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Last week, we drove the Tesla Model X crossover on Irish roads. This week, we put the Model S sportback to the test.
THE TESLA MODEL S stands out from the crowd in many ways. First off, it doesn’t look like an electric car. This is a very sleek and sexy sportback.
Its smooth shape concentrates on aerodynamic efficiency and those powerful rear haunches give it a very athletic appearance. It has no front grille, again something that makes it different from most other cars out there.
But it is when you sit inside the car that you realise you aren’t in Kansas anymore, mainly because of that glorious tinted all-glass roof and huge 17-inch portrait tablet smack bang in the middle of the dash area.
It is from this tablet that you operate almost all of the car’s settings and functions including the steering wheel feel, ride height and its famous Ludicrous Mode.
The wide rear bench seat takes three child seats and you’ll fit three adults back there too. There is a very large boot which can be fitted with an optional two seats, meaning this can be a seven-seater (but those two seats are for small children only).
Because there is no engine there is also a frunk (front trunk) meaning the Model S has plenty of room to carry all your gear.
For me though, the cabin looked a little lacklustre in its standard black attire. It’s a tad dated and the switchgear is actually borrowed from Mercedes – you’ll find it in an A-Class.
But out on the road the Tesla Model S really shines. It glides effortlessly along and because the there is instant torque available the car accelerates rapidly (0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds for the 75Kwh model and a jaw-dropping 2.7 seconds in the P100D) with even just the slightest touch of the accelerator.
You can overtake anything and you really feel like the king of the road behind the wheel. It is exhilarating knowing how much power you have just under your right foot.
The car is super wide and heavy because of all those batteries, but that weight is less obvious when it comes to driving. The batteries are married to the underside of the body creating a lower centre of gravity meaning it doesn’t roll about in the corners.
There is vice-like grip thanks to an all-wheel drive system created by two motors, one in the front and one in the rear, that digitally and independently control torque to the front and rear wheels. It’s hard to believe that Tesla has only been making cars for about 14 years.
Of course, no car is perfect.
Because there is no engine the powertrain is virtually silent – but that does mean that you pick up on other noises and with the Model S tyre noise is noticeable, especially with the 22-inch low profile tyres fitted to the test car.
The A-pillar causes a bit of a blind spot when pulling out at junctions and visibility out the back window isn’t the best either but there is a really good back-up camera to help you reverse. Also, because the car is so wide, our tight multi-storey carparks may be a bit tricky to negotiate… and might cause a lot of alloy-curbing anxiety.
Being an electric vehicle the motor tax is cheap and running costs are low. But the Model S 75 costs from €86,102 and the P100D model costs from €178,499.
That said, for what you get in terms of technology, customer service, and drivability, the 75 and 75D (€92,828) are totally worth the investment. You are getting a car unlike any that has gone before.
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Let us hope the families finally get justice for what happened that terrible bloody Sunday.
Murdered by a foreign army on Irish soil…
@pat murphy: horse guards
If it was the case that the soldiers were given advance orders to shoot should they feel it was warranted then that order should be traced up the chain of command. I don’t believe it was a spur of the moment decision
@Brian Jones: I don’t think they needed to feel it was warranted. I was listening to an interview by one of the relatives the other day and he said that one of the soldiers that gave evidence to Saville said that he looked down the barrel of his gun but could see no justification for shooting so he didn’t pull the trigger. Others didn’t seem to care whether it was justified or not.
Will be amazed if these people receive justice, UK 2ont like to admit that it’s own army murdered people
@Barry Somers: agree , but every army murders people!
@Barry Somers: unlikely they will see justice, British soldiers, British courts, British jury…..
Had the pleasure of meeting with these wonderful people from Derry recently when they came to Dublin to support our fight for Justice for the Stardust 48.
We wish them all the best in their quest for Justice. As I have said before…. TRUTH+JUSTICE=PEACE
Give these families justice and peace enough is enough
Like all historic trouble related murders in N.Ireland, it’s time to let go of the past and move on to the future. All trouble related crimes on all sides committed before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement should be subject to a general amnesty. Nobody murdered on any side of the troubles is coming back. Death is a one way street, a shared future is a two way street. Let go of the past and move on to a better, brighter shared future.
@Charles Williams: Easier said than done Charles.
@Charles Williams What you say would make perfect sense but some scars will only begin to heal when everyone associated with them is dead and even then …
@Charles Williams:
The British army were never charged, imprisoned, admitted or apologised for their murders, so they’re not covered by the GFA – which also they were against.
And yet there are still people who were British blood stained poppies.
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