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Tesla launches new Model S with updated design
- merterdir 10y agoThe HEPA filter won me over.
- state 10y agoDoes anyone else find the Tesla design to be its worst feature? I want to want one. Really, I do. But when I look at them (this update included) it just looks like a Lexus from 2005 or something. Not that I have something against the Lexus owners out there - it's just that the look doesn't seem to represent what's inside. I wish it weren't true, but I think design is going to keep me burning fossil fuels for a while now. Am I the only one?
- vvanders 10y agoYou might be, anecdotal evidence but I've taken mine to quite a few car shows. Overwhelmingly the feedback has said that their design is something people like as opposed to something crazy like the i3.
- state 10y agoYeah, I'm not really in the market for the i3. But if the Model S looked like an S3 or an M3 I'd be perfectly happy. I can't quite put my finger on why though. Since I'm getting downvoted above, I'll take that as evidence that I am in fact the only one. Ha!
- vvanders 10y agoYeah, to be fair the design of the S is to have one of the lowest cD of any production car. A traditional grill generates a ton of turbulence so that's a contributing factor to the nosecone/grill-less design.
- greglindahl 10y agoThe S has a small grill for battery cooling, as do the X and the 3.
- vvanders 10y agoYup, and articulated louvers on either side for extra cooling(always fun to hear them open up and the fans go full tilt at 120kW supercharging).
- dingaling 10y agoThe Mercedes CLA 180 BlueEfficiency has the lowest Cd of any current production car, 0.22 versus the Model S 0.24. Even the three-box Lexus LS of 2000 could achieve 0.25.
- bhauer 10y agoIt's funny that people are downvoting you for your opinion. I don't share the opinion, but downvoting is not for matters of opinion. Whatever. In any event, I was about to add to my earlier reply that the modern M5 looks quite fantastic. I for one would love a Tesla-like experience in the body of the M5. But I think that speaking of design only, the Model S is at worst mid-pack among the mid- and large-size luxury sedan segments.
- state 10y agoYes, that's fair. Maybe I sound too negative. It's definitely mid-pack, but it's an incredible car! It ought to look like the sexiest, most desirable thing available.
- bhauer 10y agoTo my eye, the overall body shape of the Model S has since its initial conceptual renderings and then at its launch appeared similar to the Jaguar XF. And in my opinion, that's a good thing. I'm not thrilled with this change to remove the false grill, but it's fine. I think this is a matter of not yet being used to the notion of cars with no grill, but over time it may seem more familiar and comfortable. I am a Tesla advocate, so I am biased, but for what it's worth I feel the conservative styling is an upside. I leased an electric Mini (the "Mini E") for two years and really appreciated that aside from some special paint colors and a couple small graphics, it was basically a Mini Cooper. It wasn't a "Hey, look at me in this electric car!" design. I agree with Musk's opinion that electric cars don't need to stand out—they don't need to look goofy or extreme. I think the Model S looks classy. Mainstream, yes, but classy mainstream and not boring mainstream. I prefer it to the modern bulbous Mercedes-Benz motif and the Predator-grill Lexus motif.
- vvanders 10y agoThere were rumors that we were going to see a 100kWH battery with this refresh but looks like that will be for another time.