Autoblog

And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review...

Zach Bowman — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Videos, Tesla, Electric, Luxury

Our friends at Kelley Blue Book have taken an unflinching look at the Tesla Model S in a new video. The crew originally planned to pack up and whip the electric sedan all the way to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, but got sidelined by a flat tire. The ensuing detour to a Tesla service center resulted in a day of hopping from charge point to charge point and a number of close calls on the range front. Confronted with cold temperatures, a desire to make time and some serious topography, the Model S pulled up short on projected range but never left the guys stranded.

The team eventually makes it to Vegas and discovers the aggravation of trying to charge the car with anything other than the company's supercharger stations. The return trip goes quite a bit better, however, and KBB starts to figure out what makes the Model S so special. We won't ruin the end for you. You can check out the full clip below.

Continue reading And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review...

And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Consumer Reports weighs in with its first Tesla Model S review

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Tesla, Electric, Luxury

Everyone has been chiming in with their thoughts on the Tesla Model S lately, and with the car taking home awards like the prestigious Motor Trend Car of the Year, this probably won't change anytime soon. Not wanting to be left in the dark, Consumer Reports has managed to get its hands on a Model S to give its own impressions of the luxurious electric hatchback.

Like many other outlets (including our own first drive), CR praised the Model S for its styling (which it compares to an Audi A7) and performance (which it says "can put serious hurt on a Corvette"). With limited time with the car, the video doesn't touch on the specific range the institute attained, but it appears most of the car's time was spent on the track anyway.

On the flip side of things, CR dinged the Model S for its retractable door handles which the reviewer refers to as "fussy," and as much as CR has blasted Ford and its MyFord Touch for being distracting and largely button-less in the past, we were surprised at how much it seemed to adore the lack of buttons on Model S. They even glossed over the fact that drivers can surf the Web on the 17-inch touch screen while driving.

Scroll down to watch the first drive video and then head over to Consumer Reports for the write-up.

Continue reading Consumer Reports weighs in with its first Tesla Model S review

Consumer Reports weighs in with its first Tesla Model S review originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Tesla, Electric, Luxury

Eleven cars enter, one car leaves. Silently and with zero emissions.

Tesla has earned one of the most coveted prizes in the automotive world, as its Model S has taken home the Golden Calipers as the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year. In the process, the Model S beat out a field that included 10 other contenders.

In case you were wondering, this is the first time an electric car has earned this accolade. No internal combustion here, folks. In an impressive run the Model S was also named Automobile Car of the Year and one of the 25 Best Inventions of the year by Time Magazine.

Motor Trend's very own Angus MacKenzie calls the Model S "perhaps the most accomplished all-new luxury car since the original Lexus LS 400." High praise indeed, considering how Toyota's luxury division ruffled feathers in challenging Germany Inc. way back in 1989. MacKenzie goes on: "At its core, the Tesla Model S is simply a damned good car you happen to plug in to refuel."

Two aspects of the Tesla Model S that weighed heavily on Motor Trend staffers were performance and efficiency. With maximum horsepower sitting at 416 and torque an astounding 443 pound-feet - resulting in a dash to 60 in just 4.0 seconds and an average of 75.5 miles per gallon equivalent during MT's testing - this all-American electric sedan is worthy of accolades.

Somewhat shockingly, every single judge for Motor Trend picked the Tesla Model S as their winner, causing MacKenzie to sum up the pick this way: "America can still make things. Great things." Indeed. Read the official details from Motor Trend here, and scroll down below for a video.

Continue reading 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S [w/video]

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tesla: Earnings still down, but rate of Model S production way up

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric, Luxury

According to its Third Quarter 2012 Shareholder Letter, Tesla "is now at over 200 cars per week or 10,000 cars per year, which is at the critical threshold needed for Tesla to generate positive operating cash flow."

That's an important milestone to be sure, but the news is actually even better; Tesla expects to ramp Model S production up to 400 cars per week (20,000 units/year) by December of 2012, and says it will deliver 2,500 to 3,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2012. That's lower than the previous target of 5,000 in 2012, but it's more an issue of delayed achievement rather than missing the mark altogether.

All of that production bodes well for the future, but as of today, the automaker has yet to earn real money. Revenue for the third quarter of 2012 was $50 million, equating to a net loss of about $110 million after expenses were tallied. The stock market likes the numbers, with TSLA shares rising 8.9 percent on Monday after the report was released.

