Friday 27th March 2009

Tesla Model S Revealed

Official pictures of Tesla's five-door electric car

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The wraps have finally come off Tesla’s new Model S – a ‘sporty’ $50k five-door billed as the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle.

The vehicle was unveiled in the US yesterday, with Tesla claiming its new model has a 120mph top speed, will do 0-60 in 5.6secs or will drive 300 miles on a single charge.

According to Tesla’s press release, the new

Model S has a liquid-cooled 9-inch motor, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed transaxle gearbox delivering ‘effortless acceleration, responsive handling and quiet simplicity – no fancy clutchwork or gear-shifting required.’

Wrapped up in a swoopy body that will actually seat seven (with two rear facing kiddie seats in the boot), the Model S will be built primarily from aluminium and weigh in at 1800kgs.

The predicted 300 mile range will be possible because the Model S has 8000 battery cells against the Tesla Roadster’s 6000. With a 220v domestic outlet, you’ll be able to recharge the car in 4 hours for around $4 at current prices, and Tesla is reportedly working with the US government to set up battery changing stations. Apparently technicians will be able to swap power packs in 6-8 minutes, which Tesla says is quicker than filling a car with petrol.

If that all sounds too exciting for words, don’t get carried away just yet. The ‘world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle’ isn’t in production yet, and won’t be until late in 2011.

[CypherP]

I really like the look of this. KInda ripped off the SLR style wheels though, and looks almost RX8-ish from the front end, but still a really good looking saloon.. Again, will be interesting to see if it retains the power/performance figures quoted.

[Witchfinder]

There's a whiff of Quattroporte about it. Looks nice.

[PhantomPH]

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

[Nightshade]

That's a good looking car. Definitely some Maserati influence in there. But that's never a bad thing.

[speedychrissie]

"Apparently technicians will be able to swap power packs in 6-8 minutes, which Tesla says is quicker than filling a car with petrol."

where does it take 8 minutes to fill a car with petrol! that is a ridiculous statement.

the car however does look viable.

[tinman0]

Nightshade said:

That's a good looking car. Definitely some Maserati influence in there. But that's never a bad thing.

nice looking vehicle! can't help feeling that the competition will air on the side of milk float design though.

[carl_w]

So a Tesla Roadster (presumably lighter) has 3/4 of the number of batteries but half the range?

[[AJ]]

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

My exact thoughts. Looks promising, although I hope they use more modern battery tech when it goes into production.

[gj88]

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

[porcupineprince]

That's a lovely looking car! Hopefully will become as popular as the Insignia/Mondeo/Passat.

[appletonn]

gj88 said:

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

Well, since it is based on an Elise chassis and built by Lotus.....

[gj88]

appletonn said:

gj88 said:

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

Well, since it is based on an Elise chassis and built by Lotus.....

That does not mean it has to look like it

[havoc]

That looks like it's been designed by Henrik Fisker to me.

Probably not - he'll be busy enough coachbuilding his own stuff. But closer to his stuff than to Maser...

[clonmult]

gj88 said:

appletonn said:

gj88 said:

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

Well, since it is based on an Elise chassis and built by Lotus.....

That does not mean it has to look like it

Did you make the same comments when the VX220 was released as well?

My problem is - why the heck show the product so far in advance of a potential release???

[JayKaybi]

gj88 said:

appletonn said:

gj88 said:

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

Well, since it is based on an Elise chassis and built by Lotus.....

That does not mean it has to look like it

I don't really think it does much - or at least it didn't until the Evora came along with similar ideas, albeit larger.

O/T but I just reviewed the Roadster here - http://www.auto-journals.com/features/122

[Bizzle]

:Shakes Head:
Yeah, great... Another electric car that takes its power straight from the National Grid, which is primarily powered by a system that's just as polluting as burning petrol BUT with 90% of the efficiency. Smashing. Well done.

Bloody tree huggers hail "electric cars" as the answer to the world’s problems. But the power to run them has to be produced some how!

Car looks nice tho.

[Lucozade]

Love to know what the stated figures for range will be when it's carrying 7 people!. It's already 1800kgs so with 5 adults and 2 kids it's gonna be very heavy indeed. Certainly not the 300 miles they are claiming I would have thought.

Wonder why they didn't try to use some solar panel arrangements on the roof to trickle charge the batteries when the car is parked outside and to keep the batteries topped up. Too costly, too heavy, etc.

Car does look good. Second concept car I've seen with a side look of the Aston V8 Vantage.

[Lucozade]

Love to know what the stated figures for range will be when it's carrying 7 people!. It's already 1800kgs so with 5 adults and 2 kids it's gonna be very heavy indeed. Certainly not the 300 miles they are claiming I would have thought.

Wonder why they didn't try to use some solar panel arrangements on the roof to trickle charge the batteries when the car is parked outside and to keep the batteries topped up. Too costly, too heavy, etc.

Car does look good. Second concept car I've seen with a side look of the Aston V8 Vantage.

[Marwood79]

clonmult said:

gj88 said:

appletonn said:

gj88 said:

PhantomPH said:

Mazzer crossed with a Jag XF.

I like it!

Just what I thought. Their other model is an elise rip off too.....Tesla - the least imagination a man can get.

Well, since it is based on an Elise chassis and built by Lotus.....

That does not mean it has to look like it

Did you make the same comments when the VX220 was released as well?

My problem is - why the heck show the product so far in advance of a potential release???

Maybe because the Roadster has fallen over in many people's views based on the terrible range. Not to mention it being £90k. They propably want to hurry up with more good news to keep up appearances.

Great looking car though - price is comparable with mid-execs and if they can reliably hit those range figures in the real world then I think it's time to take Tesla very seriously.

By 2011 petrol prices are likely to be back well north of £1.00/l too. Good luck to them.

[EK993]

Hows this going to work in the real world though? If electric vehicles are the way forward, it will more or less put oil companies out of business... and I can't see energy suppliers not wanting to cash in and vastly increase the price of electricity. Are we really going to be allowed to get away with $4 for 300 miles?