Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Tesla Introduces A New Base Model S With More Range, AWD

      Tesla Surprises Everyone With A New Model S Variant


    Tesla is apparently full of surprises. This morning, the Californian electric automaker announced the Model S 70D which will replace the 60 as the base model.

    The 70D packs a larger 70-kWh battery pack which increases range from 208 miles to 240. The D in the 70D means this is packing Tesla's dual-motor all-wheel-drive system which provides a total output of 514 horsepower. This increase in power drops 0-60 from 5.9 to 5.2 seconds.

    Other changes on the 70D include Tesla’s Supercharging DC fast-charger installed and the and the Autopilot semi-autonomous system.

    As for price, the Model S 70D will start off at $75,000, about $4,000 more than the Model S 60.

    Source: Tesla Motors

    Press Release is on Page 2


    Introducing the All-Wheel Drive Model S 70D

    Today, we are introducing the Model S 70D, an all-wheel drive electric car with a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds and a 250 mile range at 65 mph.

    Even at a starting price of $75k, the Model S 70D offers a broad and compelling set of features. Moreover, when one factors in the cost advantages over an internal combustion engine vehicle, including fuel savings and incentives, the actual cost of owning Model S 70D comes to about $55k over five years (the average length of new car ownership).

    In addition to having independently operational front and rear motors, the 70D includes Supercharging to enable free long-distance travel, Autopilot hardware, navigation, blind spot detection and many other features. As with every Model S, the 70D will receive free over-the-air updates that add functionality and improve the driving experience for years to come.

    Starting today, you can also order any Models S in three new colors: Ocean Blue, Obsidian Black, and Warm Silver.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Nice! Supercharging is now included in the base options! 

     

    Z-06 and I got a great explanation about the dual motor system in Detroit.   Apparently the front motor is smaller and thus uses less energy to run, so when you're on an easy highway cruise, the car runs as a front driver and sips less juice. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    That is very cool to hear so AWD for more challanging weather and terrain but for flat highway cruising FWD mode for EV Efficiency. That is smart and will truly start to change the way people see auto's. I like the 240 mile range if that is real world results along with the supercharging. Now to get this to recharge like a petrol auto and we are there.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Okay. I admit it.  I must be too cheap because I chocked at the price tag. 

    Sure, I was impressed with the mile range, understand the long term saving out of pocket, and fully advocate the concept, but I am going to take a pass.

    Plus, don't really care for the new Ocean Blue color (yeah, I know it comes in other colors, but, just thought I would throw it out there).

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Still waiting on the cheaper models for business use, we've thought about buying one for the company to use on a calendar basis but by the time the car would've paid for itself wasn't worth it. The increase in range is great tho! And I'm still incredibly impressed with how fast it can go from 0-60 even everytime I encounter one at the stop lights, there's no use in trying to keep up with it. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

      On 5/15/2015 at 1:18 PM, Escoda said:

    Still waiting on the cheaper models for business use, we've thought about buying one for the company to use on a calendar basis but by the time the car would've paid for itself wasn't worth it. The increase in range is great tho! And I'm still incredibly impressed with how fast it can go from 0-60 even everytime I encounter one at the stop lights, there's no use in trying to keep up with it. 

     

    I think you'll be waiting for the Tesla Model 3. It will be in the $35k range.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

      On 5/15/2015 at 9:54 PM, balthazar said:

    Any updates on a projected intro for the Model 3?

    It can't get here soon enough...

    Suspect GM will Beat Tesla with the Bolt and steal their sales. This is why Tesla introduced the Home battery pack, they know their days are numbered as GM and others jump into the competition. Tesla cars look dated.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    There is a slight, '90s-era stylistic vibe to the model S, but it's still sleek enough to work as 'current'.

    I'd like to see a MCE soon, tho.

     

    But the company's future rides on the model 3; it doesn't get here ASAP and rake in buyers, the company is done.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    There's ~25,000 Model X preorders, with each person forking over $5000 to be on the list. Just as the Cayenne is Porsche's most important vehicle, the Model X will be Tesla's. 

     

      On 5/16/2015 at 6:04 AM, dfelt said:

    Suspect GM will Beat Tesla with the Bolt and steal their sales. This is why Tesla introduced the Home battery pack, they know their days are numbered as GM and others jump into the competition. Tesla cars look dated.

     

    The Bolt doesn't compete against the Model 3. The only thing in common is that they're electric and have four wheels. That's like saying the Nissan Versa is a BMW 3 competitor. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

      On 5/16/2015 at 6:26 PM, Buzz Killington said:

    There's ~25,000 Model X preorders, with each person forking over $5000 to be on the list. Just as the Cayenne is Porsche's most important vehicle, the Model X will be Tesla's. 

     

      On 5/16/2015 at 6:04 AM, dfelt said:

    Suspect GM will Beat Tesla with the Bolt and steal their sales. This is why Tesla introduced the Home battery pack, they know their days are numbered as GM and others jump into the competition. Tesla cars look dated.

     

    The Bolt doesn't compete against the Model 3. The only thing in common is that they're electric and have four wheels. That's like saying the Nissan Versa is a BMW 3 competitor. 

    I disagree, All we have seen are pictures and allot of hyperbol and nothing to indicate that Tesla is really building a Model 3. They need to and hopefully will get the Model X CUV out the door thought I think without the gull wing doors.

