Tesla Model S starts at $57,400, tops out at $92,400 when sales start in 2012

Tesla Motors Inc., the U.S. electric-car maker that plans to build a rechargeable sedan in California, said a top-of-the-line version of the Model S will cost as much as $92,400 when it goes on sale in 2012.

Tesla released detailed prices, features and options for the Model S sedan Dec. 20 on its Web site. The car will be built in Fremont, Calif., with deliveries beginning in mid-2012.

Extended-range versions will have enough lithium-ion battery capacity to travel as far as 300 miles per charge, Tesla said.

A base version with a 40-kilowatt-hour battery pack, able to travel as far as 160 miles per charge, will cost $57,400 without accessories, according to Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla.

A mid-grade version that can go 230 miles per charge will have a base price of $67,400. All grades of the car qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Tesla, which counts Daimler AG, Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp. as investors, wants to be the first profitable maker of battery-powered autos.

While it hasn't yet reported an annual profit, that may happen as early as 2013, CEO Elon Musk said in an October interview.

Musk, who is also Tesla's main shareholder, has said the company has sold out next year's production. It has orders for more than 7,000 units of the vehicle, according to Ricardo Reyes, a company spokesman.

By Automotive News