Last week Tesla outlined its pending Model S options ranging from a pre-incentive MSRP of $57,400 to nearly double this at $105,400 for a packed-out Signature Performance edition.
This is a fairly wide range for the company’s only model. Can you imagine Chevrolet optioning the Volt from $39,995 to $73,495 for the same rolling chassis and powertrain? No, by the time GM commands high five figures for a Voltec, odds are better it will be a Cadillac ELR.
With such a varying sticker, one could almost say the Model S is a line of vehicles saving Tesla the cost of different exterior designs.
Signature Performance version distinguished by red with white leather.
The main price-impacting options are thermally managed Panasonic-celled battery packs starting at 40 kwh and available also in 60 kwh and 85 kwh. Note that each bump in capacity is larger than the Volt’s entire 16-kwh pack, and close or slightly more than the Leaf’s 24 kwh.
Tesla’s approximately 4,000-pound luxurious family sports sedan is not cheap, but industry observers are crediting it for bargain-basement battery pricing.
Each increase of 20 kwh (or 25 kwh) starts at $10,000 which substantially undercuts price-per-kwh for competitive automakers’ batteries.
The car follows Tesla’s inaugural model, the Roadster coupe, which is being discontinued after a few year run and anticipated total sales of 2,400 units.
The first S models are expected summer 2012 through winter 2012 starting with the top-of-the range first. This will mean a lapse of several months as Tesla sells out the Roadster and prepares for first-year assembly of 5,000 S models at its 350,000-square-foot factory – formerly the GM/Toyota NUMMI plant – in Fremont, Calif.
This factory’s annual Model S production capacity is 20,000 but with over 7,000 pre-orders, Tesla’s first-year goal is already more than spoken for.
Tesla lists prices with a $7,500 federal incentive already deducted letting the base model come in at just under $50,000. While some publications are echoing this practice, we’ll let you do your own math depending on your actual circumstances.
The vehicles
All versions utilize a 300 kw (402 horsepower) motor, but Tesla configures them so the higher the battery pack capacity, the higher the performance.
The first vehicles expected in July will be 85-kwh versions followed by the 60-kwh model in the fall, and 40-kwh entry level versions in winter 2012.
Performance even for the base-level $57,400 Model S is nothing to sneeze at. Zero-to-60 mph is stated at 6.5 seconds, top speed is 110 mph, and range at 55 mph is said to be 160 miles.
Its 40-kwh battery comes with an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty and a 10-kw charger (20 kw optional) but Tesla says it cannot utilize level III “Supercharging” as can some higher powered models.
The 60-kwh Model S starts at $67,400 before adding options (that many buyers will want). Its bigger battery allows for 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds, top speed of 120 mph, and range is boosted to 230 miles at 55 mph. Battery warranty is also upped to 8 years/125,000 miles, and an extra on-board charger is optionally available for a total of 20 kw.
Up from here come models that – being launched first – will give the initial media splash and reward the highest paying buyers all at the same time.
Four versions with the 85-kwh battery are the $77,400 Model S, $84,900 Model S Performance (add $5,000 in “Additional Standard Equipment), the $95,400 Signature, and the Signature Performance for $105,400.
Range for all four when measured at 55 mph is 300 miles. The Model S Performance and Signature Performance zip to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with top speed of 130 mph, while the Model S and Signature do 0-60 in 5.6 seconds with top speed of 125 mph. All 85-kwh models come with an 8 year/unlimited mile battery warranty.
The 100-percent refundable reservation price for your choice of Model S variant is $5,000 however to put your name on a Signature Performance model, the company kindly asks for $40,000 in advance.
The vehicles come with eight airbags, and Tesla says they will achieve top safety ratings. Other options of note include a $1,500 glass panoramic roof, paint, trim, interior and infotainment choices, and more.
The twin on-board battery chargers (20 kw total) are said to provide up to 62 miles of charge per hour when plugged into the charger port hidden behind the driver’s side side-marker light.
