Tesla Model S gets Detroit charged up

The Tesla Model S. Photo credit teslamotors.com

Most people know Tesla for creating the Tesla Roadster: an electric car that resembles a Lotus Elise and can accelerate from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds.

As cool as the Roadster is, It was Tesla's Model S that caught people's attention at the Detroit Auto Show,  as well as the announcement of the Model X.

The Model X will be Tesla's electric powered SUV, and while it is still in the beginning stages (Tesla wanted to do the Model S first) just the idea of it is helping to turn Tesla from a one-off car company to a legitimate car maker.

The Model S is a little bit closer to production.



While it was already formally introduced in 2009, it has had almost two years for testing and getting orders. The Detroit News reported there were already 3,500 orders for the car.

The Model S is not a supercar like the Roadster, but rather it gives luxury car buyers an electric alternative, assuming Tesla can keep the price competitive. And it appears, at first glance, as though they have.

Sideshot of the Model S. Pretty car, yes?
Photo credit teslamotors.com

The cost for one of these bad boys is around $49,000 with a $5,000 deposit. Considering it looks great, seats seven (five adults, two kids according to Tesla's website), can go from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 195 kmph (about 120 mph), it compares pretty well to some of the other luxury cars out there.

It has even managed to make the range issue a bit of a non-factor.

Tesla says it can charge just about anywhere in the world from any plug, and you can choose between three options for battery packs, which can give you 160 miles (257 kilometres), 230 miles (370 kilometres), or 300 miles (482 kilometres). The prices for the different packs are not on the website as of yet, and range, just like on any other car, depends on how you drive it.

Tesla also claims the Model S has the ability to recharge in a mere 45 minutes. Still a bit longer than a normal fill-up but a heck of a lot cheaper.

It looks like an interesting car, but we will have to wait to see how it works out for Tesla, as they will beginning shipping 2012.