http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/03/our-tesla-model-s-gets-a-third-row-seat-and-now-seats-seven.html [image] Our Tesla Model S gets a third-row seat and now seats seven by Gabe Shenhar Mar 19 2013
[image http://news.consumerreports.org/assets_c/2013/02/2013-Tesla-Model-S-ATD-studio-598-thumb-598xauto-6227.jpg http://news.consumerreports.org/Tesla-Model-S-third-row-seat.jpg Tesla-Model-S-third-row-seat ] The Tesla Model S continues to entertain us with its engaging driving characteristics and wicked speed. And now, it provides three-row seating in an electric sport sedan—an ability more often associated with some fuel-guzzling SUVs. Making the Tesla Model S suited for an even bigger family, we had a third-row seat installed in our electric test car, increasing passenger capacity to seven. When we took delivery of our $89,650 Tesla two months ago, the third-row seat we had ordered was not ready for distribution. The $1,500 option would be installed when it became available. The thinking was, there is no sense holding up the car for a feature that can be added later. Our Model S had to go back to the Tesla service center in Queens, New York, last week to have a cracked windshield replaced. Fortunately, that service visit coincided with our seat being in stock. Making the process easy for us, Tesla arranged a truck to pickup our vehicle to have the work performed and later return it. The third seat folds into a well beneath the enormous rear hatch, like a clever piece of origami. Once deployed it becomes a rear-facing two-place child seat, reminiscent of those in old Volvo station wagons. Each of the two positions has a racing-style five-point harness. Thankfully, the Tesla rep who transported our car back to our track demonstrated how the seat folds, since the multi-step technique is a little complicated. The wee jump seats, appropriate for tykes that would otherwise be in a forward-facing booster seat or children over 37-inches tall, bring the car's seating capacity to seven. When folded away, it still leaves plenty of room for cargo. But even when it's occupied by a couple of kids, there is still luggage space available under the front hood, which in Tesla speak is called a "frunk." This simple addition makes the Model S the reigning EV with the greatest passenger capacity. A couple of our staffers have kids the right age and size to use these seats; we'll let you know soon how well the seats work in the real world and if they make the Model S a viable wagon alternative. [© 2013 Consumer Reports] For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date Here are today's archive-only EV posts: EVLN: Boosted Boards is building the world’s lightest EV EVLN: Real Leaf Electric experience EVLN: Electric cars are the next big thing in Spain EVLN: £13,650+ New ZOE EV buyers get a free charger r:90mi + EVLN: £12,275+ Fortwo shows electric switch is Smart move r:90mi {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Tesla-S-gets-a-third-row-seat-and-now-seats-seven-tp4662080.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