Tesla also plans to install 90-kw “SuperChargers” along California’s I-5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco for the 85-kwh S models, and possibly 60-kwh versions. They are said to add 160 miles of range in 30 minutes or less. Since their connectors are proprietary, not J1772 or Chademo, only Teslas will be able to plug in to them.
Gambit
Tesla’s intentions to become a bona fide American car manufacturer are – like Fisker’s – ambitious and relatively high stakes.
The company includes as its financial backers Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG, Panasonic Corp., and of course, company CEO Elon Musk, who is its largest shareholder
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Morgan Stanley reduced Tesla’s price target by 37 percent, and that day its stock fell almost 10 percent to $30.89 per share. As of last week it was at $27.90 following this options pricing news.
Tesla would like to be the first profitable EV maker, but at this stage, Bloomberg reported Tesla’s third-quarter net loss widened to $65.1 million from $34.9 million a year ago, and through Sept. 30 it had lost $172.9 million. These statements were culled from Tesla’s Web site, but otherwise Tesla has not yet issued an annual report.
Morgan Stanley’s downgrade, according to its analyst was “entirely due to lowered forecasts for long-term global EV penetration for the industry, while implying Tesla’s EV market share rises slightly versus our prior forecast.”
In its favor, Tesla is making some spectacular looking automobiles with performance to match. It has been getting reviews ranging from optimistic to super-enthusiastic from the automotive press – with some also noting its elitist tendencies as well.
No doubt this time of uncertainty, speculation and volatility in sentiment is factored into the maverick company’s business plan.
The Model S vehicles, while potentially pricey by average car standards, are less than the six-figure Roadsters, and plans are to sell perhaps ten times or more the volume per year in coming years while the company also designs and intends to launch mass market EVs costing less than the Volt.
The company was credited by Morgan Stanley as prioritizing delivery quality over quantity for its Model S, and Musk said it expects to be profitable by 2013.
To view Tesla’s Model S options and pricing page, click here.
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+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (7:24 am)I like the look of them. But both the Volt and Model S are out of my price range. I’d love to have either as my daily driver.
+12
Dec 27th, 2011 (7:37 am)My thoughts:
I thought the Model S was supposed to be the Volt killer. Now it is the next model…
Why do they get to list pricing that already includes the $7500 rebate? If GM tried that, they would be called every name in the book.
If, as we have been told a million times, the Volt is overpriced, and only the elite can afford it, then what is the market for this car?
Tesla only sold 2400 Roadsters in several years. So how do they think they are going to sell ten times that many per year, when the prices are not all that different for the top end model? And the top end is the one they will want to build, as it will be the one to make a profit.
Going proprietary on their charging connector, makes them a orphan right out of the gate. Not good, IMHO.
For a company that has no large scale dealership or service network in place, they want to act like people are just going to accept them like any other existing car manufacturer. I don’t know if that strategy will work.
I really wish them well, but except for California, I don’t expect anyone to see many of these on the road…………
Still glad I own a Volt!
C-5277
+1
Dec 27th, 2011 (8:12 am)Welding aluminum is not easy. I’m surprised to see little to no carbon fiber on such an advanced design.
The beauty of reinventing the car is that legacy materials can be left in the dust.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (8:31 am)Beautiful car. A top performer, as good or better than gasoline cars in its price range. The EV range is the best available by far, and gives the car much better utility, as does the Volt’s range extender, but without the ICE maintence and not so smooth and quiet operation. DC fast charging at about 320 mph at Tesla’s propritary “SuperCharger” stations will also increase its utility.
Speaking of utility, the Model S has a huge amount of passenger and luggage space, with rear hatchback and a front trunk. Great for road trips, but this makes me wish it DID have a range extender, so that I could “recharge” at about 3000 mph at any gas station!
Tesla doesn’t expect to be profitable until 2013, when they expect to have enough income from the Model S. They plan to sell from a few dozen very nice company owned stores, instead of thousands of independent dealerships.
