Tesla boosts range, power and price of low-end Model S

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — Electric car maker Tesla Motors is going after mainstream luxury car buyers by adding all-wheel-drive and more range and power to the base version of its only model.

But the added features at the low end of the Model S lineup will come with about a 7 percent price increase, to $75,000 for those buying the cars. The base lease price will rise to $838 per month from $796.

As of Wednesday, Tesla will stop selling the old base Model S called the 60. The $70,000 rear-drive car with a 380-horsepower motor could go 208 miles on a single charge and from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

The new all-wheel-drive model, called the 70-D, can go a government-certified 240 miles per charge, has 514 horsepower and can go from zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds. Buyers also get free access to Tesla's network of quick-charging stations.

FULL story at link.



This photo from Tuesday, April 7, 2015 in Detroit, shows the instrument panel of a Tesla Model S 70D during a test drive. Electric car maker Tesla Motors is seeking mainstream luxury buyers by adding all-wheel-drive and more range and power to the base version of its only model. The added features for the base Model S come with about a 7 percent price increase to $75,000. Starting Wednesday, Tesla will stop selling the old base Model S called the 60 and replace it with the 70-D. The new car can go 240 miles per charge and from zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150408/us--tesla-model_s_changes-ad6862bada.html

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Still waiting on that $35,000

version.

[Omaha Steve]

4. How about a second generation Chevy Volt?

http://www.chevrolet.com/2016-volt

[Fred Sanders]

6. That is very, very nice, and affordable now. The interior is stunning....like a space ship cockpit!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

13. Yeah, if you don't need to go any farther than 40 miles or so.

[NickB79]

15. It still has a gasoline engine when the charge runs low

So even those who have long commutes would still be running mostly on battery power.

It's a rare day I drive more than 50 miles, even when running all over town shopping.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

16. I'm waiting for all electric, good range, and priced under 30K

[snooper2]

14. well, a kids version of a space ship cockpit LOL

[Kelvin Mace]

11. Actually what I am waiting for

to replace my Sentra and compliment my Leaf.

[Auggie]

9. They'll come. Remember how expensive flat screen TVs were at first?

[Adrahil]

2. I'd love one of those...

But still out of my "in good conscience" price range.

I've never been able to justify spending for a "prestige" name plate, though I can afford it.

Frankly, I like my EX-L Honda Accord WAY more than a BMW 500 series that costs twice as much, and it's more reliable to boot.

But the Tesla... that's something different. But I could not justify over $800/mo on a car. <sigh>

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

17. Agree. $800/mo would eat significantly into my booze and weed money!

[Adrahil]

18. LOL. Well done n/t

[ffr]

3. I'd be happy with a used hand-me-down.

[a kennedy]

5. Not me baby.....I'm saving for mine....problem, by the time I can afford one

they'll have had at least 10 new models. gonna be a long long time before I could afford one, but want one real bad.

[benld74]

7. zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds? See alot of rearend collisions in the future

[Larry Engels]

8. I guess they fixed the battery-catches-on-fire problem.

Federal safety regulators said on Friday they had closed an investigation into whether the design of Tesla Motors’ all-electric car was making it prone to catch fire, after the automaker said it would provide more protection to its lithium-ion batteries.

The addition of a titanium underbody shield and aluminum deflector plates, along with increased ground clearance, “should reduce both the frequency of underbody strikes and the resultant fire risk,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/business/safety-agency-ends-investigation-of-tesla-fires.html?_r=0



http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/04/tesla-model-s-battery-fire-musk-response/

[Major Nikon]

10. Meanwhile conventional manufacturers have yet to fix the fuel-catches-on-fire problem

[mwooldri]

12. Maybe these scientists have the answer:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/07/aluminium-battery-can-charge-phone-in-one-minute-scientists-say

New aluminium battery that can charge a smartphone in about a minute. Okay, it's still a prototype but Elon Musk is certainly interested and is asking questions like energy density - these scientists can't answer that just yet. But if this is the breakthrough that we've been waiting for in battery technology then we won't be seeing any Teslas (or lots of devices with lithium ion batteries) catching fire any time soon.

[quadrature]

19. electric cars only work in the US...why is that?

certain European countries have
high gasoline prices.
where are their electric cars?

[daleo]

20. Here you go

http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/08/electric-car-sales-eu-increase-77/