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Tesla Model S is emissions-free burnout machine after pulling fuses

Add one more feather to the proverbial cap of the Tesla Model S. Road & Track West Coast Editor Jason Cammisa figured out how to make the electric luxury sedan extra frisky and then set about nuking the rear tires with electric-motor torque.
"Holy hell there's a lot of torque here," Cammisa wrote in his notes after pulling a fuse that took the ABS, stability control and traction control offline. That fuse also took out the speedometer and air suspension - no big deal - but power steering and brake assist went out, too, making hooning a parking-lot-only affair.
The best part is that they shot a video to accompany the hijinks, so you can see for yourself how the Model S does. If you want to try it for yourself, just be careful.

This is what it takes to make the world's most expensive Tesla Model S

New Tesla or condo? That's one question you may come up with when you see this video from T Sportline that shows a Model S with enough extras to jack its price up to $205,820. Al & Ed's Autosound of West Hollywood, CA, which has a history of such things, did the honors. So here's the recipe. You start witt the $85,900 base price for the 85 kilowatt-hour Model S. That pricetag jumps to $123,770 with goodies such as the "performance plus" set-up (including fiber spoiler and red brake calipers) for a tidy $6,500, "smart air" suspension ($2,250), "tech package" ($3,750), ultra high-fidelity sound system ($2,500), panoramic sunroof ($2,500) and 21-inch grey turbine wheels ($4,500). And then the fun really starts. For instance, those wheels get upgraded to "GhostGold" forged wheels for $7,500, "exterior 3M change wrap" runs $6,000, carbon-fiber body kit goes for $5,250 and the "audiophile upgrade" costs $9,500. Finally, get a load of the "bespoke" made-to-order interior upholstery. That'll run $25,000. And before you know it, you have a mean green machine that's almost twice as expensive as Justin Bieber's chrome Fisker Karma. And from a solvent company, no less. Al & Ed's is no stranger to pushing Tesla EVs way out into the proverbial high-rent district. The team used the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show to show off a Tesla Roadster with about $50,000 worth of goodies were added. Earlier that year, they customized another Roadster to include, among other things, Mercedes-Benz leather. We've got archive coverage of those cars but we expect you'll be more interested in the new video from T Sportline of the swanky Model S below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

The billionaire's passion behind Wanxiang's Fisker bid

If it weren't for billionaire Lu Guanqiu, founder of Chinese auto parts giant Wanxiang Group, the Fisker Automotive bankruptcy bailout deal might have closed earlier this month. Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li, along with Li's affiliate company Hybrid Tech Holdings, assumed their offer was going to be accepted. Instead, the US bankruptcy court judge called for an open auction bid for Fisker's assets on February 12. Lu made a few convincing points to the judge. There's another interesting part of the story that Lu didn't share it with the judge. If the Fisker deal doesn't work out, Lu and Wanxiang might increase their working relationship with Tesla Motors. Lu told US bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross that Wanxiang, which now owns Fisker's supplier of lithium batteries, A123 Systems, is better placed than Hybrid Tech Holdings to restart and expand production at Fisker. Better yet, Wanxiang could move production from Finland to the US. That was convincing enough for Gross to schedule the auction. Lu's move toward taking over ownership and restoring Fisker seems to be driven by two motivations: converting his company from a parts maker to an automaker; and to grow the yet-to-be profitable "new energy " business such as lithium battery and electric vehicle makers. For Lu, it's not so much about believing in Fisker – it's more about playing a leading role in electric vehicles – and that could come through deepening its connection to Tesla Motors. "Of course we want to pocket Fisker. But we will bid rationally," he said to Reuters. "Whatever the result, nothing can stop us from making electric cars." Check out more about Lu in this Reuters piece, including how he and six other farmers pooled together $500 in 1969 to start what would become Wanxiang. Featured Gallery Fisker Karma at Laguna Seca News Source: Reuters Government/Legal Green Fisker Tesla Electric wanxiang