Daily Auto News Tesla Model S: $50,000 Electric Sedan Unveiled
Daily Auto News
Tesla Motors, the California start-up behind the high-performance, all-electric Tesla Roadster, has unveiled its next product: a luxurious four-door electric sedan available for half the Roadster’s price.
Edmunds Inside Line reports, “The Model S will seat up to seven people, will accelerate from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 135 mph, and will have a driving range of up to 300 miles,” according to company President Elon Musk. “The standard lithium-ion battery pack that comes with the Model S is good for a 160-mile range, the company said. An optional battery pack will extend the range to 300 miles and can be quick-charged in 45 minutes.” Rear- and all-wheel-drive models are planned.
Autoblog adds, “The car fits seven people and their luggage: five adults and two children in rear-facing seats under the hatch inside, with luggage in the boot up front.”
On the outside, it’s a sharp-looking car. Edmunds calls it “a surprisingly sleek exterior design,” and notes that “aluminum body panels will help keep the weight down to around 4,000 pounds.”
Inside, it’s a technological wonder. There are no buttons or dials — all climate and entertainment functions are managed by a pair of touchscreens. Jalopnik reports, “The current design looks really busy at first glance, but that’s probably because the entire console takes the place of what used to be a slew of buttons and knobs and dials.” The screens in the center stack “can manipulate your iPod, Google Maps as well as streaming radio,” while the screen in the driver’s instrument cluster shows a variety of driver-selectable information, including speed and battery usage.
Tesla had hoped to price the Model S for less than $50,000. With the help of a recently-passed $7,500 federal tax credit, Autoblog reports, “the Model S will start at just under $50,000 – $49,900 to be exact.”
But don’t get out your checkbook yet. An exact production schedule has not been announced. Edmunds cautions, “Tesla twice has announced, then canceled specific production plans for the Model S.”
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