Horse Power
Torque
feeling. Its brain is its heart. Slip into the cockpit and behind the wheel and the driver is greeted by the industry's largest interactive control unit touch screen. At 17 inches, it’s bound to make its competition blush. A myriad of information is available and the Tesla S is the first consumer vehicle to be fully internet connected and integrated. It certainly makes policing distracted driving difficult given the fact that navigation, emails and web browsing are merely a finger stroke away.
All of the vehicle's gauges are digital and the Tesla's onboard computer offers more statistics and figures than you can make use of. Rearview cameras mounted on the vehicle can be engaged even when it is not in reverse drive mode. The sound system offers a rich, crisp sound which seems to be balanced nicely for both music and talk radio, which, if you like, can be streamed directly from the internet. There are simply too many technical features to cover in such a short review, however, we will be bringing you more on this vehicle in future issues.
use of. Rearview cameras mounted on the vehicle can be engaged even when it is not in reverse drive mode. The sound system offers a rich, crisp sound which seems to be balanced nicely for both music and talk radio, which, if you like, can be streamed directly from the internet. There are simply too many technical features to cover in such a short review, however, we will be bringing you more on this vehicle in future issues.
Driving the Tesla S is an experience. There is no engine sound but it is not entirely silent. There is still some sound from the electric power units, wind noise and tyre noise but even the most finicky will find the car to be very well insulated from exterior noise. All of the vehicle's torque is available immediately while its horsepower comes in just when you need it. Careful, it will catch you by surprise. Even after an hour at the wheel, it still pleasantly kicks like a mule you with its relentless, yet smooth and controlled delivery. Something else which one would need to adapt to, is a sort of "one foot" driving style.
Letting off the accelerator allows the car to brake on its own (through its regeneration process), without actually having to apply the brakes. In the beginning, it is a somewhat counter-intuitive feature. Apply the brakes however, and stopping this heavy beast appears to be quite a simple task and not the chore one might imagine.
Product Architect and CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk faces some challenges in his automotive endeavor. In the US, his sales model is being challenged because it does not conform to the franchise laws. Texas, for instance is one of the states in which the sales of Tesla vehicles are banned because Musk sells directly to the consumer. There are no dealerships, commissioned sales representatives and no discrepancies on uniform product pricing. There are other challenges for the young auto manufacturer. It is a new car brand and employs relatively new car technology. Both of these facts require the consumer to be educated.