     

    The BOLT done right will and can compete in the 30K segment against the Model 3 from Tesla. I also suspect GM will get it out and successfully sell the heck out of it compared to Tesla.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

      On 5/16/2015 at 6:38 PM, dfelt said:

    The BOLT done right will and can compete in the 30K segment against the Model 3 from Tesla.

     

    The Bolt is an FWD, crossover'y commuter thing that appeals to couples and small families. The Model 3 will be a RWD, BMW 3-Series competitor tuned for handling and performance. 

     

    Aside from being electric and having a steering wheel, they're totally different markets. Cross-shopping will be minimal, and people looking at the Bolt will be considering the likes of the i3, or Nissan Leaf as real competitors. 

     

      On 5/16/2015 at 6:38 PM, dfelt said:

    I also suspect GM will get it out and successfully sell the heck out of it compared to Tesla.

     

    You mean the same GM that can't move more than 2,000 ELR's in a year-and-a-half, despite mountains of incentives? The same GM whose 'hybrid' models have been routinely routed by automotive press and have received lukewarm sales?

     

    Tesla's done way more 'right's' than GM in this area. Remember, the Volt concept from 2007 was a response to the Tesla Roadster. 

     

    Since that time, Tesla's bought NUMMI, has produced a wildly successful electric sedan, is about to debut a wildly successful electric crossover, established a continent-stretching charging station grid, and is constructing a massive battery factory the likes of which has never been seen before (and on American soil too).

     

    Oh, and the Model S is Consumer Reports' best vehicle they've ever tested. GM's been making vehicles for like, a century, and the only way the corporate reliability improved was probably by dumping Pontiac. 

     

    So after all this time, GM has a Chevy that gets ~40 miles range on electric with a design that's overshadowed by KIA's, and a Cadillac that nobody wants. Sure stuff is on the horizon, and maybe by the time the ELR's 700+ day supply has whittled down, GM will have a good electric that people want. 

     

    #justsayin

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    ^ How do you quantify "wildly successful"? Test reviews & market acceptance are one thing, but not the only thing.

     

    How many more dozen year spans are investors willing to wait to see the company break out of the red? Is it even one more span? This is why the model 3 is so tremendously important.

     

    I would tend to agree that much cross shopping is unlikely between the 3 and the Bolt, but I'll hold final judgement to see how both products come out of the factory door first. One thing is very likely- the model 3 certainly won't be 'just a smaller Model S'. 

    Edited by balthazar
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • You’re thinking in purely North American terms. China and Middle East still have decent sedan sales. It costs Genesis next to nothing to put a couple of these on a boat to the US with some GV80s. The boat is already headed that direction anyway.    As for coupes and convertibles, these are just concepts for now, but as platform flexibility increases with the move to EV, I think we will see he return of lower volume body styles like these.
    • This looks so freakin great.  
    • Well kids, today's lesson is: Just buy the effing tool you need. Last weekend I took the R1100RS out on the longest ride I've been on with it. A total of 5 hours of wandering. Even with 109k miles on it, this bike just loves to chew up highway. The engine runs superbly.  I was really trying to burn off gas that's been in the tank a little long for comfort, but even with 5 hours of riding, I have more than half a tank left! No issues on the trip except I noticed that the right fork was leaking oil.  These are telelever forks that don't actually have any suspension components in them. The shock and spring are mounted on a cantilever platform between the forks.  Essentially, all the forks do is slide up and down and keep the wheel aligned. When I got back from the trip, I ordered a set of fork seals and picked up fork oil. Watched a few videos on the process and decided I was set. ALL of the videos suggested that I could get the oil seal out with a flat head screwdriver. Both my Haynes manual and the BMW service manual I have said to use an oil seal remover tool. You can see where this is going. I effed with that oil seal for a good hour with a flat head, some long needle nose pliers, even some plastic bodywork tools I have before I gave up and drove to Harbor Freight.  Harbor Freight has an Oil Seal Removal tool for $7.99.  I got that and a few other things that I decided I might need to try also. Got home and with the tool I had the oil seal out in 15 seconds. . I replaced the seals, topped it off with some fresh fork oil, and had it back together faster than the time I spent just trying to get the damn seal out. So, moral of the story is: Just buy the damn tool.
    • Based on the pictures, it would appear what went into the EV9 has been pushed out to the other EVs in Hyundai and Genesis based on the pictures. If so, then a decent set of physical switches for the most common features and a very user-friendly thought-out interface imho. I like this new updated design much better than generation 1. I am very excited to see what comes of the next 18 months. Seems to be a weird assortment of some companies are investing in the U.S. to ensure market share gain and production with minimal tariff affect like the 21 billion Kia/Hyundai/Genesis are investing and then others are cancelling plants like Ford and GM. Then you have the Europeans that have come out and stated they will have a Tariff line cost on each auto now with no changes in production as I think they are figuring 47 could be gone soon based on recent video of him and his leg dragging, slurring of speech and freezing in talking and someone else will have common sense to set fair trade negotiations and balance the craziness out.
    • My main question is if they improved the center console.  I really like the Ioniq 6, but the center console of the interior was such a huge miss in terms of material quality and construction that it killed the car for me. It was odd that given the level of quality in the rest of the interior that one of the most touched items in the car outside of the steering wheel was an obvious afterthought to the design team.
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

This Article

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search