Earlier quoted context omitted.
> "for a luxury car" Since when is a car under 35K is considered luxury?
That's a > $600 car payment every month assuming 60 months and 3% interest. That's out of reach of most American families.
Model 3 Unveiling [video]
361–370 of 395 posts
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#362Pretty smart looking car. Doesn't ape the Model S' look too much, clearly looks a little more compact, and the roofline makes it look both roomy and a little space-agey. From the front it almost has a Porsche Panamera look going on... Nice looking car. I wish Tesla good luck, though I don't think they'll need it.
The panamera is quite possibly the most ugly and awkward looking luxury car out there... (even Porsches CEO admits it! http://jalopnik.com/even-porsches-ceo-admits-the-panamera-is... ) This, on the other hand is genuinely good looking.
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#363Earlier quoted context omitted.
> almost free to run Legit question: How much does a Tesla cost to recharge? I mean assuming you do it in your home and not at a free charging station. Are we talking $1/charge? $5? 50c? I just want a frame of reference. I'm talking raw electricity only (and obviously based on some average rate).
The average battery size for the Model S is probably 85kWh (they sell them from 70 - 90), and average residential power rates in the US are ~$0.15/kWh. So the easy answer is, a Model S will cost ~$12.75 to "fill up". However, some places have residential rates closer to $0.08/kWh, or $7/tank. That's for 300mi range. They do sell lower capacity battery versions and the entry level Model 3 will likely have a 50kWh batt…
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#364Earlier quoted context omitted.
He's a good reminder that it's not necessary to be the best speaker to be an amazing and inspiring leader. You could imagine another universe where Elon interviews at a tech company and doesn't get hired, just based on his presentation style.
When he was younger he actually went to IBM, didn't have the balls to hand in his CV, and left.
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#365Earlier quoted context omitted.
The car looks comparable to a Honda CRZ or a Toyota Prius (or a Subaru BRZ). They should have gone with the small-sedan form factor, but I think they believe it will cannibalize Model S sales.
> "for a luxury car" Since when is a car under 35K is considered luxury?
Adding what is effectively the price of another car ($15-20k) onto that is a luxury. Pretty much paying double the price you need to pay is something I'd consider a luxury regardless of the class of good.
Source: I paid $12k for a 2 year old car.
Honda Fit, etc as well are in that price range new:
http://automobiles.honda.com/tools/build-price/trims.aspx?Mo...
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#366> Both cars will start at $30,000 or less after federal tax credits of $7,500 are applied. And both go at least 200 miles on a fully charged battery. The Bolt is a five-passenger hatchback that boasts cargo space and more legroom for rear passengers—front-seat backs are an inch thinner than in most cars. Looks almost identical specs-wise to Chevy Bolt, which will be available at the end of 2016 rather than 2017. http…
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#367Earlier quoted context omitted.
"For some reason it strikes me as genuine, like he's someone I can relate with and look up to." That's typical of salespeople at the higher levels. The smooth-talking types are down at the midmarket dealerships. For the other extreme, see Shai Agassi, who ran an electric car company, Better Place. This is his 2009 TED talk.[1] I heard him speak once. He's really good looking, he sounds very convincing, and his busine…
Incredible. To me, everything about that guy screams snake oil salesman.
Genuinely curious, as a person who likes to analyze public speaking events.
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#368Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#369Earlier quoted context omitted.
The optimum subsonic shape is a hemisperhical nose with a long tail tapering to a point ( like an ice-cream cornette on its side, with the dome of ice-cream heading into the wind ). The K-tail is an abbreviation of that impractical-for-cars long tail which gives most of the effect for much less effort. The Tatra T77 was an attempt to implement the optimum form though even then the tail was somewhat abbreviated: http:…
Drop of water is the best comparison, as its shape is a direct result of aerodynamic optimisation.
Re: Model 3 Unveiling [video]
#370OK, $35K, 115,000 pre-orders, delivery early 2018. (Yeah, he said "next year", and then the projection said "late next year", and then he waffled, so 2018 is realistic.) Tesla's current production rate is about 70,000 units a year. Yes, the NUMMI plant once produced 500K vehicles a year on that site, but that just means Tesla has lots of empty building shell into which they can expand. The real problem is profitabili…
They did just get a zero interest 2 year loan of $115 million.