(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/tesla-will-2013-01-29-600.jpg) (http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/01/tesla-model-s-axes-40kwh-battery-option/)
Thinking of picking up the budget Tesla Model S (http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/tesla-confirms-model-s-pricing-and-options-49-900-and-up-after/)? Think again: the electric automaker just announced that it won't be sending its 40 kWh battery pack option into production, citing a lack of customer demand. Customers who opted for the lower range configuration will still get a car, of course, but it will be a 60 kWh machine (http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/60-kwh-tesla-model-s-rated-at-95-mpge-with-208-mile-range/) with software restrictions on range. It sounds like a raw deal, but Tesla promises customers that the artificially limited Model S will reap unexpected benefits from the battery swap -- that is, improved acceleration and a higher top speed. All of the company's 60 kWh cars will be built with Supercharger (http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/tesla-supercharger/) hardware, too. Finally, the company announced that it surpassed its first quarter sales goal, having delivered 4,750 Model S vehicles on its planned 4,500. This gives it a head start on its year-end goal of delivering 20,000 cars in 2013 and presumably secures the Q1 profits it promised shareholders (http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/tesla-q4-2012-earnings-net-loss-profit-soon/) back in February. Curious onlookers and Department of Energy collectors (http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/27/elon-musk-tesla-doe-loan/) can find the details after the break.
Filed under: Transportation (http://www.engadget.com/category/transportation/)
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Via: Engadget