Tesla

Porsche goes electric to chase Tesla dominance

Porsche, the sports car manufacturer well-established in performance and craftsmanship, is now seeking to establish a market to counter the dominance of Tesla in the luxury electric car segment. Porsche recently unveiled its first electric concept, the Mission E, at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Observers commented it looked like a futuristic version of a Porsche 911. The German carmaker said the four-door Mission E will be able to drive approximately 310 miles on a single charge. Porsche said the model should take 15 minutes to charge to about 80 percent of its capacity. The Tesla currently requires about 30 minutes to reach the same level of charge. With an 80 percent capacity charge, the Porsche Mission E is predicted to

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Tesla Model S sets record as best-testing car in history

Consumer Reports has announced what other automotive publications have also determined in other models of the high-end Tesla. The electric vehicle has tested better than any car in history of the magazine’s respected ratings systems. Specifically, the all-wheel drive the 2015 Model S P85D sedan tallied 103 points in the magazine’s system that by definition doesn’t surpass 100 points. Consumer Reports’ staff reported: “The P85D is brutally quick, with instant acceleration. The car’s thrust is forceful and immediate. Its near-instant g-forces can otherwise be achieved only by leaping off a building—literally.” “That this electric car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds without an engine’s roar makes it frighteningly eerie in its silent velocity. It’s so explosively quick

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Tesla gets another (obvious) honor: quickest electric car

The Tesla Model S and Chevy Volt have little in common beyond their respective segment shares in the electric vehicle industry. The Volt is a wise choice in the entry-level electric car segment. It may the slowest among the top-17 electric vehicles in the standard 0-60 mph acceleration test. But it offers a good balance between performance, comfort and price. The Tesla Model S is a wise choice in the high-end electric segment. It’s the fastest vehicle currently available in the mainstream automobile market and it’s among the fastest cars, electric or gas, street legal or not. Motor Trend recently named the Tesla Model S as one of the top-10 American cars in history. The Tesla has also been designated

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Hello, Tesla, welcome the 2,400 hp SP-200 SIN supercar

PSC Motors in Las Vegas has announced its pending entry in the hybrid supercar business with the limited manufacture of the awkwardly titled SP-200 SIN.  The 9.0-liter V8 with a combined 2,400 horsepower has a promoted top-speed of more than 280 mph. The start-up said it will build only 35 of vehicles with a carbon fiber and composite aluminum frame.  The 1,000 gas horsepower engine will be mated to at least two electric motor that will push the vehicle to its predicted 0-60 mph acceleration in 2.6 seconds. PSC Motors said it began working on the SP-200 SIN five years ago. It has a mid-engine and is naturally aspirated. It also has an eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission with five adjustable driving

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Watch out for driverless Audi in control, New York bound

Watch out for an Audi SQ5 near you. It’s driverless and it’s now making its way from San Francisco to New York utilizing Delphi autonomous car technology. Jump-starting the long-planned and heavily promoted claims by Tesla one of its electric cars will also be driven across the country on autonomous technology, Audi hopes its experiment will prove successful in time for the New York Auto Show. The Audi‘s trek, which began March 22, is planned for about 3,500 miles. In addition to the vehicle, the Audi voyage began with a few engineers and a “driver.” Stints of six-to-eight hours are planned with the driver in the car. The SQ5 is one of four vehicles Delphi has modified for autonomous driving

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GM ready to jolt Tesla with new Bolt

Pull over, Tesla. The Chevrolet Bolt wants to pass. At least General Motors hopes that’s the case with its all-electric Bolt concept car debuting at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Bolt, the sibling of the Chevrolet Volt, has a 200-mile range as a pure electric car, according to GM, and it ould be available to the public in 2017. The Volt is “an extended-range electric,” meaning it also has a backup gas engine. The second-generation 2016 Volt will also be shown at the North American International Auto Show. According to a report last week in the Wall Street Journal, the Bolt will be priced in the $30,000 to $35,000 range after incentives, including a $7,500 federal

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Never mind Tesla, Prius, Elio. Buy the Flatula Backfire

Forget the Tesla. Forget the pending Elio. Don’t even consider a Toyota Prius. The most efficient, least expensive and environmentally ideal car is the new Flatula Backfire. The Flatula Backfire runs on natural gas, much like the Honda Civic CNG. But it runs on the natural gas its passengers provide. The manufacturers are marketing the car with catchy slogans that make a lot of sense. “It runs like the wind, but it is your wind,” is clever. But more cleaver is the closing line of the video make to debut the cat to the world: “It’s not just a SmartCar, it’s a FartCar.” The Flatula Backfire has a good range as long as its passengers provide enough gas. But the

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Tesla, Elon Musk get massive 60 Minutes recharge

Elon Musk and his empire at Tesla Motors is not new to 60 Minutes. But each time the entrepreneur appears on the enduringly popular Sunday night news program — an old, new or updated segment — there’s something to discover. The interview of Musk on March 30 by Steve Kroft covered familiar ground, the passion Musk has for his high speed, high-technology electric car and the passion for the SpaceX spaceship he hopes will be the first to take human passengers to Mars. What was new, at least for me, was the interview with his mother and brother and Musk’s nearly carefree look back at the near collapse of his company. The segment also briefly discussed Musk’s five sons and

