What you should know:
The 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year has all the features you'd expect from a vehicle that has earned that honor. Tesla offers three lithium-ion battery packs for the Model S -- 40-kW-hr, 60-kW-hr, and 85-kW-hr -- that are claimed to provide ranges of 140, 200, and 265 miles, respectively. The base 85-kW-hr power train delivers a stout 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the performance version makes 416 hp and 443 lb-ft.
What it offers:
It has a light body, advanced design, a roomy cabin, and plenty of load capacity. What the Tesla Model S doesn't have is an internal combustion engine.
The advantage:
First Car of the Year with no internal combustion engine. Motor Trend heaps praise on the Model S, saying it drives like a sports car and sashays like a supermodel working a Paris catwalk.
The unfavorable:
The gas/electric hybrid is starting to look kind of old school next to the sleek all-electric Model S.
The price:
This all-electric supermodel starts at $58,570 and has a range of 265 miles.
The 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year has all the features you'd expect from a vehicle that has earned that honor. Tesla offers three lithium-ion battery packs for the Model S -- 40-kW-hr, 60-kW-hr, and 85-kW-hr -- that are claimed to provide ranges of 140, 200, and 265 miles, respectively. The base 85-kW-hr power train delivers a stout 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the performance version makes 416 hp and 443 lb-ft.
The Tesla Model S nails the formula established by the German brands that currently dominate the midsize luxury sedan sector. It's fast and great to drive. It's well-equipped and high-tech. It won't look out of place rolling up the drive of a leafy country club or at the curb of a hip hotel. It's a credible alternative to a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi for someone who lives in metroplexes such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
What it offers:
It has a light body, advanced design, a roomy cabin, and plenty of load capacity. What the Tesla Model S doesn't have is an internal combustion engine.
The advantage:
First Car of the Year with no internal combustion engine. Motor Trend heaps praise on the Model S, saying it drives like a sports car and sashays like a supermodel working a Paris catwalk.
The unfavorable:
The gas/electric hybrid is starting to look kind of old school next to the sleek all-electric Model S.
The price:
This all-electric supermodel starts at $58,570 and has a range of 265 miles.
