The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Just call and this Tesla will drive to meet you, says CEO Elon Musk

Author

By Noel Young, Correspondent

October 10, 2014 | 3 min read

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has unveiled an all-wheel-drive version of the electric Model S sedan called the "D," an option for customers who live in snowy climates.

The new Tesla Model D

Future software updates will ultimately give the Tesla Model S autopilot capability. The car can also drive itself to meet the owner, it was revealed by Musk.

"You can summon the car and it will come to where you are," said Musk to an excited crowd in Hawthorne , California. "Turn on your calendar, and the car will meet you there with the air conditioner on, playing your music."

"An AWD Model S is very important, and the active safety features are much more dynamic than I had expected," analyst Andrea James of Dougherty and Co told the San Jose Mercury News.

"I was looking for active safety features, but summoning the car? That really is pretty incredible."

"The D stands for dual motor," said Musk at the event. "You can dynamically shift power from front to rear."

Compared with the standard Model S, the D has a higher top speed and increased efficiency, and the highest-end model can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

"This car is nuts," said Musk. "It's like having your own personal roller coaster -- just use it anytime."

Musk also unveiled a host of new safety and autopilot features for the Model S that put Tesla closer toward autonomous driving.

All vehicles produced at Tesla's Fremont plant in the last two weeks are equipped with a forward-looking camera, radar and 360-degree ultrasonic sonar that actively monitor the surrounding roadway and driving conditions.

The Top of the line 'D' has a 275 mile range at 65 mph, goes from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. The starting price is $120,170 for the dual-motor option.

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +