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Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

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Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#141

Post by srb- »

rjusher wrote: post #76

One thing I don't understand is the position of the big car makers(BMW, MB, AUDI) being a passive observer in this field. Tesla is getting so much, that if any automaker that can deliver a car with half the specs of a model S, and keeping their model's prices as a mass produced car, would deliver a big punch to Tesla, and would greatly move the market forward. Is it the investment necessary for building a network of…

I agree. Another crazy thing is that there is a shortage of Tesla-level batteries in the market right NOW. Yet aside from Tesla/Panasonic, no one else is ramping battery production to be able to produce millions of cars a year!

So when Tesla's $35k car becomes a mainstream hit in 2018, I have no doubt big auto will react with compelling competitive vehicles. The problem is they won't have the battery infrastructure in place to sell more than 50,000 units, and it'll take them several years to catch up to Tesla's production volumes!

That or purchase their packs from Tesla.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#142

Post by nicboobees »

jrwoodruff wrote: post #118
nicboobees wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an awful user experience though. Look at mobile phones. An old Nokia 3210 or something, just works. It does everything fine. It works as a phone. It was designed from start to finish, and built. Compare that with Android. Every update they seem to break or remove some functionality. Endless software updates, restarting, etc. It was shipped with bugs, it'll always have bugs. I'm not convinced this is an improv…

If it's done poorly, of course it's a terrible experience. Restarting my car and it's suddenly faster and smarter? Sounds like a positive experience to me.

What if they decide to remove a feature like Android removed "silent mode" as a feature...

Also, software will always be more buggy than hardware. The more software there is in something, the less reliable it is.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#144

Post by arethuza »

DanBC wrote: post #67
cglee wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's easier to expand downwards Lots of business research says this is not true, and in fact, the opposite. This is why VW is the world's most popular car maker, and not Porsche.

Aren't VW and Porsche part of the same company?

VW is one of the car brands of VW Group - along with Seat, Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti and Porsche...

VW Group are masters of "badge engineering" - features and designs trickle down from the likes of Audi to VW and then to Seat and Skoda.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#145

Post by rs999gti »

theonlyhighlndr wrote: post #50
liamk wrote: post #3

Amazing, that's as fast as the Lamborghini Aventador https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Aventador

In a straight line... The Tesla weighs more than an F150 and corners like a boat

It's about as long as a F-150 long bed as well.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#146

Post by amluto »

zdrummond wrote: post #121
e40 wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is doubly amazing about this: they must really be confident of their testing procedures and software practices, because the liability of pushing a bad software update and causing injury to a driver... confidence, for sure. I'm certain this is the reason Toyota and others don't ever update the software in your car, after you purchase it, unless it's a recall firmware fix.

Except, when I was driving my Tesla Model S down a long stretch of highway, the entire instrument cluster froze. I had to pull off and turn it off and on again; I kid you not. Move fast break things! Hmmmm.

In a Tesla, "my car crashed" has a whole new meaning.

Hold down the top steering wheel button on each side for several seconds, then release. That'll reboot the instrument cluster. Hold down both scroll wheels for several seconds and release -- that will reboot the center console. Perfectly safe while driving, and everything still works.

Everything that Tesla considers essential, of course. You can't tell how fast you're going while the instrument cluster is rebooting, and you can't hear the turn signal while the center console is rebooting. You also can't lock the doors while the center console is rebooting, but apparently no one at Tesla ever lived or stopped the car in a dangerous neighborhood.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#147

Post by noja »

rs999gti wrote: post #137
stefanobernardi wrote: post #9

Even if not a software update, I still find Tesla's way of thinking of a car as an actual (continuously update/upgrade-able) product fascinating. Very rare for hardware. It gives an amazing user experience, "Hey restart your car and it's now got X and Y". Respect. Edit: clarifying the term "product".

"It gives an amazing user experience, "Hey restart your car and it's now got X and Y". Respect." It's basically Apple's model with iPhone and Macs, except applied to automobiles.

How is a software update "Apple's model"?

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#148

Post by romaniv »

stefanobernardi wrote: post #9

Even if not a software update, I still find Tesla's way of thinking of a car as an actual (continuously update/upgrade-able) product fascinating. Very rare for hardware. It gives an amazing user experience, "Hey restart your car and it's now got X and Y". Respect. Edit: clarifying the term "product".

At the same time, this means you do not really control your own car anymore. It's like a service.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#149

Post by theonlyhighlndr »

rs999gti wrote: post #145
theonlyhighlndr wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a straight line... The Tesla weighs more than an F150 and corners like a boat

It's about as long as a F-150 long bed as well.

Wheel base is actually one of those things that can be beneficial both ways, depending on the type of tracks you're racing, but weight is always bad

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#150

Post by bravo22 »

rjusher wrote: post #101
bravo22 wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The batteries in a Tesla aren't very green and sadly they are quite large. Big automakers think in volumes of millions of cars, Tesla delivers about 25K (EDIT: looks like 40K projected for this year[1]) cars a year. http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/05/12/tes...

What do you mean with not very green, I do know they carry chemicals inside, but the not very green part is the manufacturing or the battery itself. But Tesla is also working in a big battery factory, and I read this plant is very green. But how is the batteries less green than cars producing contamination. (The batteries could be worst, that's is something I haven't even considered)¿?

The carbon footprint of producing the battery, even not considering the chemicals, is very large. So much so that you'd have to drive it on many years from a full-renewable source for you to break even with a regular car[1]. Tesla, sadly, maximizes the battery in their cars.

My read is that their main goal is selling batteries and everything from opening their "patents" (i.e. their custom connectors/battery pack) to the home wall-pack is designed to do that.

[1] http://www.environment.ucla.edu/media/files/BatteryElectricV... (page 7 with relevant graph) Also http://www.enveurope.com/content/pdf/2190-4715-24-14.pdf (page 10/11)

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