Tesla to build Model S in San Jose

[IDemo]

California electric-car maker Tesla Motors is expected to announce on Wednesday plans for a new factory in San Jose to build the Model S in late 2010.

A city official told Reuters about the $250 million project. Production is expected to be at least 15,000 annually. Tesla previously said in June that it plans to make the Model S in California.

The five-passenger sedan will carry a sticker of $60,000 and expects to have a range of 220 miles on a single charge.

The Model S was previously known as the WhiteStar. It follows the Tesla Roadster, using a variant of that car's powertrain. It's expected to make about 280 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/FREE/809179993/1065

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Could Tesla’s $60,000 electric sedan look something like this?

Aston Martin Rapide


That is what many are speculating after The Sun columnist, Ken Gibson, claimed he was given a “sneak preview” of the Model S at the end of his recent online column. Thus priming the the rumor mill at the telsamotorclub.com Model S potential design forum, and leading many to claim the Model S will look like the Aston Martin Rapide concept. This keeps in line with Tesla’s claims that the Model S will be a huge, very long, four door hatchback.

http://www.onelectriccars.com/tesla-motors/model-s/anticipation-builds-for-teslas-model-s/50

[gateley]

1. Excellent! I LOVE this company!

Not that I can afford the Roadster or the S model (which looks fantastic, by the way), but I love what they've done in getting out the word that electric car does not equal golf cart.

Thanks for this!!

[TomInTib]

9. I drove a Roadster a couple of months ago.

And I can still feel the tingle.

[TheWraith]

10. Man, I'd love to be able to try one of those out. Even for just a few minutes.

Pure electric power.

[TomInTib]

12. I couldn't believe it.

I saw it parked in the lot below the Gallery

www.OpiaHome.com

and walked down to check it out.

This stunning woman walked up and we started talking about the car. I had no idea it was hers.

So I said something to the effect of giving just about anything to drive one and she said, "Let's go". Turns out, she works for Tesla in San Francisco.

That car had full-on torque from the first nudge of the accelerator. I have driven some of the finest and fastest production cars on the market, but nothing like that one.

It was as if the car was simply splitting the air, in its own dimension. And it stuck like glue. Literally stopped on a dime, all power ceasing as soon as I lifted my foot.

And that woman was beautiful.

Tom

[TheWraith]

13. If you see her again, tell her I'd like to marry her, would you?

:D

[TomInTib]

14. The line forms behind me, Buddy.

Wait, I have an idea....

You're on the East Coast, right?

And I am on SF Bay.

Maybe we could try some "Shuttle Diplomacy", with the Tesla being the Shuttle.

I'll have to think about this some more.

[gateley]

15. I love the story about how they'd take people out for a test drive, ask the

passenger to turn down the radio, then when the passenger was leaning forward, step on it to get to that 60 mph in 4 seconds! The poor person would be flattened back against the seat!

Do you see many of them on the road out there? Odd, but I've yet to see one in Clayton, North Carolina. :7

[Mnemosyne]

27. We could feel you bursting then, Tom.

Lucky dog.

:hi:

Now all we need is Tesla's notes to provide free energy to all. :(

[phantom power]

2. The world does not need a 280HP sedan at a $60K price point...

Truly, I don't get it.

[MindPilot]

4. Thank you for your concern,,,

[gateley]

16. I think their strategy is brilliant, and also helps us environmentally in the

long run.

Most people have discounted electric cars. They come out with the Roadster and get ATTENTION, it begins to seep into our consciousness that electric doesn't mean wimpy. Their plan all along is to take their profits and continue producing more affordable cars. The S car is second in the series, with the next being a much more affordable family sedan.

When they began, you didn't hear a WHISPER about electric out of Detroit - only hybrids, not moving forward from the combustion engine. I'm appreciative that they are bringing electric into our awareness. No, we don't need a car like this, we DO need cars that don't rely on combustion engine technology, and they're helping us achieve that goal.

[phantom power]

18. Would have been better business to build 140HP, at $30K.

Unless they feel like they aren't technically ready to build that car yet. Which might be the case.

[gateley]

19. I think that's their plan for the next incarnation, but they're using the revenue

from the pricey cars to fund the research and production of the more affordable models. But I understand your point.

This company, IMO, is an innovator. They took this step when nobody else did. I have a soft spot in my heart for them. :)

[TheWraith]

20. It doesn't quite scale that way. You can't just halve the power and halve the cost.

For starters, you need to strip out features. Also, you need to design a core mechanical system that's cheaper to build--and that costs R&D money. They want to do things right, which means robust design and testing.

[phantom power]

22. Yes...

It just so happened that "half and half" puts it in the ballpark of a typical compact sedan.

[ElectricGrid]

29. You are assuming that half the power will yeild

half the price. I am not so sure it does.

[phantom power]

31. No, I'm not assuming that...

although I can see why somebody would think I did. I'm simply saying that a car with 140HP and costing around $30K is going to be applicable to far more people than 280HP/$60K. Because that is compact sedan territory. Your basic "corolla" kind of car.

I do assume that they could have designed a 140HP vehicle that costs less than $60K. Maybe it would cost $45K. Or $50K. 140HP is nothing to sneeze at. Especially with the full-range torque of an electric drive train. 280HP strikes me as needless catering to the American muscle-car culture.

[kristopher]

25. If you're confident of that then do it.

Back seat drivers...

[MindPilot]

3. Looks more like an Aston Martin to me

But Tesla has finally figured out that an energy-efficient car doesn't have to be a blob that would embarrass a golf-cart.

[frylock]

7. that was my first impression as well..

that is one beautiful ride!

on edit: I guess it looks like an AM because it is one!

http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=c94b333e-1bad-4a01-90bb-8422e59e6847

[TheWraith]

5. Holy crap that's low to the ground.

What's that, like 3 inches of clearance? At most? Damn. I'd really been hoping that these would be the ticket (and that I'd have the cash to buy one when they come out :) ), but with the rural roads I drive I really need more air space. At least as much as my old '92 Bonneville.

[orwell]

6. I don't understand...

...the emphasis of power over range. Why not try to get 300 miles on a charge and reduce the HP and torque? It made more sense on the original as it was marketed as a sports car.

Otherwise, go Tesla...

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. NOW PG&E WILL OWN US

[diane in sf]

23. Not at 40 cents a night for charging...

[tinrobot]

30. Buy some solar panels and own yourself

[TheWraith]

11. Hold on, is that the right image?

The image address says that it's the Aston Martin Rapide concept car.

cars.com/features/autoshows/2006/detroit/coverage/images/concept_AstonMartin_Rapide_frontangle_cs_430.jpg

[IDemo]

17. OP edited - it may "look like" the Aston Martin, according to one source

Why there are no images of the real deal yet is beyond me..

[TheWraith]

21. Well, that reassures me a little actually.

There's no way in hell I could take that thing down the road I live on without beating it up. YAY, there's hope yet. :)

[OneBlueSky]

24. as long as the price tag is $60,000, don't look for mass adoption . . .

of this product by the American public . . . get the cost down to $20,000 or so and they might have something . . .

[IDemo]

26. They aren't after mass adoption of the S model

Nor were they with the Roadster. They are introducing the technology into the marketplace and gaining public recognition in steadily less expensive steps. They may not hit a $20k model anytime soon (particularly with the dollar's belly flop), but there will be more affordable Tesla's in the not too distant future.

[wtmusic]

28. Why not a $20B subsidy to help Tesla instead of trying to resuscitate

dinosaurs? :shrug:

[TheWraith]

32. Can you imagine what they could do with $20 billion?

Wow.