[Email from Tesla Motors]
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 10:31 AM
Subject: Model S - The wait is over!
Model S is here!
Just moments ago, we took the wraps off the Model S,
an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per
charge. We also launched a web site and began taking orders for this historic
vehicle, which will likely be world's first mass-produced, highway-capable EV.
The Model S, which carries its
charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter
taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go
from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the
floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to
fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.
The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as
the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar
linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a
50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging
efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more
than most SUVs.
"Model S doesn't compromise on performance, efficiency or
utility -- it's truly the only car you need," said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product
Architect Elon Musk. "Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle
technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we're developing."
Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close
to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in
California from the Dept of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.
Building on Proven Technology
Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North
America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all
sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers
and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly
1,000 more customers are on the waitlist.
Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable)
parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax
credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other
perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles a bargain even if gasoline were
$1 per gallon.
The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500.
The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a
range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.
But the anticipated sticker price doesn't tell the full
story. Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it's a better value than much cheaper
cars. The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much
lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is
similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. That's why we're positive
this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers.
The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically
limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph
acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless
acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity
allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state
of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.
Tesla is taking reservations online
and at showrooms in California. Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London,
New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.
We're certain you'll be hearing a lot more about Tesla in the weeks and months
ahead, and we look forward to seeing you at the stores we're opening soon!
Elon