► CAR lives with a used Tesla► Model S long-term test review► Comment below if you own one! Electric cars aren’t supposed to be much fun in winter: they run out of range and all that electric grunt can prove treacherous in snowy conditions. And yet our new Tesla daily driver has been pressed into daily action throughout what has proved to be one of the coldest, iciest winters of recent years. Bedecked, appropriately enough, in a solid white paint job, our 85D has the benefit of all-wheel drive from the dual motors and the added traction this delivers has been welcome. Ours is shod with summer Continental ContiSportContacts and despite the lack of winter tyres, it has felt surprisingly surefooted when driving in icy conditions, and even on compacted snow. I’ve been impressed: the traction control and ESP lights haven’t flickered on once, even on the slipperiest of conditions. We had quite a skiddy moment last winter when CAR was running a (rear-wheel drive) electrified BMW i3 REX, but the chunky 21-inch, conventional rubber on our Tesla has provided more grip and reassurance, even when the mercury drops below zero. In other respects, our Tesla has proved decent winter transport, too. It’s quite a bonus having all five seats heated – the kids are enjoying the three-stage warmth adjustment on all three rear pews, and the steering wheel is toasty too. All are operated via the Cold Weather menu on the main touchscreen, using the control above (though the two front… [Read full story]
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