"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
09/17/2013 at 00:10 • Filed to: Tesla, Model S, reviews, WillAlibrandi
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5|
"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
09/17/2013 at 00:10 • Filed to: Tesla, Model S, reviews, WillAlibrandi | 3
| 5 |
I met up with Tesla rep Patrick (great guy) at the new Supercharger station at the Darien, CT rest stop to drive the car and get photos for a quick review. In short, the car absolutely flies with acceleration just a few tenths slower than a Corvette (without the noise) even with the 21" wheels. The 60-90mph sprint took about 4 seconds, so merging is an afterthought. The dash is dominated by a huge touchscreen display that controls all environmental/nav/entertainment functions.
Tesla advertises the car with a 300 mile range, and the Supercharger stations will give a 50% charge in 30 minutes. Otherwise you’d need to run a 220v line in your garage for overnight charging to 100%. Best part? For now the Supercharging stations are free.
The front trunk (frunk?) is pretty roomy, and the rear area with the optional jump seats folded down allows for quite a bit of storage.
It’s got the coolest self-deploying door handles (the “wow” factor) that automatically slide out when you walk up to the car and retract when you lock the doors. Call it a functional gimmick.
The car starts at around $65k with the 60kWh battery, while the 85kWh battery adds $10k to the cost. This is the middle option, and there’s an 85kWh Performance battery for the full-boogie 416hp/443lb-ft 0-60 in 4.2 second blast. IIRC the rep said the top battery option started around $85k. Guess I’ll start saving my pennies.
GhostZ
> Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/17/2013 at 00:17 |
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I want to see them make a 2-door 4-seat GT version of this so bad. Make it a little lighter and with a shorter wheelbase (think XK-R proportions), but keep 80% of it the same. It would be beautiful .
doodon2whls
> Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/17/2013 at 00:19 |
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Love the Pearl White Paint... The Model S flies, right ? ;-)
PRBot II
> GhostZ
09/17/2013 at 01:51 |
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YES.
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Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
> doodon2whls
09/17/2013 at 10:08 |
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Oh hell yes. From a steady 65mph I floored it and the acceleration was *instant* until I let off a few seconds later having passed 90. The car in the photos is only the middle battery option - the Performance battery ups the HP/torque substantially.
Last time I had that kind of stupid grin was reviewing the Corvette Grand Sport last fall.
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Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
> GhostZ
09/17/2013 at 10:12 |
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Reducing weight will probably only come from new battery tech. The battery pack weighs 1000lb, and the chassis & body are already aluminum. The way that car accelerates, you wouldn't normally think "Gee, if only this thing was lighter.." It's that quick.