I wish them the best.
GSP
+11
Dec 27th, 2011 (9:23 am)Well, I guess we’re seeing about where the base price of the Cadillac ELR will be.
Regarding the span of prices across different packages, Chevy is no stranger. The 2012 Corvette ranges from $49,525 to $111,525 base price. And even the top-end ZR1 has extra-cost options available to goose the price to $122,525.
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (9:52 am)I went to a Tesla event in NJ this summer. They said that the Model S will be able to connect to a J1772 charger using an adapter, so they won’t be out in the cold as more standardized charging stations come on line. However their proprietary units are much much faster and with that much range most people will only need to charge at home anyway. (the home unit they were showing that day was 90 amps for god’s sake).
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (9:57 am)Nice looking car, but won’t outsell a Porche Panamera which I would say is one of it’s prime competitors. Being a BEV, it’s not really a “long range touring car”. It’s more of an “upscale realtor property-showing car” to “nice suburban EV commuter for the 1%”. Their network of proprietary charging stations may not work out that well for most people. maybe regionally around So. Cal thru Vegas thru Central to No. Cal. Maybe add Reno. Possibly will do ok on Long Island and No. NJ.
It’s pretty, it’s a risky proposition. Lusk is betting the company on the Model S. Since the lower-cost one won’t be available until end of 2012, it’s possible that this will be (like in the Charlie Rose intervew) a “after the first year, everyone who wanted one – got one” type of car with tailing off sales. Once they sell their first 6000 units – how hard will it be to sell the next 6000 units?
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:09 am)Those were great videos! I hope Tesla is successful but I think the Model S might have an Achilles heel. If the well-protected battery pack of the Volt sustained significant damage in a side impact crash test I imagine the Model S battery pack might sustain even more damage in the same type of crash test.
+1
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:17 am)#8 Jim,
Remember that the Volt had delayed issues due to the coolant leak and “crystalization” over time. The Tesla has many small, individual cells with air-space between. They probably do have some thermal runaway potential if they were cracked/pierced in such a crash. They have a higher specific energy per kg than the Volt and also than A123. But will it spread widely or just be a single or few cells that show the damage? I think the mandated crash tests will show how that goes. No crash tests done just yet on the Model S.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:18 am)Looks like the Model S will be the 100% EV vehicle to own in the immediate years ahead. And who cares if it’s elitist? Virtually all advanced technology and all luxury cars already are. Let’s hope it’s a success.
It looks spectacular. 0-60 in under five? I wonder what the torque figures are? Given the kick I get from my Volt in Sport Mode, I’ll bet the high performance Model S is a real face squash-er.
But, alas, we will be lacking a charging infrastructure that can “re-fuel” an all-EV vehicle almost as fast as gasoline for many years. So EVs like this will necessarily be a second car, while eREVS like the Volt can be a full-time vehicle for trips of any length.
-2
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:28 am)Too much money, not enough utility and practicality.
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:53 am)Nice! Love the car,
but being 180 million in the red will be a large hurdle to get over.. “Bloomberg reported Tesla’s third-quarter net loss widened to $65.1 million from $34.9 million a year ago, and through Sept. 30 it had lost $172.9 million. These statements were culled from Tesla’s Web site, but otherwise Tesla has not yet issued an annual report.”
If I get one it would be the base model, and I think I would do some research — how do they detune the cheap ones? Should be reversible.
“All versions utilize a 300 kw (402 horsepower) motor, but Tesla configures them so the higher the battery pack capacity, the higher the performance.”
Fast charging?!! I didn’t expect to see the technology this soon. 90 Amps?! Oohh !
+10
Dec 27th, 2011 (11:22 am)► This Tesla generation was the “WhiteStar”:
The Tesla Model S is a full-sized battery electric sedan developed by Tesla Motors. It is an electric car that was initially codenamed WhiteStar during research and preliminary development. Model S was announced in a press release on June 30, 2008.
