It can hold seven people, according to official records. You can fit a lot more, as Carl Reese, multiple record holder, proves.

It’s hard to imagine how much space you have in a Tesla Model S.

The volume of a traditional car is significantly reduced by the powertrain and running gear, which greatly reduces the amount of space that can be used for people and other things.

The 1977 Lincoln Mark V is an example of the height of interior packaging. The car measured more than 19 feet (5.850 millimeters), from stem to the stern, and was six-foot-six (6.600 mm) across its beam. It had a massive 7.5-liter V8 engine, and the trunk was large enough to accommodate a family of four. The interior was extremely cramped and could only accommodate four people in two overstuffed armchairs.

Recent years have seen car designers come up with some clever tricks to make cars smaller than half a mile long. It’s always a compromise. In the search for space, something has to give – often looks or dynamics.

The Model S is Tesla’s solution to this problem. It looks exactly like any other five-door hatchback, and it has five doors. We know better.

Tesla, an electric car manufacturer, was able think outside of the box to create a separate, unique chassis that houses all the battery, motors, control systems and brakes. Simply bolt the body on top.

You’ll find a trunk larger than most city cars when you lift the Model S’s hood. There’s also a trunk in the back that is free of suspension and axles intrusions. It puts many SUVs to shame. The cabin is so spacious that it looks like a telephone booth, even though there are no mechanical parts in the way.

The Tesla Model S can accommodate seven people if you tick the appropriate box in the option list. How many people can fit inside the Tesla Model S? Carl Reese, multiple Guinness World Record holder, thought he’d find out and managed to squeeze 19 of his friends and family members in. An impressive effort.

But you could do better. 26 people are the world record for the number in a MINI. In a car as large as the Model S, you can easily double this number.

Reese’s record is unlikely to be ratified, as many of the participants were younger than 18 years. He’s still up for the challenge.