Tesla · Model S

Model S (2012)

Released June 2012

The original Model S saloon with the oval black nose panel, launched with rear-wheel drive and later offered with dual motors. This entry covers the hardware before the April 2016 exterior refresh, with early US launch figures distinguished from later European versions.

Body: Saloon
Powertrain: Electric
Power: 302–463 bhp
Range: –
Boot: 744.7 l

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised immediate acceleration, composed handling and useful luggage space. Car and Driver tested a pre-production Signature Performance and criticised panel fit and unfinished touchscreen functions. Ars drove a production P85+ for about 500 miles and found highway wind and tyre noise intrusive. Both highlighted charging access as a constraint on longer journeys.

From caranddriver.com and arstechnica.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Powertrain: Electric
Power: 302–463 bhp
0–62 mph: 3.3–5.8 s
Top speed: 120–155 mph
Engine or motors: Original liquid-cooled AC induction rear motor; D versions add a front motor. Tesla’s 2012 US sheet gives 270 kW / 362 hp for the 85 and 310 kW / 416 hp for Performance. Its 2013 brochure (read as a ReadkonG copy) gives 225 kW / 302 hp for the original 60. Later European figures are from the exact EV Database listings: 278 kW (85), 235 kW (70), 245 kW (70D), 311 kW (85D) and 345 kW (P85D), converted to bhp. These are separate period specifications, rather than a single unchanging launch rating.
Torque: 2012 US specification: 440 Nm (85) or 600 Nm (Performance).
Gearbox: Single-speed transaxle; 9.73:1 reduction ratio on the original rear-wheel-drive version.
Drive: Rear-wheel drive on the original 60, 70, 85 and P85/P85+; all-wheel drive on D versions.

Range and charging

Fastest charging: 90–120 kW
Range detail: Tesla’s 2012 US sheet rates the 85 and Performance at 265 miles EPA. The 2013 brochure gives 208 miles EPA for the 60. EV Database gives 312 miles NEDC for the later European 85. EPA and NEDC figures are retained here and are not entered as WLTP range. Tesla’s 2012 acceleration figures are 0–60 mph (5.6 seconds for 85 and 4.4 for Performance), so they are not entered in the 0–62 mph fields.
Charging: 2012 US specification: 90 kW peak DC Supercharging on the 85; Supercharging was optional for the 60. Standard 10 kW AC onboard charger, or optional 20 kW twin chargers in that US specification. EV Database’s later European 70/70D/85/85D/P85D listings give up to 120 kW DC and 11 kW AC. Battery badge numbers are not published usable capacities. The original 60 has a 60 kWh pack, unlike the software-limited 75 kWh pack in the later 2016 60.

Practicality

Body: Saloon
Seats: 5–7
Boot: 744.7 litres
Length: 4,970 mm
Width: 1,964 mm
Boot: 2012 US sheet: rear luggage space 744.7 litres with rear seats up or 1,645.2 litres folded, plus a separate 150.1-litre front boot. The January 2016 European manual lists combined front/rear totals of 894.85 litres for single-motor cars and 815.5 litres for dual-motor cars; those combined totals are not used as rear boot capacity. Optional rear-facing seats accommodate two children, rather than two additional adults.
Size: Main dimensions use the January 2016 pre-facelift European manual: 4,970 mm long and 1,964 mm wide without mirrors; 2,189 mm with mirrors, 1,445 mm high and 2,960 mm wheelbase. The 2012 US launch sheet instead gives 4,978 mm length, 1,435 mm height and describes its 1,964 mm width as mirrors folded. These source differences are retained rather than treating all markets and dates as identical.
Release and generation details: First customer deliveries were on 22 June 2012 in the US. Tesla’s Q1 2013 filing confirms original 60 kWh deliveries began in that quarter; the launch sheet’s autumn 2012 wording was a production plan. UK deliveries began in June 2014. Dual-motor deliveries began in December 2014. Tesla reported the 70 kWh rear-/all-wheel-drive options and 90 kWh upgrade in its 2015 filing. The 90D/P90D badges and Ludicrous option are confirmed by the maker service manual, but later facelift performance figures are not substituted where pre-facelift specifications remain unverified.

Tech and safety

Infotainment: 17-inch portrait centre touchscreen and separate driver instrument display.

Pros and cons

Pros

Five-door hatchback body with a separate front boot
Rear-wheel-drive and later dual-motor versions
Optional rear-facing seats for two children

Cons

Original range ratings use EPA or NEDC, rather than WLTP
Charging equipment and capability vary with year and specification
Early 60 kWh cars required an option for Supercharging

Closest rivals

Model	Body	Powertrain	Power	Range	Boot	Released
TeslaModel S (2016)	Saloon	Electric	315–605 bhp	–	–	2016
TeslaModel 3 (2017)	Saloon	Electric	–	254–348 mi	–	Jul 2017
TeslaModel X (2015)	SUV	Electric	329–532 bhp	–	–	Sept 2015

Sources

Photo: Tesla

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