A high-performance version of the zero-emissions Tesla Model S sedan will reportedly be available immediately from the vehicle's launch in 2012, giving Tesla a rival to the ultimate of Ultimate Driving Machines: the BMW M5.
Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk reportedly confirmed the Model S Sport launch alongside the unveiling of the near-production-ready electric sedan at an exclusive event for Model S reservation holders in Silicon Valley, CA.
According to Green Car Reports, Musk says the $80,000 high-performance version of the Model S will be offered with a battery pack sized at 85-kWh to give the sedan a 300-mile range. The Sport version will come equipped with enhancements that cut its 0 to 60-mph time from 5.5 to somewhere between 4.4 and 4.6 seconds.
Additionally, Musk confirmed the Model S will be offered with optional aerodynamic wheels, boosting range to 320 miles. Tesla's CEO stated:
Tesla has also promised to equip the Model S with seating for up to seven and by fitting the sedan with a battery pack that can be swapped out by Tesla at suitable sites along major freeways. All to please Wall Street Journal scribe Dan Neil.People were skeptical about whether we could build an electric car with a 300-mile range. And we've gone and made one with a 320-mile range.
In closing, Musk stated:
We like it, too. In our humble opinion, the Model S seems set to become the world's most spectacular zero-emissions vehicle. We'll know more when the car actually hits the road, but it sure looks good "on paper."The goal with the Model S was to build the best car, not just the best electric vehicle. It can seat seven, has got two boots, a really low center of gravity; no-one thought any of this was possible. I'm proud of this car and it's a revolution that I hope the rest of the industry will follow.
Source: autoblog
