Tesla Model S gets over 500 reservations in first week

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green

Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been barely a week since the curtain was lifted on the Tesla Model S, and not only has its design received positive reviews, those sensuous lines have seduced 520 people to fork over some deposit cash for the new all-electric sedan. Tesla won’t say, however, how many people chose the standard version that requires a refundable deposit of ,000 or one of the 2,000 Signature Edition models that requires a ,000 deposit.

Initial sales of the Model S have exceeded Tesla’s expectations and are quite a feat considering the economic times, plus the fact that these cars are still a few years away from being delivered. The real test of the S’s ability to beguile may come tonight as the all-electric sedan makes its East Coast debut. With the company attempting to secure a 0 million loan from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program for a plant in which to build the Model S, the car will begin a string of appearances on the right side of the country with a showing at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Tesla also has good Roadster news. Production of the two-seater sports car continues to speed up and reached 104 units for the month of March. That gives the automaker a total of 170 Roadsters built for the first quarter of 2009 and about 320 altogether, in case you’re keeping track. Hit the jump for the press release and bonus videos of the Tesla Model S in action, as well as having its auto-extending door handles explained by CEO Elon Musk.

Gallery: Tesla Model S