Electric Car News: Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA)’s Performance Plus, General Motors Company (GM) Cuts Chevy Volt Cost, Ford Motor Company (F) Focus Electric in the Best Green Cars

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Editor’s Note: Related Tickers: Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (ADR) (OTCMKTS:NSANY), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)

Tesla financing Model S purchase offers higher resale value than BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus or Jaguar (Rush Lane)
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) financing Model S purchase offers higher resale value than BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus or Jaguar. Critics viewed the company financing plan adversely, while the company also received negative feedback for placing resale value of the Model S. Following receipt of severe criticism, Tesla Motors Inc owned by Elon Musk as revamped its financing strategies where their Model S electric vehicle is concerned. These changes include permitting buyers to take a total of 72 months as against 63 months to repay loans, while the company has also decreased monthly costs by over a quarter. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has also assured buyers that resale value of the Model S will surpass that of others in its segment.

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)KBB.com: Ford C-MAX Energi and Focus Electric Make It Easy Being Green (WiredPRNews.com)
In the automotive industry, the word “green” typically evokes fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness, but not usually a whole lot of fun. To the contrary, the 2013 Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) C-MAX Energi and Focus Electric were each recently named to KBB.com’s 10 Best Green Cars of 2013 because they can actually be fun to drive while saving their owners money at the pump. In addition to praising its fun factor and its position as the most affordable plug-in hybrid on the market, Kelley Blue Book editors lauded the new C-MAX Energi for its all-electric range of 21 miles and its 100 MPGe rating during combined city and highway driving. Meanwhile, the Focus Electric landed on the 10 Best Green Cars list because of its versatile hatchback, useful features and an advanced gas-free drivetrain that is efficient yet responsive.

Nissan Leaf is America’s Leading Electric Vehicle for April, Beats Out Chevy Volt (USDailyVoice)
It was Japan over America once again as the Nissan Leaf defeated the Chevrolet Volt in terms of U.S. electric vehicle sales for the month of April 2013. This was the second month in a row that the Leaf sold more than the Volt in the United States. In April 2013, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (ADR) (OTCMKTS:NSANY) sold 1,937 Leaf units in the United States, a slight downtick from the 2,236 units sold the month before. Still, this was a huge 400 percent increase year-over-year, compared to April 2012’s numbers. As such, Nissan had a considerable lead over Chevy, whose Volt has been on top of the American electric vehicle market for the past 18 months before March.

Tesla adds $6,500 ‘Performance Plus’ option to Model S; adds range, improves handling (Autoblog)
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is adding a special performance package for its all-electric Model S that not only will add miles of single-charge range, but will make sure those miles aren’t driven sideways. The automaker is charging $6,500 for its new “Performance Plus” option, which includes wider rear tires, upgraded stabilizer bars and bushings, among other goodies. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) says it took “hundreds of iterations affecting every detail of the suspension,” but “our vehicle dynamics team was able to achieve the rare outcome of simultaneously improving performance, comfort and efficiency.” The new rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires are 20 mm wider than previous tires and are “staggered for improved acceleration on low grip surfaces.”

GM Aiming To Cut Chevy Volt Cost By $10,000 (Gas 2.0)
By most measures, the Chevy Volt has proven to be a successful and clever plug-in hybrid vehicle in every regard save cost. At $40,000, it is still quite an expensive car even with the $7,500 Federal tax credit. CEO Dan Akerson knows this, and says that General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is seeking to slash the Volt’s price by as much as $10,000. Akerson actually said that GM wants to lower the Volt price by between $7,000 and $10,000, and that the next car will be profitable. Akerson then admitted that General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is actually…



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