| Tesla Model S | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Production | June 2012 – present |
| Model years | 2013–present |
| Assembly |
|
| Designer | Franz von Holzhausen (2008) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door liftback sedan |
| Layout | |
| Chassis | Unibody |
| Related | Tesla Model X |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | 3-phase alternating current induction motor |
| Transmission | Single-speed reduction gear |
| Battery | 40–100 kWh lithium-ion battery |
| Electric range | 208–405 mi (335–652 km) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 116.5 in (2,960 mm)[1] |
| Length | 196.1–197.7 in (4,980–5,021 mm)[2][3] |
| Width | 77.3 in (1,960 mm)[1][note 1] |
| Height | 56.5 in (1,440 mm)[1] |
| Curb weight | 4,323–4,960 lb (1,961–2,250 kg)[4][5] |
The Tesla Model S is a battery-electric, four-door full-size car that has been produced by the American automaker Tesla since 2012. The automaker's longest-produced model and second vehicle, critics have called the Model S one of the most significant and influential electric cars in the industry.
Tesla started developing the Model S around 2007 under the codename "WhiteStar". Initially, Henrik Fisker—known for his work with Aston Martin—was appointed as the lead designer for the WhiteStar project, but after a dispute with Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, Fisker was replaced by Franz von Holzhausen. By 2008, von Holzhausen had designed the production Model S's exterior. Tesla unveiled a prototype of the vehicle in March 2009, in Hawthorne, California. To produce the Model S, Tesla acquired a facility in Fremont, California. Series manufacture of the car officially began at the Fremont facility, in June 2012. Tesla carried out the final assembly for European markets at its facilities in Tilburg, the Netherlands, between 2013 and 2021.
All versions of the Model S come equipped with a single-speed transmission. The car initially used an alternating current induction motor, but in 2019, Tesla substituted it with a permanent magnet synchronous reluctance unit. Constructed mostly of aluminum, the Model S shares 30 percent of its components with the Model X—a crossover SUV that was introduced in 2015. Over the course of its production, it has undergone several updates, the most prominent ones occurring in 2016 and 2021. These updates have typically included modifications to the motor, such as changes to horsepower or torque, as well as revised exterior elements and refreshed interior features. One such change included the introduction of Tesla Autopilot—a partial vehicle automation advanced driver-assistance system—which was released in 2015. To charge the Model S, Tesla operates a network of fast-charging stations.
In 2015, the Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle. It has been the subject of multiple fires, the first occurring in Kent, Washington, in October 2013. The car has earned numerous accolades, including being named one of the Best 25 Inventions of the Year 2012 by Time and receiving the Tech Car of the Year for 2012 award from CNET. In 2014, The Daily Telegraph described the Model S as a "car that changed the world".[6] Road & Track argued that, with the introduction of the Model S Plaid—the high-performance version of the vehicle—and features such as the yoke steering wheel, Tesla managed to turn the Model S into "perhaps one of the worst [cars in the world]."[7]
- ^ a b c Hutchinson, Lee (October 28, 2013). "Review: Tesla Motors' all-electric Model S is fast—but is it a good car?". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Anthony, Sebastian (January 31, 2017). "Driving the Tesla Model S through the countryside—watch out for autopilot". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Tesla Model S practicality, boot size, dimensions & luggage capacity". Auto Express. February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Devanshu & Dwivedi 2024, p. 36.
- ^ Muralidhar, S. (July 20, 2018). "A brief encounter of the Tesla kind". Business Line. ProQuest 2263342958.
- ^ "The top 10 cars that changed the world (and one that's about to)". The Daily Telegraph. December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Perkins, Chris (November 3, 2023). "Tesla Model S has lived long enough to see itself become a villain". Road & Track. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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