► The Leaf-ish “BlueStar” was always the third generation:
The Tesla BlueStar is the proposed third battery electric car to be manufactured by Tesla Motors, with a production goal of 2015. Tesla wants the car to cost between US$20,000 and US$30,000. Technology from Tesla’s Model S line may also make its way into the BlueStar line.
The company had plans for the BlueStar as part of its trickle-down strategy, where the battery and electric drivetrain technology would be developed and paid for through sales of the Tesla Roadster and Tesla Model S vehicles.
Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk said: “I feel pretty confident we can get to a compelling sub-$30,000 car in five years.” during a September 2009 interview.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Bluestar
Dec 27th, 2011 (11:33 am)Watching the videos about the “innovative” engineering, integration, and space utilization make me wonder about serviceability when one of those tightly packaged components needs replacement.
+3
Dec 27th, 2011 (11:55 am)The Tesla S is indeed a beautiful car. That being said, I just got my 2012 Volt in August so I won’t be considering any new car purchases for at least another three years. It will be interesting to see what models, range and prices of EVs, BEVs, etc. will be available at that time.
+11
Dec 27th, 2011 (11:58 am)Trying to exit the Roadster at a Tesla showroom in 2008 made it clear that the difficulty in entering and exiting a car with seats lower than the sill would limit the numbers sold. It is easy to enter and exit in Model S. Those who have made a deposit have been invited to the factory to ride in Model S, talk to the engineers and tour the production line. A beta version (about 90% true to the production run) has been touring the country allowing every showroom visitor the ability to sit in any of the seven seats of the car. (48 inch height limit with the two rear facing seats.) There is a trunk under the front hood; cargo room is abundant unlike the Roadster. The small elegant charge connector handles the 120, 240 and DC supercharge. They are even including the J1772 adapter as standard equipment. Since the connector locks onto the car, adapters cannot be removed without permission. Overall I am very impressed and look forward to getting behind the wheel for a test drive.
+2
Dec 27th, 2011 (12:05 pm)#4
Well I think they’ve got that part right anyway, LOL.
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (12:08 pm)It just makes me appreciate my Volt all the more.
Dec 27th, 2011 (12:14 pm)More from our friends to the East:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204296804577124343176436540.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
Can affect some EV pricing for electric motors, etc.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (12:50 pm)I have always been smitten with the Model S. Just a gorgeous design. If money was no object, to me the 300 mile range edition would make the strongest case for an all-electric car. 300 mile range pretty much gets most people wherever they want to go and back again. The Volt beats this car on the practical side though.
I always root for Tesla, although anyone can plainly see they have a long uphill climb. If they are to survive, they most likely have to marry into Toyota or another large company. As we saw with Saab, the car business is too capital intensive to go it alone. I could envision Tesla being swallowed up by Toyota in a few more years, and sold as a boutique brand perhaps next to Lexus in dealerships across the U.S. In that capacity, Tesla would have the deeper pockets of its parent Toyota to develop their line of vehicles, and Toyota could benefit by the individuality and expressiveness of Tesla’s car designs next to the Lexus line in their showrooms. Plus it would give Toyota another shot of green cred. If I had my preference, I would love to see Tesla remain a standalone entity. Sadly though, given the costs of everything, that’s probably not a realistic dream.
-2
Dec 27th, 2011 (1:37 pm)As someone planning to get a 160 miler when my Leaf lease ends in Feb ’14 – I was very disappointed with the S options. I’m afraid they have effectively crippled the 160 miler making it uncompetitive in the marketplace.
The biggest concern in lack of quick charging in the base 40 kWh (i.e. 160 miler). What we want really is a CHAdeMO adopter more than access to the very few SuperChargers. But since the reason for not allowing quick charging on the 160 miler is warranty i.e. Tesla says they can’t give 8 year warranty if they allow quick charging – it is likely that even if they make a CHAdeMO adopter, it won’t work with the 160 miler.
