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UPDATE: Tesla Model S official release

Posted by Hootan Mahallati | March 26, 2009 | In green news tesla

Following up on our earlier post from today, here are the first pictures of the fully-electric Tesla Model S’ official launch, including a look at the interior.

We think it's stunning, with hints of Mazda up front now that we have seen the full car. Let us know what you think in the comments section.

Vital details:
On sale: Q3 2011
Units: 20,000/year
Price: $49,000 after tax credit
Motor: Lithium-ion battery, 8,000 cells
Transmission: 1 speed
Top Speed: 120mph
0-60mph: 5.5s
Range: 230 miles / 300 miles (base model / optional)
Charge time: 4 hours with 220V outlet
Curb weight: 4,000lb (1200lb for batteries)
Savings: $10-$15K/year compared to similar gasoline-powered car at $4/gallon

17" screen 3G and internet capable

[Source: Autoblog]

4 Comment(s)

Charlie K | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

There is absolutely no way in hell that this car will retail for $50k on annual volumes of 20,000 units. For starters, there's a lot of tooling to amortize of such a low production. Second, these guys at Tesla took an off-the-shelf body/chassis that normally retails for $50k and now sell it for nearly $110k. That's a $60k markup on a vehicle that is substantially the same as the Lotus Elise. Although Tesla claims that it shares only 10% of its components (I struggle to believe this), the more important element is that the entire vehicle was reverse engineered from an existing platform. Building a car from scratch is a very very different proposition.

So, I'd be willing to bet the Model S surpasses $100k in the blink of an eye and likely pushes $150k or more.

Hootan Mahallati | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

I tend to agree with you Charlie. History is littered with the corpses of little car companies that thought they could.

My sense is that Tesla is deliberately selling the S at a major loss in order to grab market share, and that the $350M grant they got from the government is destined precisely to subsidize this strategy.

Big E | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

There is also no way it will have a range of 230 miles while using any of its claimed performance.Probably more like 10 miles at 120mph.... I also like the charge time of 4 hours@220V - what's the charge time in the States with 110V?

Big E

Hootan Mahallati | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

What, do I sense skepticism that EV's will work as advertised ?! Say it ain't so!