Electric car company Tesla Motors' Washington, D.C. showroom is located directly across the street from the condo where I've been living for the past two years (this green blogger is moving to the greenest city in America -- New York). So when I look out the window of my tenth floor bedroom, I stare down upon one of the most beautiful sites in the world -- Tesla's new Model S Sedan.
You don't have to be an electric vehicle lover to appreciate automobile designer Franz von Holzhausen's sleek design, plush interior, gee whiz gadgetry and enormous storage space of the Tesla Model S. I was given a brief tour of the car and walked away even more impressed.
The features that stood out to me include the 17-inch dashboard touchscreen above the steering wheel and the main digital display in the center where drivers can monitor their energy usage, map out routes via GPS, surf the Internet, program music and take advantage of a host of other digital options.
Another amazing feature is the 8.1 cubic feet of storage space when you pop the hood. Since the car runs completely on an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, there is obviously no internal combustion engine so in its place is trunk space in the front of the car. It takes some getting used to the fact that there is no dirty, greasy engine in the front, but that instead you can fit your luggage there if the trunk fills up.
Retail deliveries started in the United States on June 22nd. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the Model S luxury model with the 85 kWh battery is 265 miles (426 km), topping the Tesla Roadster and making the Model S the electric car with the greatest range available in the market. And racing enthusiasts will be pleased to know that power and electric are quietly complementary, as the 85 kWh performance version gets 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. In comparison, the 2011 Ferrari California gets 0 to 60 in 4.0 seconds.
Tesla owner Elon Musk has also made available two lower range versions -- 60 KWh at 230 mile range and 40 kWh at 160 mile range.
Will consumers fall in love with the Tesla Model S Sedan? We will find out soon.
Click here for more facts and pricing info on the Tesla Model S Sedan.
Here are more photos from the D.C. showroom:
Beautiful design I must say.I'd never expect an electric car to be available in the sedan category.These kind of Eco friendly cars must be encouraged as they help us reduce the contribution of pollution to the environment.
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