TESLA Motors has revealed an updated Model S pure-electric saloon via its online configurator. The Model X will lose its original base model, the 70D, and gain a new 75D version. The entry-level battery size has been increased to 75kWh, bringing the range up from 220 to 237 miles ─ and the overall cost up by US$3,000. Tesla hasn’t said how much faster yet, however.
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Meanwhile, Tesla’s Elon Musk reiterated at the Model 3’s unveiling that the vehicle, also a five-seater, would start at $35,000 before those credits and incentives are counted.
The GM executive was critical of Tesla’s reservation process, which requires a deposit and wait time for delivery, and he went as far as to imply financial troubles at Tesla as a reason for the deposits. Upgrading to a six-seat layout raises the price another $3,000, while the seven-seat variant will set buyers back $4,000 more than the base price. The current largest battery available in the Model S is a 90kWh option. This too is a feature that was first seen on the Model X. The firm is always trying to add new aspects of exclusivity to its cars. Most likely it will be the newer vehicle. There is no press-release, no blog post and also no Tweet from Tesla Motors about the new Model S.
“We’re tech people. I want integration with my phone”, says Charles Butler, a 40-year-old manager with a cloud computing company in Austin, Texas, who was among the first to make an order.
“Winning over the enthusiast is just fundamentally different from winning over mainstream consumers”, he said. Taking a cue from the Model X and Model 3, the Model S now follows Tesla’s new design language, featuring a revised front end that ditches the faux “grille” (unless you count the tiny slit with the Tesla logo).
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The announcement comes a day after Tesla recalled 2,700 Model X SUVs due to a locking hinge issue that puts the third row of seats in danger of folding forward in the event of a crash. The mere appearance of the prototype Model 3 has sent shockwaves not only through the tech community, but also the automotive community.
