Extra, extra, read all about it: Tesla Motors vs The New York Times. A war of words is brewing between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and NY Times reporter John Broder, after Broder wrote this less-than-complementary test drive review for the new 2013 Model S electric vehicle.
During the course of his 500-plus-mile journey with the Model S, Broder’s piece says he dealt with repeated instances of premature range anxiety, which ultimately culminated in the car running out of juice entirely and requiring a flatbed tow truck to reach his intended destination of a Tesla Supercharger high-speed charging station. He also reported a troubling instance where, while parked overnight in sub-freezing temperatures, the car’s available range dropped by an indicated 65 miles.
CR tends to be fairly conservative in its embracing of new technology, but not this time. Calling the Model S “wicked quick and agile, stretch-out roomy, and whisper quiet,” the publication says the car makes strong headway against the key problems that have kept electric cars out of the mainstream: range anxiety, slow charging times, slow acceleration and tight accommodations.
Perhaps even more surprising, testers even spoke highly of the Tesla’s huge 17-inch touchscreen control interface, despite being none too keen on other touchscreen-only systems like SYNC with MyFord Touch.
The Model S is available now, priced from $57,400 before government electric car incentives for the 160-mile-range base model on up to $105,400 for the Signature Performance edition, which the EPA says can travel for around 265 miles before you’ll need to plug in.
And the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year award goes to… theTesla Model S. The new all-electric luxury sedan is the first car ever given the award not powered by an internal combustion engine, but that’s not the whole story of why Tesla triumphed: “At its core, the Tesla Model S is simply a damned good car you happen to plug in to refuel.”
So say Motor Trend’s editors, referring to the Model S as “perhaps the most accomplished all-new luxury car since the original Lexus LS 400.” The car is engineered and built in the U.S., and is one of the quickest four-door luxury sedans in the world. The Model S can seat up to seven passengers: five adults plus a pair of little ones in the available rear-facing jump seat. Its sophisticated and massive touchscreen infotainment and control system makes others pale by comparison. Oh, and did we mention the car can travel for up to 265 miles on a charge?
That last point is key, as Tesla’s latest is the first mainstream electric car with a long enough range to take short road trips, or never have to worry about running out of power during the daily slog. The 2012 Model S is available now starting from just under $50,000 after the Federal EV tax credit, but it’s time to get in line: the pre-order list stretches well over 10,000 customers.
When you think of electric cars, chances are that tire-smoking straight-line power isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But the new Tesla Model S isn’t your typical EV. The longest-range current production electric car is also by far the quickest.
What happens when Automobile pits the top-of-the-line Model S Performance against a 2013 BMW M5, the undisputed king of luxury sport sedans, in a good ol’ fashioned drag race?
See how a twin-turbo 560-horsepower V8 fares against a powerful electric motor with 440 lb-ft. of torque available from 0 rpm!
Tesla Motors, the California-based electric car maker, has hit some financial bumps in the road building its new 2012 Tesla Model S all-electric luxury sedan. In a filing with the SEC, Tesla lowered its full-year 2012 revenue forecast to $400-$440 million, down from the $560-$600 million the company previously anticipated. The company also reported a cumulative net loss of $864.9 million through June 30.
The gloomier outlook comes as Tesla has been unable to meet its production goals for the $57,400 Model S, which can travel for around 265 miles on a charge when equipped with its largest available battery pack. Citing delays related to its suppliers, the company says it will be able to produce around 2,500 to 3,000 cars by year’s end, instead of the 5,000 units previously planned.
Deliveries to pre-order customers have already begun, indeed we saw a black Model S in Los Angeles just the other day. There’s now around 13,000 customers awaiting delivery who’ve plunked down a deposit. Tesla is working with its supplier network to streamline production, as well as adding automation, extra shifts and managerial training.
Tesla Motors stock fell by nearly 10% after the announcement, and the company says it will need to seek additional capital through loans from the U.S. Department of Energy or expanded stock offerings. We’re really rooting for Tesla, as its Roadster and Model S cars are not only the longest-range consumer EVs to date, but the most exciting as well.
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