Tech Review: Tesla Model S
Price: >£60,000
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I purchased the Tesla Model S on the 31st March 2017 (just in time to avoid the new UK Luxury Car Tax) after a decision to upgrade from a BMW 520d.
The model chosen was the 60D with Premium Interior and optional upgrade to a 75D in Midnight Blue, similar to that in the above image.
Overall, my first experience was one of complete amazement. After entering the vehicle you are presented with a huge iPad style tablet which acts as the central computer for the car. A computer far advanced than anything car I have previously owned. More advanced than some laptops.
Upon hand-over, the Delivery Specialist talked my wife and myself through all the controls, gadgets and gismos. This was where the reality of AutoPilot set in… would the car really drive itself?? Turns out yes!
Anyway, on to the vehicle itself. Having owned cars of various class, including driven others such as BMW’s flagship 7 Series, the Tesla was a cut-above. Rivals of the Tesla often spoke about the poor interior but personally, I believe the Tesla to be the best yet.
Interior: The Tesla Model S is presented with leather interior and a combination of soft-touch cloth like trim and walnut wood dash. The centre console is dominated by the huge tablet which can become a split screen (i.e. SatNav / Audio combination).
The front seats come with fully electric adjustment to both the direction, height, lumbar support and the headrest. The seats are also both heated and cooled.
The rear seats are much more open than expected. With no gearbox taking up space, all three back seats have the exact same foot space. Ample space at that. Same style to the front with large headrests.
The interior space exceeds that of most saloon cars and many SUVs. The boot space is the biggest I could find on the market. When comparing to an Audi Q7 (Audi’s biggest SUV), the Tesla Model S won hands-down which is remarkable to say its a saloon
Optional extras also include heated steering wheels and a sub-zero climate mode for heating in cold environments
Exterior: The Model S is quite simply beautiful. The car is naturally big. It is wide and it is long. The wheel arches resemble those of a Porsche whilst the front-grill and rear setup has the menacing look of an Aston Martin.
The style of Model S flows incredible well. It is like it has been carved to perfection with every curve been elegant and stylish. Quite remarkable given its size that it has been able to look so damn good.
Technology: Tesla are the pioneers of electric vehicles. Prior to the Tesla Roadster, Electric Vehicles were severely limited in range. If not limited by range, the quality and reliability was incredibly low. Tesla smashed this reality with the Model S and Model X by building a vehicle with the range and reliability to match many Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. The Model S 60D does >200 miles on one full charge. The P100D is reported to do >350 miles
It does not stop there though.
Tesla’s AutoPilot software is one of the real game changers. To put simply, the car will (eventually) drive itself. Having put this to the test, my Model S recently drove me and my wife from London Gatwick Airport to our home in South Yorkshire. Pretty much all the way. No Joke. The only caveat was my hands were required to remain on the steering wheel.
The best part is that this is the very early stages of the AutoPilot V2 setup.
Once again though, it does not stop there with the Tech.
The Model S is fitted with an ability to control almost everything. Controls for every level of comfort. A BIO-WEAPON DEFENCE mode (yes, you read that right). Google based SatNav creating more flexibility than most. An ability to restrict charging and lower the level of power consumed. Adjustable drive settings including how the battery can charge itself. The Summon feature… you guessed it… an ability to summon your Tesla without you been at the wheel. Finally, a mobile App which enables you to control your Tesla from a afar whilst tracking its location in real-time.
Performance: The performance of the Tesla is an area many focus on. The P100D with Ludicrous mode will do 0–60 in around 2.6 seconds. Thats a car that weighs over 2 tonnes wiping the floor with most supercars of half its weight. The 60D is quite modest in comparison managing the 0–60 in an official time of around 5.4 seconds. The acceleration is where an electric motor will always beat an ICE. The power is almost instant. However, where the Tesla’s do suffer in comparison is the top-speed. They are no match for these supercars but equal to those of their rival saloons.
Many people are concerned about the charging capabilities. Quite simply, there is NOTHING to worry about. The previously mentioned South Yorkshire to Gatwick (~190 miles) return journey is a recent example. We stopped at Newport Pagnell for a 15 minute coffee and the Hilton Heathrow for a 40 minute meal on the way down. On the way back we stopped at South Mimms for a 20 minute coffee and Grantham for a 10 minute toilet break. The reality is that most people would have stopped for similar durations anyway. With the growing supercharger network (full charge in ~40 minutes) long journeys are an easy reality.
On the Tesla Facebook group, people regular undertake 2,000 mile plus journeys across the US and Europe… easy and comfortable in the Model S!
Overall: I am biased. But then I am not. Even prior to buying the Tesla Model S, I always wanted one. It is an incredible vehicle with amazing technology and a company with a HUGE vision behind it. The cars Tesla build are quite clearly the future. The Model X (the SUV-Crossover), the Model 3 (the affordable) and the Model Y (reportedly a pickup, possibly an SUV) are the starting of a strong lineup. My only regret is that I did not trade in the BMW sooner. Even if you do not buy a Tesla, their shares are definitely worth looking into (this is not financial advice).
About Me: Stephen Baines is an Innovation Consultant currently working for Salesforce. The views within this post are explicitly those of Stephen and have no representation of any organisation Stephen represents. If you wish to contact Stephen, please contact him via LinkedIn or his Twitter handle (@baines1986)
