Tesla has released the first official images of its next model, the S sports saloon.
The S is a new take on the sporting saloon and will offer seating for seven passengers, even though it is set to be a rival for the likes of the Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Porsche Panamera. Due to the packaging of the batteries and electric motors, the S has seating for five adults as you'd expect, but also has an extra pair of rear seats for children at the back more like an MPV's.
There will be three battery pack options for the S, allowing for ranges of 257-, 370- and 483 kilometres. Each is charged by plugging the car into a mains socket and can be fully recharged in just 45 minutes.
Tesla says the S will be capable of 0-100km/h in about six seconds and top speed is 193km/h. The single-speed transmission allows for seamless acceleration as the electric motors deliver instant maximum torque from zero revs.
There's no word on prices for the Tesla S yet, but it will come with internet connectivity, satellite navigation and a 17-inch touch-screen to operate most functions.