It’s Earth Day, so what better day to reveal details of the latest planet-saving car from Tesla.
The all-electric Model S has gained a huge following thanks to its pairing of luxury and performance, the 85, 85D and P85D are all perhaps a little expensive.
Now there’s the Model S 70D, an all-wheel drive variant that sacrifices a little range and performance in order to keep costs down. Don’t think this is a budget option though, as you’ll still need to find £54,000 if you’re a cash buyer.
You’re also not sacrificing too much of what makes the Model S so desirable. The range drops a little from 310 miles to 275 miles, but that’s still at least twice anything the competition can manage.
Performance is still best described as ‘substantial’ thanks to two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear, that drive all four wheels. That results in 329PS to play with and a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds.
In addition to dual motors, the 70D comes with an automatic parking system, satellite navigation and Supercharging – this allows you to get another 170 miles of battery power in as little as 30 minutes from Tesla’s public Supercharger network.
While cash buyers will need to spend in excess of £50,000 for the new model, over a four-year term the 70D will cost just £1,089 a month with a £8,232 deposit. However, for a business buyer, the savings in fuel and company car taxes will make the effective monthly cost just £585, according to Tesla’s figures, making the Model S 70D a very attractive proposition.
The new model is available to order now, with deliveries expected in late August.