With production up to 400 cars per week, we're pretty sure company CEO Elon Musk isn't able to personally inspect each Model S as he was when Tesla was producing fewer than 80 cars per week. In any case, accolades have been rolling in for the Model S, with two recent scores including being named Automobile Car of the Year and one of the 25 Best Inventions of the year by Time Magazine.

Check out Tesla's complete Q3 earnings report here.

Tesla: Earnings still down, but rate of Model S production way up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Tesla, Electric

Automobile Magazine recently spent the better part of three days getting to know 28 of the latest and greatest cars on the market to pick its Automobile of the Year, and today it announced that the 2012 Tesla Model S was given this coveted award. As much as the all-electric Model S means to the automotive world, we'd be surprised if it doesn't snag a lot more hardware in the next few months.

The Model S beat out cars like the 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 Ford Fusion, 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 2013 BMW M5 with its sleek design, luxurious and tech-filled interior and, of course, its unique electric powertrain that offers both an incredible all-electric range and equally eye-popping performance.

To narrow down the top candidates for the award, Automobile took all the cars out for two days of road testing and then spent another day at Gingerman Raceway in Western Michigan, and the performance aspect of the Model S seemed to surprise and/or impress a lot of the magazine's staff more than anything else. To prove how fast the car is, they did a drag race to 100 miles per hour with the Tesla and the new M5, and the Model S won. The 265-mile driving range and 17-inch touch-screen display won points for the car, too.

Scroll down for a quick video from Automobile that goes into detail why its staff chose the Model S, and shows some great driving shots of the car as well. We've also put together a gallery with the Model S and the nine other cars that made the short list for the award, so be sure to check them out below.

Continue reading Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video]

Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jay Leno burns rubber in Tesla Model S

Zach Bowman — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Celebrities, Tesla, Electric

Jay Leno has a pretty big soft spot for alternative-fuel vehicles. From his steam-powered relics to his beloved Chevrolet Volt, the comedian's automotive interests are nothing if not varied. In the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen stops by the Big Dog Garage to show off his company's new Model S. Jay gets a closer look at the five-door EV's interesting touchscreen controls, expansive moonroof and yes, even the third-row jump seats, before taking to the road. The clip explains why Tesla eschewed the chunky standardized EV charger for a more svelte unit and how the company managed to serve up impressive aerodynamics without sacrificing styling.

Leno takes the time to whir the Model S around the greater Los Angeles area before hopping on the freeway for a quick spin. This particular model features the largest battery pack available, which gives the Model S a total range of around 300 miles. Check out the clip below for a closer look.

Continue reading Jay Leno burns rubber in Tesla Model S

Jay Leno burns rubber in Tesla Model S originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Tesla Model S [w/video]

Michael Harley — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, First Drives, Tesla, Electric

Proof That An Impressive Sport Sedan Doesn't Need To Burn Dead Dino Juice

One-hundred years from now, the Smithsonian museum at our nation's capital will host a display of history's most revolutionary automobiles. The collection will include the 1866 Dudgeon steam wagon (one of the earliest self-propelled vehicles), the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen (recognized as the first combustion-powered automobile) and the 1908 Ford Model T (the first automobile mass produced on an assembly line).

Most certainly included, among the dozen or so other pioneering automobiles, will be a 2012 Tesla Model S.

Slightly more than a few years after the first prototype debuted in March of 2009, Autoblog was able to spend an evening with an early production model of the innovative all-electric sedan touted as "the next step to accelerate the world's transition to electric mobility." Much has been said and written about Tesla's enormous undertaking, but we brushed off the hype, ignored the rumors and cut through the layers of misinformation. It was time to drive.

After several inquisitive hours behind the wheel, we were smitten - the Tesla Model S really is the world's first practical, no-compromise, non-combustion automobile.

Continue reading 2012 Tesla Model S [w/video]

2012 Tesla Model S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motor Trend tests Tesla Model S, finds 0-60 in 3.9 sec and 100.7 MPGe

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Tesla, Electric

Tesla has said the highest-end Model S has a range of 300 miles (at 55 miles per hour), but until recently, it's been tremendously difficult for anyone outside the company to verify this number. When the EPA did its testing thing, it came up with a 265-mile range estimate for the version with the 85-kWh battery pack. Tesla is even offering a prize of some sort to anyone who drives a Model S over 400 miles on one charge.

