Elon Musk’s brainchild, Tesla, an American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded in 2003, has revolutionized the electric vehicle market. Powered by batteries rather than fuel, no emissions are produced, meaning it epitomizes luxury eco-friendly travel.
After some backlash for lacking adequate housing for drinks containers, Tesla installed two cup holders in a rear-seat folding console and two on the armrests on the Model S. For the coffee-lovers out there, you can add bespoke cup inserts as the cherry-on-top of the beautifully stitched interior.
Built-in the sunshine state of California, the large luxury electric hatchback boasts an astonishing 0-60mph time of just 2.4 seconds, prized for its innovative approach to a huge battery range and phenomenal performance, as well as its ability to surpass gas-powered cars in design, performance, and durability.
With prices starting from $85,000, the Model S is a frontrunner for the most advanced electric car on the market. Rivals for the Model S include luxury vehicles Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS, and BMW 6 Series.
What is the Tesla Model S?
The second of Tesla’s fleet, the Model S, after the Tesla Roadster, is unique in that instead of a sports car, it was a large sedan, marketed at the upper-class market.
Despite being a fully-fledged member of the full-sized luxury car arena, due to the model’s sleek lines and sophisticated bodywork, it possesses an output of 760 horsepower and a drag coefficient of just 0.24, making it even more powerful and aerodynamic than some supercars.
Just a few of the ground-breaking, futuristic features include an all-screen dashboard, a ‘collision avoidance assist’, and a ‘bioweapon defense mode’, an air-filtration system which even cleans the air outside of the car. According to Tesla, you can survive a military-grade bio attack by sitting in your car, and with the socio-political climate, this is an attractive feature to have.
The award-winning car also features in-car streaming services, an in-built web browser, auto-raising suspension, a front cargo compartment, along with a rear hatch. A complete 180 from its competition, Tesla’s Model S is also quiet – perfect for those record-breaking journeys of up to 1,080 kilometers on a single charge.
What are the advantages of Teslas?
Tesla’s don’t just supersede the gas-glugging supercars, they are also paving the way for a new era of electric vehicles. The 16,103-strong Tesla Supercharger, a 480-volt fast charger for all Tesla models, blows standard power outlets out of the water, which take about an entire night to charge, as opposed to Tesla’s Superchargers 75 minutes charging time.
The most notable feature exclusive to Tesla is its autonomous driver assistance system, a $2000 extra, featuring autosteer, auto lane change, automatic emergency steering, and auto park, as well as enabling the car to be summoned from a garage or a driving spot. Despite the futuristic technology, drivers must pay full attention to the road and must be always ready to take control.
Although the initial cost is an eye-watering price tag for many, there are numerous cost savings. There is no need for gas or oil changes, a reduction in maintenance costs due to featuring far fewer moving parts than a regular engine and a battery guarantee, as well as an electric vehicle tax break on offer for some Tesla owners, making them a strong economic choice.
For the animal-lovers out there, Tesla is going vegan! In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, Tesla has transformed all of its seats to their vegan ‘tesla synthetic material’, with Model Y and Model 3 now fully vegan after eradicating the latter’s leather steering wheel.
Are there any disadvantages of Teslas?
After the hefty initial outlay, there are costly add-ons to access many of Tesla’s most sought-after features. The world-renowned autopilot feature, ‘smart air suspension’, and an upgraded sound system each come in at $2,500, as well as the ‘subzero weather package’ for $1,000, not forgetting the various upgrade options available.
The well-loved autopilot feature made famous by Tesla has been the subject of controversy. The self-drive mode has been responsible for numerous fatal crashes – some human error and some system error, with the National Transportation Safety Board calling for Tesla to do more to prevent this in the future.
While the large screen is a selling point for those who enjoy the contemporary look, they are not risk-free. Some Tesla drivers have found that flitting between the many hi-tech features requires attention and can take concentration away from the road ahead.