Introduction Even the keyfob is cool, the Tesla is a car that you can’t help but love. The car itself has very few flaws and is a geek’s paradise – the Tesla Model S is the brainchild of Elon Musk, the founder of Paypal. It is made of aluminium for the majority while steel is only used to add strength to certain areas of the design. A luxury car made from high end materials, this car is aimed at the upper end of the car market with prices starting north of 60K. Other manufacturers are dipping their toes in the water with hybrids and electric cars, but Tesla, to its credit has launched itself into the electric market. By being so gung-ho it could reap the benefits as the Model S is certainly going to woo motorists into Tesla’s ranks. Performance 5.0/5 Phenonomal. Seeing is believing and with the Model S, we can rave about how smooth and how fast it is, but to get a real understanding – our advice is to take one for a test drive. You will love it. The great thing about having a pure electric car is that the power delivery is instantaneous. Press the accelerator and the Tesla S is off, thrusting you back into the seat – it will complete the benchmark sprint in 4.2 seconds – that’s quicker than a standard Porsche 911. Not too shabby for an electric car. The Model S is brilliant whether in town or at motorway speeds. There is always enough torque no matter speed you are travelling and at the top end the Tesla S will reach 130mph. Ride & Handling 4.0/5 The Tesla Model S is quite impressive. This is a car weighing over 2-tonne and with this in mind it is fairly agile on the twisty stuff, however a BMW 5-Series is more fun and much more focused. On the motorway the Model S is brilliant, it soaks up undulations and is as comfortable as an E-Class Mercedes which is a major compliment. There is little sporting pedigree to this model but then this car is not about driving enjoyment, it is about the dawn of a new age in motoring. Three assistance settings are available on the car but to be honest it’s best kept in the Comfort mode. Equipment 5.0/5 Gadgets and tech kit are highlights of the Tesla Model S. Highlights include keyless entry, driver seat detection sensor for start/stop functionality, cruise control, standard definition back-up camera, automatic climate control, USB ports for media and power, eight airbags and of course one of the best bits of kit on the entire car, the 17-inch touchscreen that houses media, internet communication, Bluetooth, cabin and vehicle controls. Running Costs 5.0/5 We expect that the majority of motorists will get between 200 and 250 miles on one charge and if they are not so heavy footed then they could achieve 300 miles. That’s an amazing stat given that most electric cars to date only have a range of around 100 miles. One of the downsides is the charging time 15 hours from a 32-amp UK public charging point, (these can be found in Westminster and at some service stations across the UK) and around eight hours from a fitted high-output Tesla home charger. To counter that, charge your Tesla Model S off-peak and it will cost less than a full charge, at average off-peak rates, costs less than a fiver – that’s less that the average lunch costs. It’s eco-friendly too, the Tesla S is a pure electric car meaning it emits zero CO2 and there’s no BIK tax to pay. That should result in savings on company car tax making it a cracking purchase for business drivers. Motortorque Verdict 5.0/5 Electric cars have never created so much attention like the Tesla Model S did when we had it on test. We drew crowds wherever we went. This car brings luxury and useable practicality to the sector. It is the first electric car that can achieve a credible range and has pace to match. The only minus point is the UK infrastructure at present – if the Tesla sells well there then won’t be enough charging points to cater for demand. Tesla claims that it will help the government to expand charging points up and down the country. The Tesla is one of the most futuristic cars we’ve ever driven – it has also helped persuade us that electric cars can be fun. If you have the money then the Tesla Model S is certainly worth the investment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3vs4Z5Wn20
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