Tesla Model S the fastest electric

The sleek electric four-door liftback will take over from two-door Roadster which is the world's fastest production electric vehicle.

In response to scepticism that the Model S will go into production after several months of delays, the car will be rolled out for prospective customers on October 1 at the company's California factory, says Tesla Motors' Australian boss Jay McCormack. However, customers will only be able to "see and touch" the car, he says. There will be no test drives as full production will not begin until the middle of next year.

McCormack says the Model S will begin deliveries in Australia by early 2013. "There are already 6000 reservations worldwide and about 50 in Australia," he says.

"Prices will be a bit more competitive than the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E Class if you consider the technology involved." It will come in three variants with different battery packs for varying range.

The base model will have 260km of range. Another will have 370km and the Signature Series will have 480km of range. Tesla will begin production with the top-end model. "Most of our reservations are for the high-range model," McCormack says. "It will cost about $90,000 for the top model."

The Model S will also have an optional quick-charging three-phase 480V unit available which will charge the battery in 45 minutes, but prices have not yet been set for the charger, McCormack says.

Tesla Motors currently only has a corporate office in Sydney, but plans to open a shop front. "We will open a store like an Apple store in 18 months in Sydney in a high-traffic retail environment like a Westfield shopping centre," he says.

"People visit us over the internet and we do test drives around the country or customers fly to Sydney for a drive. McCormack says he is disappointed in the lack of incentives for electric vehicles in Australia except for the zero stamp duty.

"This is the only Tesla market in the world where there is no element of incentive," he says. "I'm not just talking about monetary incentives but also use of bus and transit lanes and extra parking benefits."

Tesla Model S

Price: up to $90,000
Motor: AC electric
Battery: 5000 lithium-ion cells
Transmission: single-speed
Dimensions: 4978mm (L), 2959mm (WB)
Kerb weight: 1735kg