A week after teasing the Internet with a cryptic tweet about unveiling 'the D,' Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk on Thursday night finally explained what he meant, debuting a new, dual-motor version of the Model S sedan with all-wheel drive.
At an event in Los Angeles County, Musk said the improvements - offered as an optional package - would give the popular plug-in sedan greater speed, efficiency and acceleration, taking the Model S from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds.
''This car is nuts,' Musk told a crowd of 4,000, gathered in Hawthorne. 'It's like taking off from a carrier deck. It's just bananas.'
The 'D' version of the Model S will even get 10 extra miles of range out of its battery pack, making it capable of traveling 275 miles on a charge.
Tesla will offer a new, top-line Model S with the added features - the P85D - for $120,000, with the first deliveries expected in December. The company will also offer all-wheel drive as a $4,000 upgrade package for less-expensive versions of the car.
In addition, all new Model S sedans will now have a series of 'auto pilot' features capable of changing lanes, adjusting speed based on posted traffic signs and parking autonomously. Those features rely on a series of sensors ringing the car.
While welcomed by Tesla enthusiasts, the changes were largely expected. Tesla's rivals in the luxury auto market have been delving into driver-assist technology, and all-wheel drive could help the electric automaker convince skeptical customers in snowy climates.
'These features will allow Tesla to keep pace with competing luxury makes while still banking on its primary advantage - a pure electric drivetrain,' said Karl Brauer, senior analyst at the Kelley Blue Book auto information service. 'The advanced sensors and additional drivetrain components undoubtedly add cost and complexity to the Models S, but they also widen its appeal to luxury-shoppers seeking cold-weather confidence and the latest driver assistance technology. And kudos to Musk for squeezing some additional range from his car in the process.'
Tesla doesn't follow the same cycle of model-year updates as other automakers. But the new 'D' package of updates could give Model S sales a boost as Tesla prepares to roll out its next car, the Model X crossover, due next year. Musk said Thursday that all Model S sedans built during the last few weeks at the company's Fremont factory already have the driver-assist features.
Posted by Unknown on Saturday, October 11, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
0 comments "Tesla unveils the all"
Post a Comment