Which electric car won the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year award?

The Tesla Model S won the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year award.

The award was notable because the Model S was an all-electric luxury sedan competing against established gasoline-powered cars. Motor Trend praised its long driving range, rapid acceleration, spacious interior, and innovative battery-floor design.

The Model S entered production in 2012 and helped move electric cars beyond small city vehicles and compliance cars. Its battery pack was installed beneath the passenger compartment, lowering the center of gravity and leaving room for both front and rear storage areas.

This award is sometimes confused with other “Car of the Year” honors. The Model S also received major recognition from other publications, but Motor Trend’s 2013 award is the specific honor asked about here. The later Model 3 brought Tesla’s technology to a lower price class.