Tesla Model S 70D world's cheapest EV AWD super-sedan
QUESTION: How many five-seat sedans (or liftbacks) can hit 100km/h from standstill in just 5.4 seconds or under?
The answer, actually, is plenty, including the homegrown (but not for long, sadly) Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo from under $44,000 (making it a bit of a bargain really). Most are up-spec BMWs, Mercs and Audis. It’s the German way.
OK. If you add all-wheel drive to the mix, you’re suddenly looking at the $73,400 Infiniti Q50 3.5h S Premium, and over $105,000 for the Audi S4… but what if you want your fuel consumption number to match (or better) your acceleration figure?
Well, the $285,300 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid can achieve 3.1 litres per 100km, but it’s out of the running because it hits the 0-100km/h marker in 5.5s.
That leaves the cheapest, slowest Tesla Model S you can buy, the newly announced 70D – D stands for Dual motor drive, by the way, indicating one engine per axle. It’s the world’s first production dual-motor, AWD electric vehicle.
Now there’s something that you have to get your head around with Tesla. It’s a car company that behaves more like an electronics firm such as Apple, releasing updates regularly rather than waiting two or three years for a mid-lifecycle facelift. That’s why the 70D replaces the ‘old’ Model S 60 as the base model, even though the latter has only been on sale for six months (though years elsewhere in the world).
The other thing is that prices have risen since the good old days of October 2014, with the 70D starting from $106,900 (plus on-road costs), rising to the (rear-drive) 85’s $114,200, $121,000 for the 85D and $148,000 for the supernaturally fast P85D.
That’s over $11K more than the $95,500 60 did when prices were announced a year ago, an outcome Tesla blames on shifting currencies as well as rising equipment levels.
As the extra suffix in the name implies, the most obvious one is the addition of a front axle-mounted motor driving the front wheels. But the kind environmentalists from California also throw in a usefully larger battery of 70kWh capability. This boosts range by 50km to a handy 442km when fully charged-up, and that’s despite a weight rise of around 80kg compared to the 60, while extra goodies like satellite navigation, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and parking sensors are now also included.
The extra power in the 70D should be more than enough for most luxury sedan buyers seeking zero tailpipe emissions – its combined power output is 20kW up from the 60's 225kW, resulting in a 0.6s cut in that 0-100km/h time to the aforementioned 5.4 seconds. Plus, top speed is 225km/h. Nobody could ever accuse an EV of being slow off the mark!
Another advantage of the upgrade is the ability of the 70D to utilise Tesla's growing supercharging network around Australia; previously it was optional, and allows for the newcomer to charge right up again from empty in around 60 minutes, or just 20 minutes for a 50 per cent top-up. That’s compared to nine hours using a regular 240-volt outlet.
By the way, the company has revealed plans to link the eastern seaboard between Brisbane and Melbourne with supercharge stations set at 200km intervals.
Other changes as part of the 2015 Model S range include Apple-style over-the-air software updates via a standard 3G SIM card, bringing a boost in performance and efficiency, as well as improved mapping data showing directions and distances to recharging stations. Tesla will cover the cost of data for the first four years too.
All Australian Model S' come with a 3G SIM card, allowing access to these updates from almost anywhere in the country. Tesla covers the cost of data for four years.
That’s a lot of car for the money when you consider the capabilities of the 70D’s AWD electric drivetrain, but of course a lot of desirable – if not actually essential – options do cost plenty extra.
For instance, Autopilot Convenience that brings radar-controlled cruise control, lane-keeping tech with active steering inputs, automatic self parking and automatic high/low beam headlights, adds $3400 – the same price as the essential Smart Air Suspension that uses GPS data to remember previous topographical features to automatically raise or lower the ride as needed (brilliant for steep driveways), as well as cushioning your tush.
And then there is the $4100 Premium Interior and Lighting Package that includes an electric tailgate lifter, Nappa leather and Alcantara cabin trim, accented lighting, fog and cornering lights and lit door handles. The latter, in particular, lifts the ambience of the Model S up to where the lofty pricing suggests, so we highly recommend that to avoid a grimly plasticky interior alternative.
Include all those options, and the 70D’s all-in price including driveaway is a whisker under $140K.
But then, there is no luxury sedan (or SUV or wagon or coupe) that can provide this level of practicality and performance with the zero tailpipe emissions goodness of an EV.
So… would you consider the extremely compelling Tesla Model S over an equivalently priced BMW 5 Series/6 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E-Class/CLS or Audi A6/A7 Sportback?
Byron Mathioudakis GoAuto.com.au
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