Tesla D is a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive, Model S rocketship

derision - contemptuous ridicule or mockery, the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt

Poor summary Zythryn. I am more than happy for you and others that can afford and choose to buy such a vehicle, and I always rally behind pioneers and early adapters of new technology, but Tesla does not "now" offer a solution to this country's petroleum dependency or an economical and practical replacement form of transportation. While I also have great admiration for Musk's willingness to invest in his and the country's "future", and for telling the powers that be to stick it in their respective's, the fact remains his products are still just toys for the rich. As to my personally wanting a cheap EV from one of the other mentioned producers, you know I would have a FIT EV if it was allowed here, but I still do not see these vehicles as a practical replacements either, as we discussed on the other thread. I am neither condescending, anti-EV or a fossil fuel relic (as evidenced by my ownership of a practical hybrid), I just say things the way they are. While you can accuse me of, and I admit to being politically incorrect as it pertains here, I remain hopeful and optimistic of what the future holds.

...anyways, I would have this new Tesla parked right between my Cobra and Miura S...had I the wherewithall.

 

In Oslo, the tax credits are so good compared the the penalties for other cars, the Tesla is one of the most affordable things . I saw WAY more Teslas there then any other place including SoCal.

 

As someone who loves toys, I have no problem with the label.

I *do* deride public subsidy of toys for the rich.

 

Sorry, pet peeve of mine.
I do not consider a vehicle a "Toy", I consider it a tool. Calling my vehicle such, strikes me as derision as well of a show of contempt.
Many could use the same label for a Prius if they simply call anything they can't afford to be a toy for the rich.


As for your second point, no one offers a solution to his country's petroleum dependency. And no one ever will.
Toyota doesn't, GM doesn't, and Tesla doesn't. They can each contribute though.
The Tesla fleet has over 500,000,000 miles on it now. It doesn't solve the issue, but it is a good start.

 

The newest Tesla addition only will put more pressure on Cadillac high end products.

Competition is good to have.

DBCassidy

 

Yippeee indeed !

 

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of and rewarding ones self for their good fortune in life. You earned it, but at least own up to it like the rest of us. Spending that much for a car makes it a toy, plain and simple.

 

Wow.....0-60 in 3.2sec

 

I think it is an assumption that the flaming exhaust ones are stock. I'm sure the company can have the car run fine for the EPA test, but flame on at higher power, but I think they would still be on the warranty hook for any damage to the customers emission system for such.

 

I sat in a 2013 Tesla Model S P85+ at the AltCarExpo. After a close look of the vehicle, I must say that the majority of the money of the price tag went toward the powertrain. The interior fit and finish is very questionable. It almost look like home made kit car. The only thing nice about the interior is the dash instrument and center console display and control. The interior is nowhere near the fit and finish of a luxury car. I think in order for the Model S to compete against the likes of BMW, Lexus, MB and other high end luxury cars, they need to spend more money on the interior design and material. Of course this will raise the price above its competitor.
It's like, OK, the price is set at $100,000, let's make it insanely FAST. Let's put 70 grand on powertrain, 15 grand on exterior and 15 grand on interior. Where as Lexus and the likes would put maybe put 30K on powertrain, 20K on exterior and 50K on interior.
Of course if Tesla makes the Model S in the same level of fit and finish of other luxury cars, it would cost about or above 150K.

 

I've had many luxury auto owners compliment the fit and finish on mine.
Perhaps it is just a matter of subjective taste.

 

I drove a lexus before the prius, and the tesla's fit and finnish is very good. I would say the biggest thing are the seats and leather on the seats. The new D is supposed to have the next generation seats. IF they improved those they have made it up to lexus quality, which IMHO is a tad better than bmw quality. But people like different things. A different interior would not cost a huge amount more, but it is in choices, and when tesla first specified the S it had to fight for suppliers, now they all want to work with it. People are right now choosing teslas over mercedes, bmw, and lexus.

The original Roadster powertrain was chosen for performance. The original S was to for range. TO get the range the model S travels, you need batteries and motors that are quite fast. On top of that you can spend for the performance package, that is $12,000. Technology advancements will reduce costs of this performance. Many people asked for awd, and it really was necessary for the X to compete in the SUV space. D or awd is only a $4000 option. Why not try to recoup R&D fater and have a performance awd bundled with a lot of tech on the P (performance model) for a big boost in profit.

 

In addition to the business plan and economic necessity for Tesla designing and selling sports cars and luxury cars first, it is also important to change the stereotyping of electric cars as "golf carts".

It's good to have gear heads and other automotive purchasing influencers coveting the neighbors Model S or X and otherwise seeing electric cars as highly desirable instead of worshiping loud farty noises and exhaust fumes. The community needs to reset it's vehicle value system and the likes of the Nissan LEAF and the Prius Plugin can't do that alone.

The business and social groundwork for everyday affordable transportation e-cars is being put together now about as quickly as I can realistically imagine it happening. Tesla is an important part of achieving those goals even if they themselves are not yet cranking out $18,000 e-econoboxes.

 

Tesla has a great approach to electric cars: Produce BEVs that are gorgeous with thrill-ride performance and practiquality.

Wow my English is bad.

 

I was hoping that the "second motor" would have been a gasoline engine, at least a small one.

Aside from the fact that I can't afford it, my biggest objection to the Tesla is the fact that there's no backup for when the battery runs out.

 

Yes, because I also regularly drive over 200 miles in a day.

Tesla might have considered hybrids in the beginning, but I think that was dropped when Fisker left and started his own company.

 

The Supercharging stations are being built. So why haul around an ICE you might hardly use except of a handful of times a year?

I'll wait for free fuel and not have weight penalty (ICE, emission systems, cooling system, etc) on a daily basis.

 

You see having a Prius is just practical (for US standard). I can see people in the 3rd world complaining that how Americans driving cars (of any kind), wasting more than 1/3 of the world resources. They would say why not just ride a bike?