As the saying goes for some luxury items, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. But since you’re here reading about the various pricing structures for the Model S, we’ll simply tell you what you get in the wide-ranging sliding price structure that Tesla has established. It's tricky.

Tesla, a company that thrives on innovation, is the first to offer an EV with your choice of various sizes of battery packs. That’s the biggest determinant of the final price tag for the Model S. It also makes a difference for availability, because the company is starting with the more expensive bigger packs, and working its way down. You might have to wait well into 2013 before for a Model S with the 40-kWh pack.

In my view, anybody considering the Model S should opt for absolutely as much battery storage as your pocketbook will allow. The ability to go 200 or more miles on a charge is a huge benefit over anything in the 100-mile category.

Let’s start with the richest fare and work our way down. That means the “Model S – Signature Performance” with a base price of $97,900. Here’s what you get:

• 85 kWh battery
• 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds
• High performance drive inverter
• Optional Signature Red paint
• Optional Signature White leather
• Nappa leather interior with Alcantara accents and carbon fiber décor
• Active Air Suspension and Sport-Tuned Traction Control
• Carbon fiber spoiler
• Optional 21" grey wheels with performance tires

Then, for $10,000 less, you can opt for the non-performance “Model S – Signature.” Basically, it’s the same thing but 0 – 60 occurs in an extra 1.2 seconds.

• 85 kWh battery
• 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds
• Optional Signature Red paint
• Optional Signature White leather
• Nappa perforated leather interior
• Active Air Suspension

Shave off another $3,000, to remove the “signature” from the nameplate, and cross off some of the luxury appointments—while keeping the 85 kWh pack and its 240-plus miles of range. In this $84,900 variant, you maintain the high-performance capability.

• 85 kWh battery
• 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds
• High performance drive inverter
• Carbon fiber spoiler
• Nappa leather interior with Alcantara accents and carbon fiber décor
• Active Air Suspension and Sport-Tuned Traction Control
• Optional 21" grey wheels with performance tires

Then, there are three more proletarian options, without any mention of signatures or 4.4-second performance—but you’ll survive. These are the $50k, $60k, and $70k options, with battery packs of 40-kWh, 60-kWh and 85-kWh respectively. Tesla says the respective driving ranges on a charge are 160 miles, 230 miles and 300 miles. In real world driving, you should reduce those numbers by about 20 percent.

A few other caveats: All these prices are after the $7,500 federal tax credit. (Make sure you have that much of a tax liability in order to take advantage of the credit.)

A bonus for those who live in California is that Tesla’s Supercharger network, workable for drivers of Model S with either the 60-kWh or 85-kWh packs, is absolutely free. There’s real value there—both in terms of the ability to use the car for road trips, and the cost of electric fuel to make them happen.

Finally, be prepared to bring a magnifying glass to the Tesla showroom, so you can read the fine print. In October 2012, as the number of Model S deliveries picked up speed, it emerged that the company requires a $600 annual service fee to cover an inspection, replacement parts like brake pads and windshield wipers, 24-hour roadside assistance, system monitoring, remote diagnostics, and software updates.