The Thing: the Tesla Model S Performance, a car for tree huggers with $100K to spare
In November, the California-based electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors opened its first Canadian store at Yorkdale, finally making it possible for Torontonians to purchase the future. The Model S, Tesla’s new flagship, can go zero to 100 clicks in less than five seconds and tops out at 210 kilometres an hour. It looks a little like a Maserati—but performs better. And it does all of that without using a single drop of gasoline. Instead, the car runs on a battery—charged by plugging into any 220-volt wall outlet—and can travel up to 480 kilometres before juicing up again. It’s not just the absence of an internal combustion engine that sets the Model S apart. It’s also the little things, like the key fob, which automatically unlocks the door as you approach and turns on the motor as you sit in the driver’s seat, no button pushing required. And the door handles, which retract into the body for better aerodynamics. And the dashboard, which is a giant iPad-like touchscreen, complete with Internet connectivity. We want one—very, very badly. From $103,000. Tesla Yorkdale, 3401 Dufferin St., 416-787-8006.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/shopping/the-thing-electric-avenue/&title=The Thing: the Tesla Model S Performance, a car for tree huggers with $100K to spare&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/feb13-The-Thing-Tesla-Model-S-624x429.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_187384" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Image: courtesy Tesla Motors)[/caption]
In November, the California-based electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors opened its first Canadian store at Yorkdale, finally making it possible for Torontonians to purchase the future. The Model S, Tesla’s new flagship, can go zero to 100 clicks in less than five seconds and tops out at 210 kilometres an hour. It looks a little like a Maserati—but performs better. And it does all of that without using a single drop of gasoline. Instead, the car runs on a battery—charged by plugging into any 220-volt wall outlet—and can travel up to 480 kilometres before juicing up again. It’s not just the absence of an internal combustion engine that sets the Model S apart. It’s also the little things, like the key fob, which automatically unlocks the door as you approach and turns on the motor as you sit in the driver’s seat, no button pushing required. And the door handles, which retract into the body for better aerodynamics. And the dashboard, which is a giant iPad-like touchscreen, complete with Internet connectivity. We want one—very, very badly. From $103,000. Tesla Yorkdale, 3401 Dufferin St., 416-787-8006.){kind=link}
The title of this post has a negative connotation and then the article talks wonders of Tesla. Weird.
What, you don’t like treehugging? :o/
I hope you get one soon: they are truly amazing; my Model S P was delivered Jan. 2. I wanted readers to know, though, that the price of a Model S isn’t “from $103,000”; one can get a Model S for about $60,000. $103,000 is what you pay for if you get the almost-fully loaded version. Thanks for sharing!
Environmentalism ranks low on the list of reasons that people buy a Tesla Model S. More important to buyers are: design, performance, technology, fuel economy and maintenance cost. Even the finest of the $100K gas sedans have a hard time matching up.
I didn’t get a negative impression from the title…I guess you don’t like tree huggers???