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Tesla, Toyota Prius among most fuel-thrifty 2014 cars

It’s easy to list the most fuel-efficient cars and truck simply by miles per gallon. But listing the most fuel-sipping vehicles in categories is more comprehensive. Kelley Blue Book assembles a lot of car lists each year, but its most efficient car list for 2014 is arguably its most informative. The list ranges from cars under $20,000 to truck-based SUVs and electric cars to sports cars. Here’s what Kelley Blue Book wrote about the Toyota Prius c One, the most fuel efficient car in the United States with a sticker price of less than $20,000: “The littlest Prius has a strong family resemblance to the full-size Prius and a name that has earned green cred over the years. Delivering 50

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2014 Tesla Model S innovation detailed in video

The 2014 Tesla Model S and its older siblings have been bombarded with awards. In its latest honor, The Tesla was Consumer Reports’ top pick overall among 10 categories of cars, light trucks, and SUVs. The top-10 list was selected from more than 260 vehicles the organization has recently tested. The magazine considers the Model S a “technological tour de force, while pricey, is brimming with innovation.” Consumer Reports rated the Model S with a score of 99 out of 100, becoming the magazine’s best car ever tested. “If it (the Tesla) could recharge in any gas station in three minutes, this car would score about 110,” said Jake Fisher, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Fisher called the

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Tesla honored again, Consumer Reports’ best overall car

For the first time in four years, Consumer Reports has named a top overall pick in its annual best vehicle list. The winner is the 2014 Tesla Model S electric car. In 2010, the last time an overall pick was selected, the Lexus LS 460L received the honor. The magazine’s 10 top picks this year included five Japanese nameplates, including Honda’s Accord and Odyssey, Subaru’s Impreza and Forester and Toyota’s Prius hybrid. German manufacturers had two vehicles on the list, the BMW 328i and the Audi A6. American manufacturers were represented by Tesla and the Chrysler Ram 1500 pickup truck. It was the first time since 1998 a Chrysler vehicle made the list. The Jeep Grand Cherokee achieved top pick

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Elon Musk responds to Tesla fire, defends technology

Elon Musk, CEO of electric car company Tesla, responded three days after one of his high-performance sports cars caught on fire by defending the vehicle’s electric battery technology. “For consumers concerned about fire risk, there should be absolutely zero doubt that it is safer to power a car with a battery than a large tank of highly flammable liquid,” Musk wrote in his blog. Musk said a piece of curved metal caused the Tesla model S catch on fire. He said the object’s shape led to a powerful hit on the underside of the vehicle, punching a 3-inch hole through an armor plate that protects the car’s bottom. The company said the car properly contained the blaze. The driver was

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Tesla: Safest car in the world to fiery mass of metal

The Tesla, the high-performance, all-electric sports car, continues its seemingly never-ending spotlight position in the auto industry. In a short time span, it’s has received the highest safest rating in automotive history and it has exploded in a fiery mess on the side of the freeway exit in Kent, Washington. The latest and potentially damaging scenery for the Tesla and its controversial owner Elon Musk occurred in early October in Kent, Wash. A Tesla S caught on fire in an accident when the car’s driver told the police he hit metal debris. The Tesla model S was destroyed and the inferno was filmed by two nearby witnesses on a smartphone whose voices seemed to echo would-be characters on Saturday Night

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Rent a Tesla? It’s cheap at $500 per day compared to a Ferrari

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche Audi and Mercedes-Benz are “dream cars,” to rent. At least that’s how Hertz describes its rental program of top-end cars that now will include arguably the most unique vehicle in the top echelon lot — Tesla. Hertz, Enterprise and other rental car agencies are now offering limited Tesla Model S models with different battery sizes in selected Southern California locations. Like Hertz, Enterprise has a special name for its high-end fleet. The Tesla is in the agency’s Exotic Car Collection. “The Tesla Model S is a new luxury sedan that is transforming the way the public looks at electric vehicles,” said Adam Belsky, Enterprise’s group sales and marketing manager for the Exotic Car Collection in

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Tesla seeks autonomy (for once) with driverless car

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, doesn’t stay out of the automotive spotlight long. In addition to his innovative, expensive sports cars and a plan to soon drive one across the United States, the controversial entrepreneur is now joining other carmakers with a plan for a Tesla driverless car. Musk said recently Tesla is planning to manufacturer a car capable of running on “auto-pilot” within the next three years. Several other carmakers and Internet monolith Google have announced plans for similar cars. Telsa’s autonomous car, according to Musk, could have 90 of the driving responsibility controlled by the vehicle’s computer system. A completely autonomous car would take longer to develop, Musk told The Financial Times newspaper. Tesla would built the

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Elon Musk channels Chevy Chase in pending Tesla trek

Elon Musk has never been shy about expressing his opinion or touting his iconic vehicle, the Tesla. Now the CEO of the high-performance electric sports car manufacturer will further promote his vehicles with a well-tested approach — leading by example. According to a recent report on CNNMoney.com, Musk has finalized the details of a six-day trip cross country car trip with his five sons at the end of 2013. “Just finalized the LA to NY family road trip route in Model S. 6 day, 3,200-mile journey with only nine hours spent charging,” Musk Tweeted in his trip announcement. Three months ago, Musk announced plans to drive across country to promote the Tesla and his expanding network of superchargers. “I’m planning

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