Tesla claims the Model S sedan will be produced at a rate of 20,000 units per year, with an expected 3rd quarter of 2011 start of production and an expectation of mid-2012 for when they hope to hit that 20,000-per-year number.
The Tesla Model S Sedan will supposedly have a 300 mile range from its floor pan-located, easily removable battery pack which Tesla claims will have a quick-charged capability allowing it to partially charge in just 45 minutes. The company is considering renting customers a long range battery pack for long trips. The regular batteries are available for lease and are expected to last from 7 to 10 years depending on use, but expect closer to 10 for normal use. The entire car will be covered under a warranty, the length of which is expected to be between 3 and 4 years.
The interior features 2 LCD screens, one displaying the gauges and one mounted centrally featuring a full touch screen. Seating has five seats facing forward with two seats folded down into the trunk space that flip upward and face out the back of the Model S. We don't have pictures of it, but Elon Musk tells us it's true so it must be.
Sport and AWD models are being planned, but the stock model can run 0-60 MPH in 5.5 seconds using its single-speed transmission.
The Tesla Model S will be built in Southern California, while the drive train is manufactured in San Jose. Although we initially believed they might be using a Mercedes platform, but we're now told personally by Tesla's Elon Musk the platform is their own design and they plan on manufacturing it themselves. Where they'll come up with the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to accomplish that is anyone's guess.
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All I have to say is ........ MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE!!!!
