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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

#221

Post by digikata »

Merad wrote: post #188
CydeWeys wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't it an overstatement that the batteries aren't green? Yes, there are environmental impacts from the production, but still a lot less than the environmental impacts of all the oil that would otherwise be produced and burnt to fuel the car over its lifetime, no?

But, isn't the lifetime of the battery pack significantly lower than the (presumed) lifetime of the actual car? If your Model S stays on the road 20 years but requires 3-4 battery replacements, that's several big hits against its environmental friendliness.

The lifetime of the battery will likely be much longer than it's life in the car - if the plans for 'second life' re-use as static energy storage devices come to pass.

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

#222

Post by greglindahl »

bodyfour wrote: post #211
ctdonath wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has long irritated me that car audio systems have a discernible boot time, having come from the days of instant-on radios. There really is no excuse, between optimizing the boot process and starting it the moment the car starts (not like there's that much of a draw, speakers off, from the alternator).

Even better, there's already a sensor to let it know the driver's side door has been opened.. that should give it a head start.

Indeed, opening the door is what wakes up the Tesla infotainment system.

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

#223

Post by greglindahl »

rn222 wrote: post #190
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".

The entire automotive industry sees automobiles as upgradeable, it's called the "aftermarket". Conventional automobiles can be tuned and upgraded and have been for generations, except, us non Tesla owners can do it without the manufacturers say so. With Tesla you are forced to buy your upgrades from them, this is less flexible IMO.

There are numerous aftermarket upgrades for Teslas.

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

#224

Post by Cshelton »

bsmith wrote: post #207
Cshelton wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like the limit of what these motors can do now is being held back by something they can't control anymore, tire grip. I think a lot of these software updates on the acceleration speed aren't because they all of the sudden figured out how to get more power from the electric motor. I think it's from tweaking the "no-slip" system or whatever they call theirs. Basically when the car detects it's losing grip, it cu…

What if the car actually used the suspension to 'drop' just a fraction of an inch lower to the ground (to increase its momentary, apparent weight) as soon as you punch the accelerator to get some extra grip? I wonder how much of a difference the momentary 'downforce' would make.

It probably will do that. Atleast to compensate for the added apparent weight on the rear at acceleration. And slightly decrease air flow resistance under the car. Formula 1 cars do something like that

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

#225

Post by kw71 »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #139
j-b wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, did you end up buying a different vehicle? If so, which one?

With the OP's requirements I'd recommend a '94 Volvo 240 Turbo. (If we ever need a second car I'm getting one; my first car was one). New enough to be safe (airbags etc), some tinkering will get you 300 bhp, it's rear-wheel drive and has a perfect 50-50 weight distribution if you move the battery to the trunk (standard rally trick). Stereo still has a cassette player, so a $5 adapter lets you plug in your phone for m…

What a terrible car, especially the "1994 model" which is laughably just the 1974 car as if it were from some Soviet manufacturing line that just wouldn't go away. If you think bolting an airbag into a 1974 car body makes it safe, I'm sure the NCAP people want to talk to you.

I own a 960, Volvo won't sell parts for it anymore. Two generations and 20-years after your suggested car was designed I find mine has no thought given to ergonomics. Row of switches on the flat dash, behind the steering wheel where you can't see them... yeah.

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

#226

Post by cherry_su »

theonlyhighlndr wrote: post #138
cherry_su wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It [Tesla Model S CoG = 17.5-18"]'s competitive with supercars, i.e. that of the Ford GT [1], and better than the Porsche Boxster [2], which is not a supercar. [1] http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1301_2013_motor_tren... [2] http://www.caranddriver.com/features/tesla-model-s-60-2015-1...

Okay. Now what are their lap times? Center of gravity is one of the dozens of aspects working in conjunction that make cars fast. One of the most important being, weight.

Let's take Nurburgring-Nordschleife, since that's generally accepted as The Proving Grounds. For these three cars in question:

Tesla Model S: DNF, overheated, http://insideevs.com/expected-tesla-model-s-fails-lap-nurbur...

Ford GT: 07:52, https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/

Porsche Boxster S (981): 07:58, http://fastestlaps.com/cars/porsche_boxster_s_981.html

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

#227

Post by vectorjohn »

seanflyon wrote: post #214
city41 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you say the other makers are passive? BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, VW, Ford and Fiat all have fully electric cars. Sure none of them get near the range the Model S does, but they are getting involved in this. A Nissan Leaf offers roughly one third the specs of a Model S, but also at one third the price. Seems like progress to me.

With the exception of the Leaf, all those fully electric cars seem more like tests or prototypes than serious attempts to win the market. Nissan is anything but passive when it comes to fully electric cars, but all the other major car makers are being, in my opinion, overly cautious.

I just got a Fiat 500e, it is a bad ass car, and definitely doesn't feel like a test or prototype. It gets more like 85 miles (it better, it's much smaller than a Leaf), and works for almost all the transportation I need. I haven't bothered to set up a high voltage charger or anything, and I've been amazed by the convenience of it.

I agree though, they should really be pushing these electric cars. They're awesome. They're a pleasure to drive. I hate going back to gas, just shifting and the low torque are noticeable and now annoying. Maybe they just suck at advertising (doubtful) or they have other motives.

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

#228

Post by trhway »

austenallred wrote: post #73
skrebbel wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? I think I know what you mean, but how the hell are BMW not thinking of their cars as "actual products"?

In other words, Tesla is thinking about their cars as hardware + software, whereas BMW thinks about their cars as hardware only.

>Tesla is thinking about their cars as hardware + software

the electric cars are pretty much gadgets (especially the way Tesla did their car - everything what is possible is implemented in software vs. hardware) where is typical ICE car is mostly hardware.

This is why Apple is getting into electric car business - because Apple has great skills doing gadgets while it is obvious (at least to me) that oily ICE car is alien to Apple.

I.e. while electric and ICE car both share "car" term and both do the same function for end-user and have the same 4 wheels/tires/brakes/etc..., they are actually 2 different things. You just add to your iTunes new gadget - iCar - and it gets synched with your other iPhones/iPods/etc... . Google's self-driving "cutie" of course will get connected to Google Cloud/Play/etc... . No Ford or GMC can do that and thus they would be relegated to the roles of Samsung - chip solders.

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

#230

Post by goldfeld »

romaniv wrote: post #148
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.

Owning your own car will go the way of owning your own boat or horse. Expensive and mostly for sport.
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