Today in TechTesla Model S outpaces Porsche without a drop of gas
When it comes to zero-emission sports cars, Tesla Motors is one of the first names in the business. The company's Roadster model has enjoyed moderate success, and roughly 1,700 of the green sports cars have been sold since they hit retail in 2008. With the new Model S — which was originally announced in 2008 — Tesla hopes to take itself from an expensive novelty to a major player in the U.S. auto market.
Tesla's Roadster model can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 3.7 seconds, seats just two, and boasts a staggering base price of $109,000. By contrast, the Model S can seat up to five adults and two children at once, and will be available at a much more reasonable starting price of $57,000.
The standard edition of the Model S will sport a range of 160 miles per charge. The premium model boasts a 230-mile range for $67,000, and the Signature Series features a remarkable 300-mile range for $77,000. All versions of the Model S can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is a bit slower than its Roadster brethren, but still puts several Porsche models to shame.
The interior of the Model S is adorned with an epic 17" touchscreen that can be used for a variety of purposes. The display is utilized for climate control as well as selecting music, but can also be used to surf the internet via a built-in web browser. GPS navigation is also standard, and it should be pretty easy to tell where you're headed with 17 inches of interactive map at your fingertips.
The company has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the Model S project, and just last week it was reportedly considering another massive loan from the U.S. Government — though it has since decided against that idea. The new electric ride is expected to be put into production next year, and the company has stated it already has 2,000 orders to fill, so expect to see the Model S speeding around your city streets in the near future.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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