Tesla Motors Inc. said it would begin offering three new
versions of its Model S, including an increase in its top-end
electric range, a new, faster performance version and a lower-cost
entry-level model.
New buyers will be able to purchase a 90 kilowatt-hour battery
pack, which should add about 15 miles of range to the 85 kwh Model
S that currently has a 265-mile range for an additional $3,000
option.
The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company also will begin selling a
new "Ludicrous Mode" version of its "Performance" Model S that will
be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, a rate that
puts it alongside pricier performance cars in acceleration. That
option would cost $10,000 to new buyers and existing owners who
have the performance model can get the upgrade for $5,000. And
finally, Tesla is offering a $70,000 Model S with a 70 kwh Model,
which is $5,000 less than the all-wheel-drive version that had been
its entry-level model.
"With the announcement today, we are improving both the low end
and the high end," said Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk in a call
with reporters. "We will continue to make improvements."
The new, more energy-dense battery pack is a result of the
forthcoming Model X SUV, which is heavier and needs more energy to
get about the same range as the Model S, Mr. Musk said. It is the
same size and weight of the current pack, but uses a new
chemistry.
The "Ludicrous Mode" could boost Tesla's sales of its most
expensive models, which already sell for more than $130,000. Using
new circuitry, the battery can dump 1,500 amperes into the motors,
driving blazing acceleration.
"It's just like having your own roller coaster. It requires a
fairly advanced and exotic electronics. But it's still a great
thing," he said. "You can't hide that light under a bushel."
He said timing of the launch of the Model X SUV and lower-cost
Model 3 are on track. While being vague, he said the hotly
anticipated Model X will be available in a "few" months and the
Model 3 lineup of $35,000 crossovers and sedans, is coming in "a
few years."
Write to Mike Ramsey at michael.ramsey@wsj.com
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