Now, Motor Trend writers has had the chance to spend some time in Tesla CEO Elon Musk's personal Performance Signature Model S to see just how far the electric car can be driven. The result? Your results may vary.

First, the good news. Motor Trend ran a battery of tests on the Model S, and its independent measurements discovered the following ways that their independent testing beat the manufacturer's official numbers:

0-60 time: 3.9 seconds (Tesla official number is 4.4 seconds)
Quarter mile: 12.5 seconds at 110.9 mph (12.6 seconds)
100.7 MPGe during a 200+ mile drive (EPA says 89 MPGe).

So, then, what's the bad news? At roughly 65 mph with no A/C, MT "only" got 238 miles out of the battery. That's less than advertised, but MT offers an important and reasonable take on this issue:

"But the range that matters is really a psychological/perceptual one, not a specific number. Think about it: We drove from Fontana on the eastern edge of the L.A. basin to San Diego and all the way back to L.A.'s Pacific edge on one charge. Five hours of continuous driving. This is a breakthrough accomplishment that ought to knock down the range anxiety barrier that's substantially limited EV sales."

Word.

Motor Trend tests Tesla Model S, finds 0-60 in 3.9 sec and 100.7 MPGe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dan Neil eats crow, donates $1,000 to charity on behalf of Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:46:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Celebrities, Tesla, Luxury

Dan Neil, he of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism fame, has made a decent living peddling his automotive snark, and for good reason, as Neil is unquestionably one of the best and funniest at what we do. Tesla CEO Elon Musk - also an outspoken salesman of some merit - differs from Neil in one primary respect, which is that Musk is worth some $2 billion and thus doesn't have to drive someone else's cars around.

When these two agreed to resolve their disagreement over Tesla's seemingly pie-in-the-sky production plans by means of a wager, those of us familiar with both affable egos were deeply amused. Neil most certainly did not expect to lose his end of the bet: That Tesla would fail in its promise to deliver its second model on time. What with the prevailing view at the time being that Tesla's game plan was merely to get bought out by some larger entity and that the Model S was just vaporware, a means to that end, we probably would have gone with Neil had someone forced us to take sides. Of course, we can all learn a lesson here, which is that you don't bet against the guy who owns the casino.

Musk and Tesla clearly kept up their end of the bargain, so Neil's public mea culpa ran in Friday's Wall Street Journal. He states that he's made his $1,000 contribution to Doctors Without Borders, the penalty for the loss being far less than Musk's promised $1 million debit. Neil's pride is likely hurting more from the comeuppance than the cash outlay dented his savings account, but as he writes, "I lost, and happily so. As a proponent of electric mobility, I have said many times that I wanted to lose the bet... As a critic, I'll reserve judgment on the Model S until I get a chance to drive it."

Dan Neil eats crow, donates $1,000 to charity on behalf of Tesla CEO Elon Musk originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Tesla Model S delivered to board member Steve Jurvetson

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST

We noted yesterday that some 2012 Tesla Model S buyers have already received their cars even though deliveries won't officially begin until June 22. Now we've got video proof.

The very first Model S, decked-out with license plate TSLA S1, left the Fremont, CA factory this past weekend, Green Car Reports believes, in the hands of venture capitalist - and Tesla board member - Steve Jurvetson. Now that the U.S. government has fully homologated the car, people who invested early are getting their just desserts. Jurvetson is one of those and made sure he would get the first Model S during a board meeting back in 2010. "Regular" deliveries will reportedly start in two weeks. The entire first batch of Model S vehicles is made up of the sold-out Signature Series that offers the best performance (0-60 in 4.4 seconds, a top speed of 130 miles per hour) and range (up to 320 miles).

The video of the first key handover, available by scrolling below, is unfortunately filled with low-quality audio, but it does offer pretty enthusiastic evidence that scribe Dan Neil is a big step closer to owing $1,000 to charity. We expect there will be a lot more of this sort of excitement as Tesla's new premiere EV makes its way market.

Continue reading First Tesla Model S delivered to board member Steve Jurvetson

First Tesla Model S delivered to board member Steve Jurvetson originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tesla announces pricing, options and battery specs for 2012 Model S

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Tesla, Electric

Tesla will deliver its first Model S next summer, and the up-start automaker has just released official pricing details on its all-electric sedan, along with options and battery specs.

