Tesla Model S 85
A battery under the floor, a motor at the back, and luggage space at both ends.
First production Tesla Model S delivered.jpg · Steve Jurvetson · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
Tesla began U.S. customer deliveries of the Model S in June 2012. This profile covers the single-motor 85 kWh car, not the quicker Performance model. Its battery pack is mounted beneath the cabin floor and its motor and one-speed transaxle sit near the rear axle. With no gasoline engine or transmission tunnel, the five-door car could use space under both its liftgate and its front hood for cargo.
Look a little closer.
Tesla’s 2012 specification lists 5.3 cubic feet of front luggage space—a “frunk” where many cars carry an engine.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Range belongs to a test
The U.S. EPA rated the 85 kWh Model S at 265 miles using its 2012 five-cycle test. Real distance changes with speed, weather, climate control, tires, hills, load and battery condition, so a test result is a comparison tool rather than a promise for every trip.
Source: Tesla · 2012 Model S specifications and EPA range ↗The floor is part of the idea
Placing the large battery beneath the cabin lowers a major part of the car’s mass. Tesla described this as creating a low center of gravity. It also leaves the front and rear of the body available for passengers, crash structure and cargo.
Source: Tesla · first Model S customer deliveries ↗One gear, many motor speeds
The motor sends power through a 9.73:1 single-ratio transaxle. Unlike a multi-speed gearbox, that reduction does not change ratios as the car accelerates. The original 85 kWh non-Performance motor could spin to 15,400 rpm.
Source: Tesla · original powertrain and gearing table ↗Where these facts come from
- Tesla · 2012 Model S specifications and features
- Tesla · first customer deliveries, June 22, 2012
- Tesla · 85 kWh EPA range and efficiency announcement
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.