The Tech package needed for everything from FOB to Nav to handsfree trunc opening is a hefty $3,750. You would expect some of them as the std in a $50K car. Then there is the leather issue. Need to get leather seats to get heated seat. Both nav & heated seats are standard in Leaf.
Anyway, I think all this makes the base 160 miler uncomepetitive vs (rumoured) Infiniti EV – a 130 mile car for $40k. Tesla really needs to sell as many Model S’s as possible to get to a sustainable volume. They can’t hope to just sell the $60k+ models and achieve the 20k per year target. This makes continuation of Tesla as an indepedant business entity unlikely in the long run.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (1:42 pm)One other thought:
Is 300 miles per charge really 300 miles, or is it, only on 72 degree days, going on flat or downhill roads, with a tail wind, and no other electric accessories in operations?
Because if 300 miles is really only 150 with the heat on, when the outside temp is 25 degrees, going up and down Ohio hills, and with the lights and stereo on, then the people that can afford that $90K for the car will not be too happy………..
My Volt only will have about 29 miles of range today here in Youngstown. It is cold, windy, and snowing, so I will have the lights, heater and the music on! But no worries, since that cool EREV ICE will just start up when I am 36 miles from home and the battery range indicator goes to zero! I will use my 1 gallon of gas for the week.
C-5277
+3
Dec 27th, 2011 (1:55 pm)#22
Exactly. +1
The Mittster was clearly full of crap in his comment about the Volt. As to the pure EV…………………….. maybe not so much.
GM definitely learned something from the EV1 experience.
+2
Dec 27th, 2011 (2:18 pm)I didn’t see weight specs for the bigger battery cars; really wondering how heavy the middle and top of the lines are.
These cars have a real chance, I think, and I wish them success. If money was no object, I’d strongly consider buying one of the middle models and upgrading my charging capacity. I still couldn’t drive it from home to my work site in MD, though, without having charging facilities down there to make it back home.
I wonder how it drives compared to the Volt. Obviously, it’s faster, but the Volt feels like a highly-developed, tight, quiet, well-engineered, thoroughly modern car. It sets the bar pretty high for a car like the Tesla S.
+3
Dec 27th, 2011 (2:20 pm)Absolutely NOT!
The Volt and Tesla stand head and shoulders above all others as superbly engineered cars with the goal of being best regardless of category. Both development teams pursued all aspects to optimize performance and value. Both have designed their own advanced electric motors and control strategy. This is a far cry from Fisker’s approach of buying off-the-shelf motors, controller, and batteries. The only engineering challenge Fisker faced was how to make all the parts fit, which they did by stretching the chassis, and wound up with a car that weighs 1500 lbs more than the Volt and 1000 lbs more than the Model S and has almost no trunk space.
However that said these cars are NOT in the same market competing with each other. EREV-hybrids are a different market from BEVs and the Tesla’s higher price puts it into the upper luxury market vs the Volts more middle luxury.
Despite the price difference, the Volt competes much more directly with the Karma. The Volt is vastly superior from an engineering viewpoint, but not nearly as sexy from a stylistic viewpoint. I really like the looks of the Karma, but if I had the money I would choose the Volt over the Karma (even if they were the same price).
I do believe that Chevrolet should bring out a pure BEV version of the Volt, and let customers decide which type they want. I also believe that the EREV would out-sell the BEV version by 3:1 or 4:1, but again the customer should have a choice.
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (2:31 pm)The Roadster and Model S are different markets. The Roadster is very small (due to its Lotus heritage). This has limited its market to purists, if it was the size of a Corvette, it would have enjoyed a larger market (but being larger it would have had to be even more expensive).
Don’t forget that the Model S has already sold 3 times more than the entire Roadster production.
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (2:51 pm)Initially, I was with you on this one. I wrote in blogs that this was a big mistake on Tesla’s part and they should have gone with the J1772 standard.
