Hot Tesla Model S to rival M5

A high-performance version of the Tesla Model S saloon will be available from the car’s launch in 2012, giving the electric car maker a rival for the BMW M5.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the fast saloon’s launch today alongside the unveiling of the near-production ready ‘Beta’ Model S development car at a special event for Model S reservation holders in Silicon Valley, California.

Musk said the performance version of the all-electric luxury saloon would be offered with a battery pack with a 300-mile range. Other versions of the car at launch come with battery packs that allow for 160-mile and 230-mile ranges, alongside a standard version of the 300-mile range car.

The performance version comes with enhanced power electrics to cut its 0-60mph time from 5.5sec to 4.6sec.

Musk also confirmed that the Model S would be offered with optional aerodynamic wheels, boosting the range of the 300-mile range cars by 20 miles. The range figure has already been ratified by the EPA, which publishes independent figures for electric cars in the US.

“People were sceptical about whether we could build an electric car with a 300-mile range,” said Musk. “And we’ve gone and made one with a 320-mile range.”

Tesla has also followed through with its promise to equip the BMW 5-series-sized Model S with seating for five adults and two children, with two rear facing seats in the boot offering accommodation for children up to 4ft11ins tall.

If those two rearmost seats are not being used, there is rear luggage space to match the 5-series as well as a front luggage space with equal capacity. “This gives us twice the luggage space of a BMW 5-series with similar exterior dimensions,” said Musk.

The PayPal co-founder, who also owns space exploration firm SpaceX, added that the Model S will have industry-leading aerodynamics, grand piano-quality paint finishes, the largest panoramic roof ever seen on a production car, a centre of gravity lower than most sports car thanks to the mounting of its battery pack in the floor, and a “sports car feel” in the way it drives.

Other features include self-adjusting air suspension and a DC fast-charging capability that will mean a full recharge of the 90kWh 300-mile range battery pack will take one hour. The battery pack can also be removed in less than a minute, a feature designed-in by Tesla in case battery swap stations ever catch on in place of fast charge stations.