Consumers in the market for a high-end electric sedan might want to consider pulling the trigger a little sooner than expected. Tesla stores all across the nation have allegedly been warning prospective buyers that the Model S is just a few weeks away from getting a higher base price.
Posting on the Tesla Motors Club forum, several shoppers report that they’ve been told to order a car before the end of March in order to lock in a lower price. More specific details haven’t been posted yet, and it’s too early to tell how much of an increase we should expect, or precisely when the more expensive S will arrive. Currently, the entry-level Model S 70D carries a base price of $75,000, before incentives and a mandatory $1,200 destination charge are factored in, while the range-topping P90D starts at $108,000.
Some forum members speculate that the price increase will be accompanied by a mid-cycle facelift that will give the S a new front fascia inspired by the one found on the recently introduced Model X crossover, among other visual tweaks. Others believe the more expensive model that stores are referring to is simply the P100D, whose existence was revealed by a hacker a couple of weeks ago. The range-topping model is said to boast a 100kWh battery pack that stores enough juice to power the S for over 300 miles on a single charge.
Unsurprisingly, Tesla is remaining tight-lipped about what the future holds for the Model S. We expect to learn more next week when the California-based firm unveils the hotly-anticipated Model 3 during an event held in the Los Angeles area. The 3 Series-sized 3 will carry a base price of $35,000 before incentives are taken into account. It will go on sale a few hours before the event, but the first deliveries aren’t scheduled to start until late 2017.