Tesla have grown into an icon of the automotive world in a relatively short span of time, and that’s because the Model S hits eye-watering speeds in an even shorter span of time. We drive the revolutionary electric luxury sports car.
Story: Jim Gorde
Photography: Tesla Motors
Neck-snapping torque, zero tail-pipe emissions — actually, zero tail-pipes — and a contemporary, elegant interior are all part of one delectable package called the Tesla Model S. While many have begun downsizing engines, lopping off cylinders and adding all kinds of blowers, Elon Musk and his team at Tesla began a few years ago what has established itself as a force to be reckoned with – the Model S.
What do people really want from a car? Luxury? Speed? Handling? Gadgets and connectivity? A big engine? If you’ve said ‘yes’ to the first few, you probably realise that the last bit isn’t all that important. It’s getting all of the former which matter today. Cars need to be efficient and fun. They can be hybrids as long as they consume less fuel and emit fewer pollutants. Tesla have gone one step further than everyone else. They’ve done the seemingly impossible – they’ve created a fun, luxury electric car.
The Tesla Model S is a beautiful car. It has everything one looks for in a modern automobile – definitive structure, smooth lines and curves, flared wheel-arches with haunches at the rear, making it hard to not stop and stare. It exudes a special aura and the attention to detail both on the outside and in the cabin speak volumes of the car and its creators. The interior is a mix of leather, wood and glass, with the tablet-laden centre console and panoramic roof making the cabin feel not just airy, but rather bespoke. The quality and high levels of fit-and-finish testify to the many hours of effort put into its creation.
Having been around since 2012, the Model S was initially offered with a 40-kWh battery pack. A 60-kWh option was added later, and, finally, the 85-kWh performance model we’ve driven here. For those with range anxiety, Tesla Motors also began offering battery swaps. Nevertheless, the Model S is an exciting car and it can sprint to 100 km/h in a surprisingly short 5.6 seconds. Time to have a go, then.
