Pre-order customers for the Tesla Model S got a sneak preview of the car over the weekend as its Silicon Valley maker threw open its doors.
Tesla, best known for its electric sports car model, the Roadster, is due to launch its second car by mid-2012. The new Model S, presented to a crowd of its future owners, is designed to be a more mainstream family-friendly offering, with room for four and a choice of battery packs.
Proclaiming that many people see electric cars as being like ‘unicorns’, the firm’s boss Elon Musk called on the gathered crowd to champion electric cars to prove to doubters that the technology was practical and real.
The family saloon model with room for four, will be able to sprint up to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and will have a driving range of 160 miles, 230 miles or 300 miles depending on the choice of battery pack. Prices start from $57,400-nearly half the price of the Roadster which costs around $109,000.
Last week Tesla revealed that it did not need further US government money to bring the model to the market either (see story), as the car maker already has sold out its planned production run for 2012.
In presenting the car, the car maker opted for an usual product demonstration, cramming no less than seven people into the model (watch the video).
