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Tesla S electric sedan infographic
Graphic shows all-new Tesla S electric sedan. Tesla’s Model S electric vehicle has a range of over 480km, can sprint to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 210km/h. With the best aerodynamics of any production EV, it costs just €0.86 per 40km journey.
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MOTORING

Tesla S electric sedan

By Duncan Mil

December 19, 2012 - U.S. motoring magazine Motor Trend has named the Tesla Model S its Car of the Year for 2013. The all-electric plug-in luxury car was selected out of a field of 11 finalists that included models such as the Ford Fusion, Porsche 911 and Hyundai Azera. It is the first time the magazine's Car of the Year award has ever gone to an all-electric car. Operations at Tesla's new European Distribution Center in Tilburg, Netherlands will begin December, paving the way for Model S delivery in Europe from March 2013.

New-generation electric cars have so far failed to capture the public imagination, but the new Tesla 415 hp super-car may change all that.

The Tesla Model S has been winning awards as it seeks to lead the way to an electric future. Leading U.S. car magazine Motor Trend recently voted the Tesla its 2013 Car of the Year.

And the Model S is definitely more eye-catching than, say, a battery-powered and utilitarian Nissan Leaf. The beautiful, low-slung aluminium five-seater Model S has fabulous performance, and go-cart-like handling thanks to the massive battery pack, fitted under the floor to push down the centre of gravity. Weight distribution is almost 50/50. Sales are getting under way now in the U.S., and start in Europe and Asia in 2013. Prices begin at around $60,000 for the base Model S, and run up to about $115,000 for the top-of-the-range Model S Signature Performance.

The cheapest version has a smaller battery with 160-mile range. You can choose a bigger battery with 230 miles in the "tank", while the most expensive one gets you 300 miles, in theory.

Without a conventional combustion engine, the designers were able to make the Model S exceptionally sleek and low and it has a world-beating 0.24 coefficient of drag. When you approach the car, your electronic key will automatically make the flush door handles snap out from the body. They retract when you move off, improving aerodynamics, a bit. The electric motor sits behind the rear seats, allowing a flat and roomy interior. There's even space in the front for an extra boot, which Tesla calls the "Frunk". You can specify two extra rear-facing child seats. The dashboard is dominated by a 17-inch computer screen which controls all the car's functions. Touch a button on the screen and the all-glass roof slides back.

The electric motor spins at up to 16,000rpm and blasts the rear-wheel drive Signature Performance model from rest to 60mph in under five seconds, and on to 130mph.

Tesla Motors is based in Palo Alto, California, and was founded by Elon Musk, creator of PayPal. Tesla has proven ability in electric car engineering, and sells battery packs and chargers to Daimler of Germany and electric power-train systems to Toyota of Japan. The company is named after Nikola Tesla, a brilliant scientist and a major but unsung player in the development of electrical power. Tesla worked as an assistant to electric light bulb inventor, the legendary Thomas Edison, in the 1880s.

One important question about the Tesla remains to be resolved; what will its range be if it is driven like a sports car, using the acceleration and high speed cruising ability? Most of the initial test driving by journalists has been limited to short distances, and CEO Musk has revealed that much performance data assumed a speed of only 55mph.

Electric cars lose power very quickly when speeds edge much over 55mph, and let's face it, if you pay $100,000 for a super-car, you won't want to be seen driving in the slow lane on the autobahn with the trucks and Nissan Leafs.

Tesla Model S Signature Performance
Engine – Liquid-cooled, 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction electric motor
Power – 415hp @ 5,000-6,700rpm
Torque – 600 Nm @ 0.5-100rpm
Battery – lithium-ion 85kWh
Drive – rear-wheels
Gearbox – single ratio transaxle
Acceleration – 0-62-100km/h – 4.4 seconds
Top Speed – 130mph-210km/h
Range – claimed 300 miles-480km
Fuel consumption – up to 118mpg equivalent-2.4 litres/100 km
C02 - 0
Emissions class – n/a
Suspension – double wishbone/multi link with active air
Warranty – battery 8 years, unlimited mileage
Length – 4,978mm
Width – 1,964mm
Height – 1,435mm
Wheel-base – 2,959mm
Weight – 2,106kg – 4,642.9-lbs
Boot capacity – 744.7 litres-1,645
Front boot (frunk) – 150.1 litres
Price $115,000 (€88,400)

Sources
PUBLISHED: 19/12/2012; STORY: Neil Winton
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