Model S: the clean-sheet moment

When customer deliveries began in 2012, Model S combined a skateboard battery, a spacious cabin and a large central display in a form that looked like a premium fastback rather than an experiment.

Its flat battery architecture created a low centre of gravity and opened storage at both ends. The car also shifted ownership expectations through remote diagnostics and over-the-air feature updates.

Early cars are now specialist vehicles. Battery generation, drive-unit revision, MCU hardware, charging capability and regional specification matter more than the badge on the boot.