Photo: Tesla
Tesla announced new Standard Range variants for the Model S and Model X. They are offered for $10,000 less than the Long Range models, but they still don't make much sense. Model S/X Long Range inventory vehicles are already discounted by about the same amount, making the new SR variants look less tempting.
The Model S and Model X are the top-of-the-line models in Tesla's lineup, but sales are not as hot as they used to be. Despite price cuts and incentives, people are less keen on spending about $100,000 for a luxury vehicle. This is especially true in challenging times like this, when inflation eats into people's savings and interest rates are through the roof. In light of the lower-than-expected sales, Tesla scraped the right-hand-drive variants of its luxury models earlier this year. They were niche products with too low volumes to make sense economically.
The two models are still important for Tesla, as they feature the best technologies and features the EV maker has to offer. They also give a hard time to competitors such as Lucid, forced to compete with competitively-priced Tesla Model S and Model X while also struggling to make a profit. Tesla thinks it can do better in this segment because it announced new base-version variants of the Model DS and Model X on Monday.
The Tesla Model S Standard Range and Model X Standard Range are priced $10,000 lower than the Long Range trims. Still, Tesla doesn't make any savings in building them, at least none that is obvious at this stage. The Standard Range models feature the same dual-motor configuration and 100-kWh battery pack, albeit capped in software to deliver less power and range than the Long Range trims.
The Model S SR retails for $78,490 while delivering 491 horsepower and 320 miles (515 km) of range. This compares to 670 horsepower and 405 miles (650 km) offered by the Model S LR, which costs $88,490. The Model X SR starts at $88,490 and offers 496 horsepower, while the battery provides 269 miles (430 km) of range. The Model X LR costs $98,490 and relies on 670 horsepower, while the range tops at 348 miles (560 km).
Despite being less powerful, the Standard Range variants are no slouch, going from naught to 60 mph (97 kph) in 3.7 seconds (Model S) and 4.4 seconds (Model X). That's 0.6 seconds more for both models compared to the LR versions.
Although some people argue that the lower price will make Tesla's veteran models more compelling, others don't quite understand Tesla's strategy. New Model S LR and Model X LR cars in inventory are already discounted by $9,500, making the Standard Range variants look less attractive. The only way they make sense is if Tesla also applies a similar discount on them once the production picks up pace.
The two models are still important for Tesla, as they feature the best technologies and features the EV maker has to offer. They also give a hard time to competitors such as Lucid, forced to compete with competitively-priced Tesla Model S and Model X while also struggling to make a profit. Tesla thinks it can do better in this segment because it announced new base-version variants of the Model DS and Model X on Monday.
The Tesla Model S Standard Range and Model X Standard Range are priced $10,000 lower than the Long Range trims. Still, Tesla doesn't make any savings in building them, at least none that is obvious at this stage. The Standard Range models feature the same dual-motor configuration and 100-kWh battery pack, albeit capped in software to deliver less power and range than the Long Range trims.
The Model S SR retails for $78,490 while delivering 491 horsepower and 320 miles (515 km) of range. This compares to 670 horsepower and 405 miles (650 km) offered by the Model S LR, which costs $88,490. The Model X SR starts at $88,490 and offers 496 horsepower, while the battery provides 269 miles (430 km) of range. The Model X LR costs $98,490 and relies on 670 horsepower, while the range tops at 348 miles (560 km).
Despite being less powerful, the Standard Range variants are no slouch, going from naught to 60 mph (97 kph) in 3.7 seconds (Model S) and 4.4 seconds (Model X). That's 0.6 seconds more for both models compared to the LR versions.
Although some people argue that the lower price will make Tesla's veteran models more compelling, others don't quite understand Tesla's strategy. New Model S LR and Model X LR cars in inventory are already discounted by $9,500, making the Standard Range variants look less attractive. The only way they make sense is if Tesla also applies a similar discount on them once the production picks up pace.
Model S & X Standard Range now available → https://t.co/MvlrZN6eOh
— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) August 15, 2023
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