California-based Tesla Motors has just released a new selection of dynamic photos of its upcoming Model S electric luxury sedan.

With a range of 300 miles on pure electric power and a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds, the new Model S will provide a more functional alternative to the original Tesla Roadster which only has two seats. In fact, the Model S will hold five adults as well as two children in rear facing seats.

The interior will be luxurious with a 17-inch touch-screen display to control most of the car’s interior convenience features.

A rear-drive and an all-wheel drive version will be offered with a starting price of $57,400, which is reduced to just $49,900 after a $7,5000 federal tax credit.

The Model S is scheduled to go into production in the third quarter of 2011 as a 2012 model.

GALLERY: Tesla Model S

Yesterday California-based Tesla Motors unveiled it’s latest creation, a fully-electric luxury sedan with a range of 300 miles and a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.

Yup… the future is here! Well, almost.

Tesla’s first creation, the Tesla Roadster was wickedly fast (and fun) but not very practical with just two seats. This latest vehicle, however, seats five adults and two children in rear-facing seats in the rear-hatch area.

The asking price is a reasonable $57,400, which is reduced to 49,900 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.

As for the motor, it s a 9-inch liquid cooled unit with a 42 kWh battery storage system that is built in to the floor of the car. While Tesla does claim a 300 mile range, the base model comes with a 160-mile range, which can be upgraded to either the 300 or a mid-range 230-mile range. Tesla did suggest that owners would be able to lease additional battery packs for prolonged trips.

Total charge time is 45 minutes and Tesla claims the cost of the electricity for one full charge would be roughly $4.

Inside the car is certainly luxurious and features a 17-inch touch screen display to control many of the features inside the car and it also is fully 3G compatible.

In terms of performance, we already quoted the 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. The car’s quarter mile time is rated at 14 seconds and the Model S will have a top speed of 120 mph.

Power makes it to the ground through a single-speed transmission that is situated in the rear of the car (technically known as a transaxle). The Model S will be offered as both a rear-drive version and with all-wheel drive.

Braking is also quite good with a 135 foot stopping distance from 60 mph thanks to a massive set of Brembo brakes, with 6-piston front calipers and 16-inch rotors up front and 4-piston rear calipers with 15-inch rotors.

The stopping distance is also quite good due to a relatively low curb weight (for a luxury car) of 3,825 lbs.

Those big brake sit inside a big set of 21-inch wheels that come with front 245/35/21 tires and rear 285.30/21 tires. The wheels maintain the luxury design of the Model S – which looks alarming like a Jaguar XF.

As for the vehicle’s dimensions, it is 196-inches with a wheelbase of 116.5-inches – which is very close in size to the previous generation BMW 7 Series.

As mentioned above the future of the electric car isn’t quite here yet, the Tesla Model S won’t go into production until the third-quarter of 2011.

For more information visit:

http://www.teslamotors.com/

[Source: New York Times]

GALLERY: Tesla Model S

More on the Tesla Model S after the jump:

Ahead of Tesla’s media event and press conference, set to be held today at noon Pacific Time, three images of the electric car company’s latest project have leaked onto the interwebs.

Two of the three photos depict a vehicle that looks alarmingly similar to Jaguar’s XF sedan – a car on which it might just be based. Remember, the Tesla Roadster is essentially a Lotus Elise underneath. We might even go so far as to say the Tesla model looks better than the Jag – especially with that stunning panoramic glass roof.

Oh… and those wheels are VERY SLR.

The third photo is of the incomplete interior of the car, with hi-tech looking gauges and what appears to be a large LCD screen for HVAC and Audio controls.

The new Model S from Tesla will be priced from $57,400 and be available for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

There is no word on what the specific powerpant will be in the Model S but we’ll be sure to bring you more details later today.

GALLERY: Tesla Model S