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Tesla Model S
It’s been an exciting time for the folks at Tesla Motors. The kudos started on October 31 when Yahoo! Autos named the 2013 Model S their Car of the Year. The good news continued the following day when Automobile Magazine announced the S as the 2013 Automobile of the Year. And then the “hat trick” … with the mid-November announcement of the S as Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, notable as the first time in the editor’s memory when the selection was unanimous on the part of the judges.
What’s most impressive is that the awards were NOT based on the Tesla’s electric power plant. As the Motor Trend award noted, “By any measure, the Tesla Model S is a truly remarkable automobile, perhaps the most accomplished all-new luxury car since the original Lexus LS 400…. At its core, the Tesla Model S is simply a damned good car you happen to plug in to refuel.”
Aluminum – and aluminum extrusions – play a significant role in Tesla’s automotive accomplishments. From the all-aluminum body to more than 25 extruded components, aluminum helps reduce weight and improve performance. Among the extrusion applications: chassis elements, battery box components and extruded rear suspension links that provide the strength of forgings at reduced cost.
Tesla Design Director Franz von Holzhausen notes, “Aluminum is as strong as steel but lighter in weight, and has similar manufacturing capabilities. Lighter weight translates directly to efficiency."
Read more:
2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year
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