Pick your Tesla Model S based on required range. Is it 265 miles? 200 miles? Or is 140 miles sufficient?

The crew over at Motor Trend took some time to extrapolate and analyze Tesla's recently released data to arrive at EPA range ratings for all three versions of the upcoming Tesla Model S.

Accounting for variations in battery capacity, Motor Trend claims the top-of-the-line 85-kWh Model S will likely earn an EPA certified range of 265 miles. That's a bit shy of Tesla's projected 300-mile range. Moving on down the list, the 60-kWh version of the Model S should get a window sticker that displays a range of approximately 200 miles (down from Tesla's prediction of 230 miles) and the cheapest version of the Model S, equipped with a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, should be EPA certified at 140 miles (not 160 miles as Tesla claims) of electric range.

Of course, these numbers are simply educated guesses at this point in time, but Motor Trend's methodology seems to be legit. As Motor Trend states:

"The difference between 265 and 300 miles extracted from the Model S’ substantial 85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery comes down to the EPA’s testing methodology. The stated 300-mile range with the highest-capacity battery was always Tesla’s target. From one perspective, it has actually exceeded the mark, claiming 320 miles under the EPA’s old 2-cycle fuel economy evaluation. It’s when the EPA’s updated 5-cycle test enters frame that 265 miles rears its head."

"Tesla hasn’t disclosed its anticipated EPA ranges for the 160- and 230-mile batteries, but a 12-percent loss like the 300-mile option would peg them at a predicted 141 and 203 miles under the EPA 5-cycle, respectively."

Base pricing for the Model S depends on range, with the 160-mile (40-kWh) Model S starting at $57,400; the 230-mile (60-kWh) version coming in at $67,400; and the 300-mile (85-kWh) electric sedan starting at $77,400. Then, there's the Model S Performance version, which starts at $92,400. Model S deliveries will begin in June.