Introduced in 2012, the Tesla Model S range has been subject to many changes in five years. Besides a mid-cycle update, Tesla discontinued the smaller battery options and introduced more powerful versions of its all-electric sedan. With the 40-, 60-, and 70-kWh batteries long gone, Tesla is now phasing out the rear-wheel-drive variant of the 75-kWh model. Currently the most affordable Model S you can buy, the RWD 75-kWh sedan will be removed from the company's online design studio on September 24. So if you're planning to buy one, you'd better hurry and place an order before it gets the axe.

Without the Model S 75 on offer, the base price of the all-electric sedan will now increase from $84,300 to the $89,300 sticker of the 75D, which shares specs with the 75, but has a second electric motor, which makes it all-wheel drive. These prices do not include the federal tax credit and Tesla's estimated gas savings over five years. With the federal rebate included, the 75D can cost as low as $70,000. Starting Sunday, the model S range will include only three models. Besides the 75D, customers will have access to the 100-kWh model, and the range-topping, performance-oriented P100D version. This also means that all Model S sedans will be all-wheel-drive starting next week.

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Why Is Tesla Removing the 75 from the Lineup?

There's no official word about it, but I think Tesla is trying to separate the flagship Model S and the newly introduced, more affordable Model 3 even more. The most obvious result of removing the Model S 75 is that the large sedan becomes an AWD range only, while the Model 3 remains the only choice if you want a single-motor Tesla. While we can't talk about cannibalization due to the massive difference in price between the Model S and Model 3, Tesla is most likely trying to turn the former into a more upscale, performance-oriented offering.

That's not a bad idea, and judging by the fact that Tesla has been constantly removing the smallest battery from the lineup, it's safe to assume that most customers prefer more powerful variants with all-wheel-drive. This leaves the Model 3 as the simpler, more affordable proposition, so it makes a lot of sense to leave the single-motor drivetrain to the entry-level model.

References

Tesla Model S

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