Hackers are some of the most competitive people in the world. I personally know this because I have some friends who treat this kind of thing as if their lives depended on it. So when hackers are invited to do something like hack a car and get paid for doing it, naturally, those competitive instincts kick in.

On July 16, 2014 hackers will get that chance at the SyScan conference in Beijing. The objective is simple: hack a car and win $10,000. Sounds simple enough, right?

Only it isn’t, because the car-to-be-hacked is none other than the Tesla Model S. Forbes is reporting that the company is opening the competition to anyone who registers for the conference. A Model S will be in attendance. So will a bunch of computers that we assume will be used for the competition. Whoever gets to turn the Model S into his or her puppet through hacking wins the prize.

This is the kind of challenge that hackers live for. Give them onions and they’re likely to do something with them. The same applies with a Model S, a computer, and the incentive to take home a whole lot of Benjamins.

Apparently, Tesla->ke1842 isn’t involved in the competition and its unlikely that it’ll give its blessing on the contest. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad publicity for the electric car manufacturer. After all, the company’s security reputation is top notch and hacking a Model S isn’t as simple as hacking, say, a PlayStation 4->ke4615.

So if a hacker somehow finds a way to make the car’s in-dash browser remotely visit TMZ or worse, control its steering from a computer, Tesla would likely want to find out how the hacker did it.

The rules and details behind the contest are still unknown, but we'll update you once we learn them.

Click past the jump to read more about Tesla Model S.

Why It Matters

We live in a day and age where computer hackers are now wielding powers beyond any of our control. A hacked car, especially one that features all the electronic gadgetry of the Model S, poses huge safety risks for its owners.

This is why there’s some validity to this competition. More and more cars will be software reliant in the future, and with this kind of increased connectivity, automakers should make it an objective to ensure that their models aren’t easily compromised.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is the perfect example of a car that has the aesthetic credentials of a luxury vehicle and an electric powertrain that’s as quiet as it is efficient. As an electric sedan, the Model S’ performance is one to behold, thanks to a slew of battery options that includes a range-topping 85 kWh battery.

The 85 kWh version is for those who want a bit more performance out of their Model S. It figures, then, that with a 0-to-60 mph time of just 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph, the Model S is fully capable of being that performance/electric/luxury model people are inclined to enjoy.