• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AutoNews.NZ

  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Medium-sized cars
    • Small cars
    • Large cars
    • 4x4s
    • People-movers
    • SUV-large
    • SUV-luxury
    • SUV-medium
    • SUV-compact
    • Sports cars
    • Luxury cars
    • Hybrid cars
    • Ute
  • Cars & Watches
  • Bike World
  • Tech
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Spy videos
Home » Tesla plugs into NZ market: Model S starts at $113,300

Tesla plugs into NZ market: Model S starts at $113,300

November 21, 2016 by Alastair Sloane

US electric carmaker Tesla has opened up its order book for right-hand drive New Zealand – and those buyers who pony up with the readies for the Model S sedan or Model X SUV can expect either of them to be delivered around March/April next year.

The all-wheel-drive, zero-emissions cars can now be ordered online at tesla.com, which also provides details of the company’s ‘Powerwall 2.0’ solar storage system. It enables home owners to store energy during the day to use during peak hours at night, or in an emergency.

Tesla Model S, fastest sedan ever built, says company
Tesla Model S, fastest sedan ever built, says company

Tesla has confirmed that the first store and service centre for its cars will be in Auckland. Quick-charge stations – ‘superchargers’ – for the car’s lithium-ion battery pack are being planned at intervals between Auckland and Wellington. The company says it will continue to monitor demand for its vehicles in both North and South Islands.

Model S starts in price at NZ$113,300 for the rear-drive 60 kWh battery pack and its 408km range. The 75kWh rear-drive Model S costs $126,800 (490km) and the all-wheel-drive 90kWh version (557km) is $149,700.

Tesla Model X, all-wheel-drive SUV
Tesla Model X, all-wheel-drive SUV

The top-range Model S, the all-wheel-drive P100D sedan, is the “fastest four-door ever built’, says Tesla. Its two electric motors – one on the front axle, one on the rear – propel it from 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.8 seconds. Range of the P100D ($217,000) is said to be 613km.

The SUV Model X is notable for its ‘falcon wing doors’ and comes with the choice of five, six, or seven seats. It sprints to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 250km/h. Tesla claims it is the first electric vehicle with a towing capacity of 2.2 tonnes. Depending on battery pack – 75kWh, 90kWh, 100kWh – it ranges in price in NZ from $145,200 to $224,500.

Tesla Model 3, mid-sized sedan due to go into production next year
Tesla Model 3, mid-sized sedan due to go into production next year

The third Tesla car, the mid-sized Model 3 sedan, goes into production in the US next year and isn’t likely to be available in NZ until 2018-19. Tesla CEO Elon Musk (top) says he aims to ramp up annual overall production to 500,000 vehicles by 2018-19.

NZ, with around 80 per cent of its electricity generated by renewables, is ideal ground for electric cars and home energy storage, says Tesla. Powerwall 2.0 has 7kW of power capacity and 14 kilowatt-hours of energy storage, double that of Tesla’s first solar unit, Powerwall 1.0.

The average NZ household uses roughly 30 kilowatt-hours a day. Two Powerwall 2.0 units could in theory power a house for a day. No details yet of what Powerwall 2 will cost in NZ, although it is around US$5500 in the US. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he expects to sell more Powerwall units than cars.

 

 

Filed Under: Highlights, Industry news, Latest news Tagged With: Tesla

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

The Good Oil

French carmaker Renault has won the 2025 European Car of the Year award with the all-electric R5 supermini (pictured). It’s the brand’s second win in a row, following the new Scenic’s gong in 2024. The R5 led the vote count from start to finish from the 60 jurors in 23 countries. It received 353 points, beating the Kia EV3 (291 points) and the Citroen C3/e in third place with 215 points. It’s Renault’s eighth win in the 62-year history of the Coty award. The R5 goes on sale in the UK this month. There are two main drivetrains: a 90kW motor/40kWh battery model with a 300km range, and a 112kW/52kWh example with a 400km range. The R5 starts in price at £22.995, or $NZ50,000.

EU carmakers seek trade deal with Trump

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among carmakers urging the European Union to get a favourable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) wants to keep open trade with both the US and China. It fears Trump, who promises heavy tariffs on Chinese imports to the US, will look unfavourably on countries that continue to trade freely with Beijing. Ola Kallenius, president of the group and chairman of the management board of MB, said in a letter to EU leaders:  “Overall, it is essential to recognise that trade with China and the US is most vital for the prosperity of the European economy.The EU should seek a grand bargain with the US and attempt to avoid a potential trade conflict.”

Diesel fuels EV concept for US military

A  go-anywhere EV concept for the US military uses an onboard 12kW diesel generator to top up the batteries on the move.  The all-wheel-drive has 800-volt technology and a 200kWh battery pack to power three electric motors, two in the rear and one up front. Claimed output is 745kW/15,590Nm, or 1000hp and 11,500 ft-lb of torque.  The four-seater was developed by the defence division of General Motors and is based on the platform of the Hummer SUV. It rides on Fox performance shock absorbers and 37-inch tyres and comes with “exceptional” approach and departure angles for off-road mobility. Maximum range using the generator to keep things ticking over is said to be around 500km.

We are the World

The outside temperature in Midland, Texas, was 40.5C when staff at the local office of the US National Weather Service set out to show the cabin of a closed car can literally get baking hot in summer. They mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and laid them on the car’s dashboard – the surface of which showed a temperature of 87.7C. A little over four hours later the cookies were ready to eat. “Even though ours weren’t golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious,” the staff wrote on Facebook.

Footer

Electric G-Wagen takes you for spin

https://youtu.be/NwHbJ7HN1sU

Recent

  • Spoilt for choice: plug-in sales up 150.0%
  • Kia eyes further growth with $52,690 4WD ute 
  • Early morning glory on ice, Audi style
  • Volkswagen tackles Chinese with new ‘people’s car’ 
  • ‘I bought this car before Elon lost his mind’

Tags

Aston martin audi bentley BMW Car reviews Citroen Electric cars Electric vehicles Ferrari Fiat Chrysler Ford Ford Mustang Holden honda hyundai jaguar jeep kia land rover latest news Lexus Lotus Maserati mazda Mclaren mercedes Mercedes-Benz mini Mitsubishi Nissan NZ car sales peugeot porsche range rover skoda spy Subaru suzuki Tesla tips and advice Toyota videos Volkswagen volvo VW

Copyright © 2025 · WordPress Hosting by WPhost