What you are looking at is the key to the future. This is what it can do to a 550 bhp
Aston Martin in a straight line. We'll come back to the drag race in a moment, but for
the time being consider this. The Tesla model S has
been on sale in the United States for about one year now. And in the first three months
of 2013, it outsold the Audi A8, the BMW 7 series, and the Mercedes S class.
When it goes on sale in right hand drive in the UK next year, it will cost around £80,000
for the top spec version you see here. Which means that it will be cheaper than most of
its conventional rivals. So what's it like?
I have to say that having spent just a day with this car, the magazine has spent the
thick end of a week with it, we're just blown away by it. It is extraordinary in its range
of abilities.
In this guise, the Model S is powered by an 85 kilowatt lithium ion battery pack. Which,
via a three phase AC electric motor, produces the equivalent of about 410 bhp and 443 pounds
of torque.
You put your foot down in this thing and you go. And the reason why that is, is because
that torque is available from nought revs. And that is what gives this thing its unreal
acceleration. Apart from the power and the power delivery which is just nuts, I think
what's most impressive of all about the Model S is that it does all the conventional stuff
really well. You don't need to make any excuses up for it. I mean, I know it weighs a couple
of tons, but all the weight of the batteries is right down low in the car just where you
want it. And it's nicely balanced. It goes around corners properly. Really, really properly.
And it stops well.
The Model S really has lovely suspension. It's kind of traditional in its suspension
design in that there are double wishbones at the front and multi link at the back. There's
nothing radical there. There's nothing particularly radical about the steering. It has a variable
ratio rack but it still feels good, the steering. There is some life that comes back at you
through the rim. It doesn't feel alien.
The cabin is beautifully made as well. I really, really like the interior of this car. And
I think this big iPad -like screen, once you've been mucking around with that for a couple
of days, you're not going to want anything else. That is going to appear in many, many
other road cars. You've got the nav up here. You're connected up to the internet at all
times. You can find out exactly how much range is left. One small complaint I do have concerns
the seats. Considering how much performance this car has got, the seats do not offer enough
support. You kind of have to cling onto the steering wheel like mad in order not to get
chucked around the place.
Okay, we're going to find out just how fast the Tesla Model S is compared with the Aston
Martin Rapide S. I'm just going to wait for him to put his foot down. He's in second gear
doing about 30 miles an hour. He's gone, now I go, and now I disappear. Oh, man. That's
it. Look. Bye, bye Aston Martin. That is just incredible. It's in, I cannot describe what
that feels like. It just feels as if there's some higher force that just picks you up and
thrusts you at the horizon.
The Model S might have been in the same league as the Rapide when it comes to interior luxury,
or style, or pure quality. But it isn't meant to compete with a car like the Aston to be
honest, on any level. We just wanted to show you how fast it is in a straight line. Tesla
claims nought to 60 in 4.2 seconds. Our road testers figured it at 4.6 seconds. Either
way, it is seriously rapid, up to three figures and beyond. And in terms of its range and
charge times, Tesla claims the Model S will do 300 miles on one charge. After a weeks
testing, we reckon it will do at least 260 miles in the real world. Which isn't a lot
less than the Aston can manage on a tank of fuel.
A full charge from the regular mains takes about six hours. But from one of Tesla's new
super charge points, half a charge will take about half an hour. Oh, yes and one full charge
costs around £4.50 at standard off-peak rates. Whereas in the V12 Aston, a full tank of unleaded
costs about £120 a pop.
The Tesla Model S is a landmark car. Absolutely no mistake. This is incredible this car. This
is the future, except it's right now in the present. And it makes the Aston seem really,
really old fashioned. Wow.