

Tesla Model S
Tesla may raise as much as $180 million






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By Spuke on 6/17/2010 2:38:54 PM , Rating: 2
Could you imagine feeling all 300 ft lbs of torque the instant you push the pedal up until the point your about to shift?
You won't because no tire made on this planet can put down 300 lb-ft (or even 200 lb-ft) at 0 rpm. All it results in is tire spin and little acceleration. While you're doing that my piddly 260 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm car shoots right past you. Power is nothing if you can't get it to the ground. Ask ANYONE with a high hp car and two drive wheels.

What happens is the traction control kicks in limiting torque to something the tires and chassis can handle which totally defeats the purpose of having 300 lb-ft at 0 rpm. If you could put that power down, the Tesla would be seriously fast but you can't. It still manages a 12.9@102 regardless (Tesla Sport) which, oddly, is one mph slower than the regular Tesla (according to Car and Driver).

For the price though ($130k base), you can buy a MUCH quicker car. Hell, you can match the performance for much cheaper. But I'd imagine their customers don't buy one cause it's fast, they buy it because it's different or they're trying to make a statement.

