TESLA

We spent a few days aboard a Tesla Model S. And we told you how it was...Let's be honest, expectations were high. Taking years to talk and watch videos of the Tesla Model S made it the moment to be behind the wheel a mix of anxiety and nervousness. Never having driven an electric car before also 'helped', so the experience was sort of all or nothing with regard to this type of vehicles.As understated as it was elegant, it was hard for the Black Model S, white interior that Tesla lent, did not meet the expectations with regard to design. Soon the way the handles leave the doors to welcome the driver is enough to know that we are not before any car. Not that there are no cars capable of competing with the Model S, but it's hard to find a car that makes the driver and passengers the object of as much attention as this Tesla sedan.Comfort and attention to detail make it hard to save compliments on this Tesla car. Almost any detail of the car can be changed. The suspension, the position / temperature of the seats, the way air circulates inside the vehicle and what appears on the dashboard just in front of the steering wheel, the driver is in complete control of the car. Want to have the navigation system on the right side and the music you're listening on the right side? Or maybe you'd rather have your watch featured? You can also keep an eye on autonomy and control energy consumption. There are several possible combinations that can be changed by pressing (and navigating) with the two buttons on both sides of the steering wheel.
It is noteworthy that the rear seats have more than enough space for three passengers. It is common that when a car is running at maximum capacity the three passengers in the rear seats have difficulty staying comfortable, something that fortunately does not happen in this Model S. There is room to accommodate the legs and all passengers have their comfort.The attention of the driver (and his passengers) will certainly be on the 17-inch touch screen in the center of the dashboard. At the beginning, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of options but this is even the initial shock. In less than nothing you will be navigating the various menus with the ease of who has the car for months. We had this Tesla Model S for only four days and it was enough to make us feel 'at home'.There are still other 'details' that are worth mentioning. The fact that you can access any radio in the world via the internet (integrated in the car), be entitled to Spotify (with premium subscription), have access on the touch screen to Google Maps and even surf the internet (still a bit slow but with promise of improvements soon) are just a few of them.

Let's get right to the point. How is driving a Tesla?It's hard to call it the Model S steering. If on the one hand it is capable of making smooth starts to the point of not even noticing that it is walking, this Tesla car can also be a real "devil" when you step on it. Even in the 100D version with a 100kWh battery (and without the much-talked-about Ludicrous mode) you can feel the power, with the car reacting automatically and breathing the most distracting passengers (which is especially fun to watch) ..Even if the Tesla Model S is synonymous with speed, safety has not been set aside. At no time did we feel out of control, with the steering well controlled and the car well 'stuck' to the road and stable as ever. Almost as immediate as the acceleration, the brake gives safety to those behind the wheel and, even if it is a bit distracted, the car can warn you with a beep if you are approaching too fast a vehicle to your front.

And since we're talking about Model S's ability to 'feel' what's around you, it's impossible not to talk about Autopilot mode, one of the car's most interesting and yet most misleading capabilities. The Autopilot is still far from giving the Model S the ability to be driven autonomously, something for which Tesla warns you at the outset.This is a warning that you should take seriously because Autopilot is only safe to use in certain situations. To begin with, the road should be properly marked, with the sensors of the car having difficulty keeping the car properly running. The Model S itself warns the driver (with a small steering wheel icon on the dial) when it is safe to activate the Autopilot by double-tapping a handle on the left side of the steering wheel.Like everything else in the car, at the start it's scary to see the Model S turning the wheel on its own and accelerating / locking it according to need. Although it is only appropriate to activate this mode on a freeway or fast track, you should always have your hands close to the steering wheel and attention on the road in order to avoid accidents.

In short…
Driving a Tesla Model S has both incredible and elucidative. It is clear that electric cars offer unmatched driving comfort and smoothness. It is also true that we know that this is a car aimed at the premium market and that not everything we find in this Model S can be found in other electric cars available in the market.
Still, trying to drive the Model S is also an interesting exercise to predict what Tesla can offer with Model 3 when the car arrives in Portugal at the end of the year. The third vehicle of the Elon Musk brand is supposed to be the most affordable model in the catalog, a prospect that makes it even more attractive considering that the Model S can easily exceed the threshold of 100 thousand euros.

Miguel Dias