5 ms·

That mask started to grow on me: it makes the car look like a spaceship, and even more importantly, it sets it apart from all other cars out there. It's like t

That mask started to grow on me: it makes the car look like a spaceship, and even more importantly, it sets it apart from all other cars out there. It's like the hatchback-shape of the Prius. I don't think anyone does actually find that attractive, but it's a great design to tell everyone from a distance that you're a better person than them.

SkyMarshal 11y ago
Except a hatchback actually has a functional purpose, the Model 3's grill-less grill not so much.
- bryanlarsen 11y ago
  Note that the model 3 isn't a hatchback. Due to the 'entire roof is glass' design, the hinge can't be at the top of the car like it is in a hatchback. On the model 3, the trunk hinges at end of the glass.
- ilikepi 11y ago
  The function of the grille on a car with a combustion engine is to protect the radiator from debris while still allowing airflow to it. The need for airflow comes at a cost of aerodynamics, so if the Model 3 lacks a radiator, would it not be more "functional" to sacrifice the traditional grille in favor of improved aerodynamics? The current design looks transitional to me...it has the general nose shape everyone is used to without the pointless nooks and crannies. If they were really trying to fully favor aerodynamics it would look like an F1 nose. Edit: stupid autocorrect
  - SkyMarshal 11y ago
    >The current design looks transitional to me. That's the point, it's transitional not functional. It reminds me of the Lincoln Mark 8's old rear trunk faux tire hump: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark_VIII#/media/File:1998_Lincoln_Mark_VIII_LSC_in_red,_rear_left.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark_VIII#/media/File:... I would have thought Tesla would have skipped the transitional and re-thought what a frontend should do and look like when there's no need for a grill anymore.
- mikestew 11y ago
  A grill on an electric car doesn't serve a purpose. The lack of a grill does serve a purpose: don't cut holes in body panels if you don't need to.
  - dghughes 11y ago
    The drive motors must need some sort of air cooling.
    - mikestew 11y ago
      Yeah, could be. Doesn't mean the car has to have a grill. Note that VW Beetles get along fine without a front grill, and the engines on those need lots of air cooling.
    - warkdarrior 11y ago
      Also the batteries need cooling
    - csours 11y ago
      Look below the nose for the radiator hole on the Model 3. If you look carefully at the placement of radiators in modern cars, you can see that most of the actual airflow placement is below the "bumper" (depending on the vehicle). Modern bumpers are actually integrated fascias. [1] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia_(car) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia_(car)
- analyst74 11y ago
  I've noticed the trend in recent years of more prominent grill on many brands, especially the low end luxury lines. I can't be the only one who hates those, I mean, Trypophobia is one of the most common phobias.
  - gknoy 11y ago
    FYI for anyone tempted to google search for it: there are some pretty gross image-search results that I wish I could un-see, helpfully inserted by Google before most of the results. From wikipedia: > Trypophobia is a proposed phobia (pathological fear) of small holes, particularly irregular patterns or clusters of small holes. The term was coined in 2005 from the Greek τρύπα (trýpa) "hole" and φόβος (phóbos) "fear". Thousands of people say they have the condition. It is not a recognized diagnosis or condition in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or other scientific literature. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia
  - chc 11y ago
    Seeing as trypophobia is not even a recognized phobia, just something people on the Internet say they have, I don't know how you'd determine how common it is. Lots of people are demonstrably OK with luxury car grills, considering they sell well.
coldpie 11y ago
I don't own one, but the Prius is actually just an excellent car. Aside from its fuel efficiency, it has lots of interior space, has an outstanding service life measured in hundreds of thousands of miles with no major services, and is priced very competitively. There's a reason tons of taxi cabs are Priuses. The stereotype that the Prius is bought by snooty people is completely undeserved. If you're just shopping for a simple commuter car, it's really hard to beat the Prius.

SkyMarshal 11y ago

Except a hatchback actually has a functional purpose, the Model 3's grill-less grill not so much.

bryanlarsen 11y ago
Note that the model 3 isn't a hatchback. Due to the 'entire roof is glass' design, the hinge can't be at the top of the car like it is in a hatchback. On the model 3, the trunk hinges at end of the glass.
ilikepi 11y ago
The function of the grille on a car with a combustion engine is to protect the radiator from debris while still allowing airflow to it. The need for airflow comes at a cost of aerodynamics, so if the Model 3 lacks a radiator, would it not be more "functional" to sacrifice the traditional grille in favor of improved aerodynamics? The current design looks transitional to me...it has the general nose shape everyone is used to without the pointless nooks and crannies. If they were really trying to fully favor aerodynamics it would look like an F1 nose. Edit: stupid autocorrect
- SkyMarshal 11y ago
  >The current design looks transitional to me. That's the point, it's transitional not functional. It reminds me of the Lincoln Mark 8's old rear trunk faux tire hump: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark_VIII#/media/File:1998_Lincoln_Mark_VIII_LSC_in_red,_rear_left.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark_VIII#/media/File:... I would have thought Tesla would have skipped the transitional and re-thought what a frontend should do and look like when there's no need for a grill anymore.
mikestew 11y ago
A grill on an electric car doesn't serve a purpose. The lack of a grill does serve a purpose: don't cut holes in body panels if you don't need to.
- dghughes 11y ago
  The drive motors must need some sort of air cooling.
  - mikestew 11y ago
    Yeah, could be. Doesn't mean the car has to have a grill. Note that VW Beetles get along fine without a front grill, and the engines on those need lots of air cooling.
  - warkdarrior 11y ago
    Also the batteries need cooling
  - csours 11y ago
    Look below the nose for the radiator hole on the Model 3. If you look carefully at the placement of radiators in modern cars, you can see that most of the actual airflow placement is below the "bumper" (depending on the vehicle). Modern bumpers are actually integrated fascias. [1] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia_(car) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia_(car)
analyst74 11y ago
I've noticed the trend in recent years of more prominent grill on many brands, especially the low end luxury lines. I can't be the only one who hates those, I mean, Trypophobia is one of the most common phobias.
- gknoy 11y ago
  FYI for anyone tempted to google search for it: there are some pretty gross image-search results that I wish I could un-see, helpfully inserted by Google before most of the results. From wikipedia: > Trypophobia is a proposed phobia (pathological fear) of small holes, particularly irregular patterns or clusters of small holes. The term was coined in 2005 from the Greek τρύπα (trýpa) "hole" and φόβος (phóbos) "fear". Thousands of people say they have the condition. It is not a recognized diagnosis or condition in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or other scientific literature. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia
- chc 11y ago
  Seeing as trypophobia is not even a recognized phobia, just something people on the Internet say they have, I don't know how you'd determine how common it is. Lots of people are demonstrably OK with luxury car grills, considering they sell well.

coldpie 11y ago

I don't own one, but the Prius is actually just an excellent car. Aside from its fuel efficiency, it has lots of interior space, has an outstanding service life measured in hundreds of thousands of miles with no major services, and is priced very competitively. There's a reason tons of taxi cabs are Priuses. The stereotype that the Prius is bought by snooty people is completely undeserved. If you're just shopping for a simple commuter car, it's really hard to beat the Prius.