70D: Tesla Motor’s Latest AWD Creation

Tesla Motors has announced they will drop their entry-level Model S 60 sedan in favor of a far superior vehicle. Stepping in for the previously underwhelming version of the Model S is the 70D. While the name may sound oddly like a Nikon camera product, this new vehicle is the latest all-electric sedan from Tesla Motors. It’s still a model S sedan, however, it has received a facelift.

The Model S 60 sedan had a range of just over 200 miles, however the 70D has an EPA-approved range of 240 miles. The vehicle has 329 horsepower and a top speed of 140 mph. The new vehicle also integrates Tesla’s all-wheel-drive system. This means all Model S vehicles are now AWD, which is a key feature as they compete with other top luxury brands. Another key aspect of this move on the part of Tesla is the price. The 70D will start at $75,000 before any government rebates or tax credits. Thus, Tesla has decided to make its lower end sedan a better one, albeit for more money. Some think this move by Tesla is an indication of their strength.

In an interview with Bloomberg, equity analyst James Albertine said, “In retrospect, it was remarkable how much market share Tesla rear-wheel-drive vehicles seem to have taken from its all-wheel-drive luxury peers. This is akin to Tesla fighting with one arm tied behind its back, in our view, which is perhaps another indication that TSLA demand may be (growing) stronger.”

How much stronger it makes them remains to be seen, however, there is no getting around the attraction that consumers have to AWD vehicles in 2015. While the vehicle is faster, has better range and could come out costing around the same price as the Model S 60, it’s still not a homerun, Tesla’s founder Elon Musk, wants to bring the mass market electric car to the United States. This car is not it. However, none of this electric car drama would exist with another company. As retail automotive attorney Jeff Roberts told DrivingSales News last week, Tesla Motors is a rare creation.

Roberts explained, “Tesla is a very unique situation. It’s a politically correct product at a certain time. It’s a once-a-one-hundred-year flight pattern. Billionaire interested in a very niche product and you don’t have any traditional dealer network there.”

Tesla sold 10,030 units during the first quarter, a 55 percent increase over 2014. The Model S is reportedly the top selling electric vehicle in the U.S. thus far in 2015. Tesla’s stated goal is to sell about another 45,000 cars by the end of the year.

Is this introduction just a band-aid to keep investors interested or does it represent a leap forward? Are Tesla vehicles becoming more popular? Finally, will Elon Musk ever deliver on his stated goal to bring the mass-market electric car to the U.S?