Motor Trend shocks the world by naming a start-up company’s electric plug-in vehicle, the Tesla’s Model S sedan, the Car of the Year. For the first time “in memory” every judge agreed, which made this event even more shocking.
To win this award, one of the most closely watched awards in the auto world, Tesla’s Model S had to beat out luxury sedans like the BMW 3 series and the Lexus GS along with sports cars like the Subaru BRZ and the Porsche 911.
Smooth as a Rolls-Royce, more efficient than a Prius
“It drives like a sports car, eager and agile and instantly responsive. But it’s also as smoothly effortless as a Rolls-Royce, can carry almost as much stuff as a Chevy Equinox, and is more efficient than a Toyota Prius, by any measure, the Tesla Model S is a truly remarkable automobile, perhaps the most accomplished all-new luxury car since the original Lexus LS 400,” says Motor Trend.
Tesla is a California-based auto manufacturer that is run by the CEO of SpaceX, a rocket launching firm, Elon Musk.
Starting at $57,000 this 100% electric sedan has been government rated to get 265 miles on a single charge, and gets the electrical equivalent of 118 mpg but is also surprisingly powerful. The performance version has the equivalent output to a 416 horsepower engine, and goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds and top speed of 133 mph. Motor Trend has called it one of the quickest American 4-door vehicles ever built.
What does Musk have to say about his Tesla winning Car of the Year?
“Winning Motor Trend Car of the year is probably the closest thing to winning the Oscar or Emmy of the car industry. We’re honored to win it. This is the first electric car named car of the year which is a turning point in history, it’s a milestone.”
“Our aspiration with the Model S was to show that an electric car truly can be better than any gasoline car. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year by unanimous decision.”
Tesla finds itself questioning if it will be able to increase production to 20,000 models next year and going from being a niche automaker to becoming a mass auto manufacturer. Musk feels confident about 2013 and the demand for the vehicles that are expected. Tesla hopes to be building 400 Model S sedans per week, which is a steep increase in production compared to the 250 that were built in the 3rd quarter.
Will Motor Trend’s naming of the Model S the Car of the Year cause a turning point in demand for electric cars?