But I have since re-considered. Tesla includes adapters, and although more awkward, does allow charging from any source. But more importantly I have not seen any proposal for what I consider the ideal plug design, that is one 5 pin plug that has 2 for data communication and 3 for power that would allow single phase, 3 phase, and DC all up to 100 amps. The proposed Level 3 J1772 is a big awkward design with separate pins for AC and DC (a direct result of committee design compromising to satisfy everyone). Tesla’s design is the closest to my ideal with shared power pins for AC and DC, but no support for 3 phase. Tesla shares the same 2 pin data protocol as the J1772 which is much more robust than ChaDemo’s 8 pin design.
Tesla’s design is the best on the market so far, and I applaud them for having the guts to promote it this way and although I would hope my variation would be ultimately chosen, if more companies adopt Tesla’s design I think it would be a big step forward.
+10
Dec 27th, 2011 (3:03 pm)Tesla IS a small company. So is Maserati, Aston-Martin, Lotus, Ferrari. These and many other small companies are accepted as bonafide auto manufacturers, why not Tesla?
+1
Dec 27th, 2011 (3:22 pm)I am not sure about this, but… I read somewhere that the batteries, although all from Panasonic are different in the various packages. That is each 18650 battery is different chemistry/construction across the different pack sizes. This means that an upgrade would require removing all the lower grade batteries and replacing them with higher grade. See http://industrial.panasonic.com/www-cgi/jvcr21pz.cgi?E+BA+3+ACA4001+4++WW
In terms of performance, acceleration, top speed and fast charging, these are all limited by battery type. If the battery pack was replaced with a larger capacity one, I expect it would be only a software change to enable the higher acceleration etc.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (3:35 pm)Actually, that is a design plus. The whole drive train easily drops out of the bottom of the car for servicing and access to all sides.
+2
Dec 27th, 2011 (3:47 pm)evnow,
I agree, when people look into the differences it looks like the base model becomes undesirable, so the Model S really should be thought of as a $70k+ car.
+1
Dec 27th, 2011 (5:03 pm)This is not necessarily true. The Tesla Roadster and Tesla Roadster Sport have different motor windings and different motor cooling systems, even if the batteries and motors are essentially the same.
The Roadster Sport gets a big performance upgrade from those differences.
Dec 27th, 2011 (5:53 pm)I guess we know what car Roy likes!!!!
A pure BEV from any manufacturer would not be my choice at this time, but if this is the car you choose, then I wish you all the best!
Let us know how it works out. Specs from the manufacturer are interesting, but real life experiences from owners are what tells the real story.
Two small quibbles on your comments:
The cars are really not sold until the owners pay for them in full and drive off the lot in their new vehicle. So to say that Tesla has already sold three time the amount of Roadsters in not really accurate. The deposits are refundable for now, isn’t that correct? So prospects still have time to make that final decision. Or have they all signed contracts that can not be cancelled?
As far as the other manufacturers you mentioned, they have all been in business for quite a while, with many models produced over the years. Tesla, on the other hand has only every sold one model, and only a very small quantity of those, so I don’t think they are in the same class as Maserati, Aston-Martin, Lotus, and Ferrari. Could Telsa make it to that point? Sure, but not as of today. And I really hope they do, but it is an uphill road, that takes a lot of cash. And I don’t know if there is enough cash available to make it long term.
JMHO
C-5277
+1
Dec 27th, 2011 (6:55 pm)I like part at 1:05 where he said they strived hard to make sure their car has a “Volt-like feel.”
+4
Dec 27th, 2011 (7:32 pm)/…..am being hacked to the point where I can not as easily post. But I know
where the problem is, so it won’t take long to correct.
This is just part of the new information age.
On topic, …… if Tesla can deliver on what it says, that would be a nice option
for lots of folks, but the Volt is being delivered every day, and has been for
at least a year. This impresses me to no end.
