Tesla Model S: Elon Musk's sedan tries to take electric cars mainstream
The concept of electric cars is not a new one, but Tesla Motors and its founder Elon Musk are bringing a whole new mindset to the space — the company's Model S sedan couples the eco-friendly electric engine with performance and luxury that has largely eluded electric vehicles thus far. Follow along with the story of the Model S here, from its announcement back in late 2011 to our two-day test drive up the California coast, and beyond.
Watch this: Tesla Model S ripped apart in the name of safety
It may have been the subject of a much-publicized spat recently, but we found a lot to like about the Tesla Model S when we took it for a spin earlier this year. However, like any vehicle on the road, it's something that police officers and emergency responders may need to deal with should one unfortunately be involved in an accident. In the video below, Brock Archer of Advanced Extrication covers the various challenges electric vehicles present when being handled in such situations — and...
New York Times public editor defends Tesla reviewer's integrity, but questions his judgment
The New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan has responded to Elon Musk's criticism of the Times Tesla Model S review, saying that while the review was performed in good faith, reviewer John Broder did not use "good judgment" when making his now-notorious journey. Sullivan, who handles matters of journalistic integrity and acts as the "reader's representative," quotes a commenter who accuses Broder of either not reading or disregarding the Tesla user manual and suggests that he...
New York Times reporter refutes Tesla's allegations but 'cannot account' for some discrepancies in data
Early today, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted a lengthy written response to a negative report by the New York Times on its Model S electric sedan, accusing reporter John Broder of intentionally sabotaging his test drive due to a bias against electric vehicles. Now Broder has provided a response of his own, refuting many of Musk's claims — while still offering some vague responses on several key points.
Broder states that Tesla representatives told him that he only needed an hour of charging time...
Tesla's scathing response accuses NYT of 'changing the facts' in Model S review
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk promised to refute a negative New York Times report on the Model S electric car, and today he's followed through with a lengthy blog post that counters John Broder's "factually inaccurate" criticism. The post includes data that Tesla logged during the test drive, and Musk uses it to make the case that Broder's piece was fuelled by an anti-EV agenda. "We were played for a fool and as a result, let down the cause of electric vehicles," says Musk. "When the facts...
Going the distance: driving the Tesla Model S in the real world
It’s difficult to get comfortable in the driver’s seat of a $100,000 car that isn’t yours.
The particular Model S I flew to Los Angeles to sample last week was a Signature Performance model. That means that it was one of the first 1,000 to roll off the assembly line (indicated by the “Signature” designation) and is fitted with a high-output electric inverter that can propel the car from 0 to 60 in just 4.4 seconds, a key metric that slots it in with some of the fastest production...
Tesla CEO Elon Musk accuses New York Times of lying about Model S range anxiety (update)
Three days ago, The New York Times wrote a scathing critique of the Tesla Model S, testifying that the all-electric sedan couldn't handle cold weather — dying before it reached its destination, even though a driver spent time shivering without a heater. Today, Elon Musk says it's simply not true: the Tesla CEO claims he has hard data which proves the Times faked the conclusion to its story. He insists vehicle logs kept by his company shed light on the truth, revealing that Broder failed to...
Tesla expanding retail presence with 25 new showrooms in 2013
Emboldened by the success of its Motor Trend Car of the Year Model S, Tesla will be plotting out new retail locations this year. The automaker plans to add 25 showrooms in 2013, just about double the 13 it opened last year. Speaking at the ongoing North American International Auto Show, Tesla's VP of sales George Blankenship revealed that approximately half of those will be located in the United States, with the others scattered across the globe. China is among the international locales that...
Tesla Model S named Motor Trend Car of the Year by unanimous decision
Motor Trend this week named the Tesla Model S its 2013 Car of the Year, making it the first electric vehicle to ever take home the award, and the first winner by unanimous decision. In announcing the award, Editor-at-Large Angus MacKenzie described the Model S as "one of the quickest four-door sedans ever built," noting that it "drives like a sports car," feels as "smoothly effortless as a Rolls Royce," and is more fuel-efficient than the Toyota Prius. "By any measure, the Tesla Model S is a...
Tesla provides free charging for $100,000 Model S
Tesla Motors has activated its first Supercharger Model S charging stations across California. Unveiled late Monday, the six solar-powered stations allow Model S owners to recharge their car batteries at no cost, as part of a larger Supercharger network that Tesla plans to roll out over the coming years.
Each Supercharger is powered by a solar carport system developed by SolarCity. According to Tesla, this system actually generates more energy than Model S drivers require over the course of...
Tesla Model S getting first ever over-the-air car firmware upgrade next week
Tesla's Model S electric sedan will be the first car to receive an over-the-air firmware update when version 1.9.11 rolls out to over 100 owners next week. Wired reports that the mandatory upgrade will alert owners via an alarm clock icon on the car's 17-inch touchscreen, and it can be scheduled for any time. That's a necessary convenience, since it'll take around two hours to complete and the car must be parked throughout. The update can be performed over Wi-Fi or the Model S' integrated 3G...
First Tesla Model S deliveries set for June 22nd
Tesla Motors is continuing on a tech trend we can get behind: delivering ahead of schedule. Just a couple of weeks ago the company was expecting to deliver the first customer models in July (already ahead of original estimates) and now Tesla is saying that the first delivery will happen on June 22nd. The news follows last night's tweet from CEO Elon Musk verifying that the all-electric sedan received a 5-star safety rating in crash tests and was therefore approved for sale to the public....
Tesla releases revised Model S range stats: up to 350 miles at 55 mph
When Tesla officially announced the Model S electric sedan last year, it noted that there would be two high-end models with a 85kWh battery, each capable of a maximum range of 300 miles per change. The company has now completed its final optimizations on the vehicle, and it's been able to boost that to up to 350 miles when driving on the freeway, with a theoretical maximum range of more than 400 miles. Tesla breaks down the figures in a blog post, and while they do demand some rather...
Tesla Model S electric sedan pricing and options announced, starts at $57,400
Tesla Motors has announced final pricing and option details for its much-anticipated Model S electric sedan. The battery-powered vehicle, which follows the original sold-out Tesla Roadster, will come in four different varieties:
- The $57,400 entry model offers a 40-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack, a range of 160 miles, and a top speed of 110 miles per hour.
- A 60kWh version will give you a 230 mile range at up to 120mph for $67,400.
- The $77,400 85kWh variant will deliver an impressive 300...
