Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Detroit Auto Show
Tesla Model S Alpha Build Prototype - Click above for the high-res image gallery
Tesla Motors' time in the media spotlight at the Detroit Auto Show today was a bit of a rehash of stuff we knew already - 1,500 Roadsters sold thus far; the Model S is a tremendous bit of engineering - but that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy seeing Peter Rawlinson, Tesla's vice president and chief engineer for vehicle engineering, present the silvery Model S Alpha Build Prototype.
The prototype was gussied up a bit for the show floor, but this is the same thing that the engineers are using in the vehicle's first testing phase. Tesla says the Alpha test phase checks the Model S "under extreme conditions for brakes, suspension, driving dynamics, fit and finish, and safety requirements." The next step is, surprise, the Beta test phase, about which nothing was divulged. With this presentation, Tesla is trying to push the idea that, on top of efficient batteries and excellent design, the company also has a strong engineering team. You can see what we mean after the jump.
Live photos (excluding top photo) copyright (C)2011 Sebastian Blanco / AOL
Detroit 2011: Tesla Model S "alpha build" prototype explodes the secrets of electric vehicle engineering originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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