailout pie. It got a $40 million shot in the arm back in October, but now it thinks $350 is the magic number. The original plan was to be in full swing production of the Tesla Roadster by now, but only 100 of 1200 orders have been filled. Now Tesla is trying to entice Government aid by releasing more details on the next step, the Model S sedan. Although the Roadsters are still in jeopardy, plans to start showing off the five-passenger sedan are still being announced. The Model S may be revealed within the next few months. It is rumored to do 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds, while the range is 240 miles on a single charge. Tesla is believes that the sedan’s $57,499 price will provide a more everyday electric alternative to the $109,000 Roadster. Will an electric for the people be enough to bring the Government on board? Time will tell, but the Model S’s planned debut in 2010 will put it against some stiff competition like the cheaper Chevy Volt. | Find us on Facebook | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|