Pricing for the Model S is broken down depending on battery capacity and the resulting range, with the 160-mile version commanding $57,400, the 230-mile variant priced at $67,400 and the 300-mile Model S coming in at $77,400. There's also the $87,400 Perfomance model which has the same 85-kWh battery as the 300-mile version. It's worth noting that if you check the new Model S page, Tesla lists pricing after the $7,500 federal tax credit, which is a bit disingenuous, but to Tesla's credit, it has kept pricing perfectly in line with previous announcements.

The battery specs have also been officially announced, with the 40-kWh pack providing a 160-mile range, a top speed of 110 miles per hour and a 100,000-mile warranty; the 60-kWh pack juicing up for 230 miles, a 120 mph top speed and a 125,000-mile warranty; and finally, the aforementioned 85-kWh battery pack delivering 300 miles of range and a 125 mph top speed in standard spec and a 130 mph top speed in the Performance version. The last two come with an unlimited mileage warranty and Tesla makes a point to clarify that ranges are based on an average speed of 55 mph.

Standard kit includes 19-inch wheels and that awesomely massive 17-inch touchscreen display in the dash, while 19-inch aerodynamic wheels that boost range by another 20 miles are optional and come in at $1,500. If you're so inclined, you can opt for 21-inch hoops ($3,500), metallic paint ($750), panoramic roof ($1,500), Nappa leather ($1,500), air suspension ($1,500) and the $3,750 Tech Package which includes back-up camera, a power hatchback and keyless entry. You can also option up for an upgraded onboard charger good for 20 kilowatts and an additional 62 miles of range per hour ($1,500), along with a high-power wall connector for the custom charging system that will set you back $1,200.

Start speccing your own at the 2012 Model S build page and check out Tesla's official statement here.

Tesla announces pricing, options and battery specs for 2012 Model S originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Ride: 2012 Tesla Model S Beta

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Tesla, Electric

Tesla had a big weekend. Some 1,500 Model S hand-raisers and their +1s descended on the company's recently acquired NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA to see where their $5,000 deposits have gone. The event, which served as both a product extravaganza and a subtle reassurance, sought to prove that the Model S is well on its way to production. And part of the program included rides in three Model S betas.

As Tesla was keen to point out, showing off a prototype - even one that's 80-percent complete - is relatively unheard of in the industry. Regardless, the EV upstart invited a handful of journalists to go for a brief spin in the passenger seat of the betas. How brief? Less than five minutes.

So... don't expect to find any mind-blowing revelations, 10/10ths impressions or thorough interior dissections. Here's all you need to know: It drives, it steers, it stops, it's practically - and predictably - silent and the interior tech is enough to make gadget nerds forget about the lack of an iPhone 5.

Continue reading First Ride: 2012 Tesla Model S Beta

First Ride: 2012 Tesla Model S Beta originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tesla Model S Update: Pricing to start from $57,000 before credits

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tesla recently held a celebration in honor of its newest store, located in Milan, Italy. At the event, customers and company-folk mingled while chatting about their favorite electric car company. One of the key talking points was the upcoming Model S, and Tesla took the opportunity to answer a few questions.

Deliveries of the North American-market Tesla Model S are scheduled to begin in the mid-2012. The first 1,000 vehicles peeled off the assembly line will be Signature Series cars, which means they're fitted with 300-mile range batteries and identifying options. Once the Signature Series run has been sold, Tesla will continue to produce 300-mile range cars while optional 230-mile and 160-mile Model S sedans will follow later in the year.

The base 160-mile range Tesla Model S will start at $57,000, but a $7,500 tax credit will cut that price to $49,500. Stepping up to the 230-mile range Model S will add $10,000 to the bottom line. The range-topping 300-mile Model S adds $20,000 to the base price. Tesla plans to produce 5,000 units in 2012 before going full-tilt in 2013 with a 20,000 vehicle production run.

Not limited to just the North American market, Tesla will being selling the Model S in Europe during the latter half of 2012. By the middle of 2013, the company will have a right-hand-drive version for the rest of Europe and Asia. Those launches will also features the Signature Series edition.

Gallery: Tesla Model S in motion

[Source: Tesla]

Tesla Model S Update: Pricing to start from $57,000 before credits originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments