Tesla Motors’ Model S

Tesla Motors is gambling that it can change the future of its company and perhaps the way the world drives with a new electric sedan — the Model S.

Tesla’s first car — the Roadster — was a high performance vehicle, priced at more than $100,000 and targeted toward an elite clientele. Around 300 are already on the road.

The Model S still promises plenty of performance — top speeds of 130 miles per hour; a giant touchscreen control module; 300 miles of driving on a single charge — but at a price that should open it to a more diverse market.

Tesla is looking to sell the new sedan for $57,400, or $49,900 after tax credits.

But even with a promising new car, the future of the company may come down to whether or not Tesla can get government assistance:

Tesla hopes to receive one of two government loans it is seeking. One, a $250 million loan, would come from money Congress authorized in 2005 for clean energy projects. The first loan guarantee under the program was made to solar company Solyndra last week.

The second loan Tesla is seeking, $450 million, would come from $25 billion Congress authorized in 2007 for electric vehicle technologies.

The Energy Department should begin distributing some of those loans this month.