+5
Dec 27th, 2011 (8:01 pm)Great looking vehicle, and priced and engineered to compete well with the BMW 5 and 7 series, Audi A7, as well as the Mercedes E class. For every luxury car segment buyer that purchases the Tesla S instead of the foreign import ICE car, I see it as a win for US manufacturing, our planet, and another step in reducing our oil addiction.
For those trying to compare this to the Volt and saying Model S is too expensive: Keep in mind this car is not in the same segment at all. Consumers buying the Model S are are not going to look at Volt, Leaf, or Prius as a comparable substitute. They will want a good balance between comfort, performance, handling, and style that’s simply not there in the entry level EVs.
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:20 pm)Question for Volt owners – how much more “performance” (meaning acceleration) than Volt in Sport mode would you need? Is Tesla’s “performance” angle really what is needed to sell the vehicles? I suppose they would have fewer buyers if they were 0-60 in 7.4 seconds. The “type-A, testosterone crowd”, I guess. Most people in that crowd like engine noise and other benefits of ICE sports vehicles. Will they be satisfied by “quiet acceleration”?
+2
Dec 27th, 2011 (10:41 pm)Just finishing a 14 hr day.. didn’t have time to read the full article or all the posts, but saw this one. I may be in the “sport” group. Of course I dont accelerate like a bat out of hell all the time, but I would like that power to be available. It would be nice if GM could put an option to allow full engine & traction motor torque to be delivered to the wheels. I know its been said you can chirp the tires, but i guess i’m looking for a little more, something to throw you into the back of your seat, or if you need to pass someone on a 2-lane highway. Yes, i would probably use up 1/3 of my battery, but its my juice to use right? I replied to your question, but i’m not a Volt owner, …yet (shooting for early 2012). Maybe the constant torque of the Volt will satisfy me. I’ve only driven it around parking lots or at low speeds.
EDIT: I know I should find some links to back this up, but from what I remember reading, the “typical” car purchaser, with all other things being equal, buys the most HP they can afford. So there’s a little “sport” in all of us I guess.
Dec 28th, 2011 (12:41 am)I disagree. The base Model S looks to be the only true 100+ mile BEV on the market next year. For those that find its range acceptable, it by far a better value than other similar vehicles (Jaguar, Porsche, Acura).
+2
Dec 28th, 2011 (1:35 am)Unfortunately for me it is all dreams, as I cannot afford a Volt or a Tesla. I recommend both to my friends and do not see them as competitors. I am not here trying to promote the Model S per se, just counteracting what I see as mis-conceptions or trying to add more detail.
True, they are not sold. But at $5k deposit I think it shows far more commitment than LEAF $99 deposits.
At what point do you consider an auto manufacturer to be a manufacturer? Fisker Karma is built by Valmet in Finland, so is Fisker a manufacturer? Tesla Roadster was built mostly by Lotus with the motor/battery installed in California so only partly manufactured in USA. And yes no Model Ss have be manufactured and sold yet. But as soon as the first customer destined Model S rolls off the assembly line in Fremont, I think that will qualify Tesla as an automobile manufacturer.
+1
Dec 28th, 2011 (6:22 pm)The fact that they’re selling through company owned stores instead of dealerships is going to cut out a lot of expense…. imagine if GM could sell their vehicles online or without a dealership being involved – there’s no reason at all for dealerships to exist these days, and the GM dealerships I’ve dealt with have been nothing short of atrocious. Unfortunately, state laws across the nation protect dealerships, while punishing consumers.
GSP,
Dec 28th, 2011 (6:25 pm)Roy_H,
I don’t understand how $349/mo is a dream… that’s not much money, especially considering the cost per mile to drive is close to $0, and the Leaf lease is scheduled to hit $289/mo in 2012, which of course means the Volt (and other vehicles) will probably follow. I always watch for Prius leases to hit $169/mo, then they bounce to $229, then back down, then back up…