John,

There are several interviews with GM executives where the consistent comments have suggested a base price seriously north of $60,000.

We now have the Volt and Leaf, but our multicoat 85kW Model S, standard, equipped like the one Consumer Reports tested, arrives in the next 10 days to replace the Leaf.

I agree that the Volt is an incredible overall package and the best engineering in any "hybrid" to date. When our Volt lease is up in January 2014, I will consider actually buying the then current one, BUT I am leaning more to the incoming BMW i3, since I want more pure electric range and a backup ICE with my cutting edge engineering.

I am greatly disappointed that the Cadillac ELR has so little new technical evolution and such a bloated proposed price.

Probably good as a strategy to shut down at least some of the ill-informed critics of Tesla, but I would have loved Elon to have announced that battery swapping would be available for all of the Model S range or even better a new battery chemistry to up capacity/range without adding any further battery mass.

Despite what your service people seem to think, the Volt does NOT need "two service checks a year." Perhaps to keep THEIR jobs, they would like to have Volt drivers pay foepr such service time, but most of my Volt friends are seeing their "service display reminders" asking for service such as oil changes at around 30,000 miles!

Looks likes BIG boost to Tesla orders might be coming TODAY as CONSUMER REPORTS releases its test of the Model S and their teaser in the iPad version of this month's issue suggests the Model S is "the best car we have ever tested." Full report will be published in the July issue out in about a month. The report is to be on their website later TODAY.

Marc,
Looks like I am in for trouble, since we migrate later this month, to the Tesla Model S. But I might have saved myself those speeding tickets, since 1. I got "only" the standard power 85 kW version, and 2. As a Ph. D. Psychologist I might be able to cognitively control those lower reflexes. We are getting the new multicoat red, so the Tesla will certainly not be a "Q-ship."

We were in China 3 years ago, and I was amazed at the number of electric bikes even then. Virtually nobody was actually pedaling to move, just sitting comfortably and riding along with the traffic flow. It was impressive even 3 years past.

As much as I like the Model S, I too am VERY doubtful that any40 kw versions will be available by 1 Dec.

As a Model S deposit holder (#9883) I think $600/year of forced service contract is WAY too high. I have owned BMW, Audi, Lexus and Infiniti and never had anything like that level of "service cost," particularly in the first 2-3 years! I don't care if they have to truck my car to Fremont or wherever, the actual "service" included is minimal. And as another poster noted, we also now have BOTH the Volt and the Leaf. The Volt is so much more complex than the Model S, and it has needed ZIP service charged in our first 18 months of ownership. Yes, there have been "service recalls," but those were without charge and the provision of a free loaner car for the duration. WAKE UP Please Elon! We love the technology and design, but NOT $600/yr.

I just think of that shade as......ugly.