Tesla Model S to start from $85k

Tesla Motors' Australian boss Jay McCormack says the Model S and a performance version will begin deliveries in Australia next year starting at about $85,000 through to $130,000 depending on battery pack option and model.

The five-seater Model S begins deliveries in the US from June 22 at just under $60,000, but McCormack says import costs such as duty, GST and luxury car tax will add to the price. "But it will still be comparable with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class," he says.

"The biggest holdback is the lack of Australian government incentives for EV. "With a significant focus by the government like in California, there would be a far greater take-up of EV.

"This is the only Tesla market in the world where there is no element of incentive. I'm not just talking about monetary incentives but also use of bus and transit lanes and extra parking benefits." Tesla Motors says worldwide reservations for the electric sedan exceed 10,000 and they plan to deliver about half by the end of the year.

McCormack said last October they had 50 Australian customers who had paid deposits of $6000 for the Model S or $40,000 for the limited-edition Model S Signature, but he would not confirm current order numbers.

"We've taken a considerable amount more since then but I must admit there is a decree from California to not specifically not talk about market numbers which is a disappointment for me as I'd like to talk about our success," he says.

"However, I can tell you we've been able to increase our volume by about another 25 per cent from our previous number." So that's about 60-odd Australian orders. McCormack says they have customer reservations from every state of Australia as well as New Zealand.

The Model S four-door liftback is powered by an AC electric motor with an 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack made of more than 8000 lithium-ion cells. It has a reported 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds which is quick for a family car but slow compared with the 3.7 seconds for the now-defunct two-door Tesla Roadster, which was the world's fastest production electric vehicle.

The performance version of the Model S which will also be available in Australia "from day one" is capable of reaching 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, which is faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. The model range includes Model S with four battery packs from 40kWh to 85kWh performance and Model S Signature with 85kWh and 85kWh performance battery packs.

Battery range will vary from 260km to 485km which is more than any other mass-produced EV available. It will charge from any conventional 240V outlet while an optional three-phase 480V charger will top up the battery in 45 minutes.

The powertrain sits under the floor, creating a low centre of gravity and, with no transmission tunnel, a generous amount of cabin space and two cargo areas. It also features an aluminium body, air suspension and two optional rear-facing children's seats.

McCormack says one of the biggest selling points will be the large 43cm central touch screen. "It's like the size of an iPad and three-quarters," he says. "The centre display commands the whole vehicle from lighting to climate control to Google maps and even live streaming of the internet."

Tesla Motors currently only has a corporate office in Sydney but is "on track" to open a shopfront in a shopping centre. McCormack says the store will resemble an Apple store. Customers can also book test drives and pay deposits over the internet.

McCormack says they have sold 23 Roadsters and have four left. "We should sell out of Roadsters about six months earlier than we thought," he says. "We do about five to 10 test drives in Sydney weekly and we bounce around the other states with about 20 to 30 test drives at a time."

Tesla is based in Palo Alto, California, and makes EVs and EV powertrain components for partners such as Toyota and Daimler.

Tesla Model S and Signature

Prices: about $85,000-$130,000
Motor: AC electric, 270kW/415Nm
Battery: 40kWh-85kWh, 5000 lithium-ion cells Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Body: 4.9m (l), 2.2m (w), 1.4m (h)
Weight: 1735kg