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> Does this mean that Tesla is pivoting from their attempt to produce a medium-priced car in quantity and going back to hand-building high-end cars? It's a ha
by digitalzombie 9y ago
> Does this mean that Tesla is pivoting from their attempt to produce a medium-priced car in quantity and going back to hand-building high-end cars?
It's a halo car...
Car companies build halo car to get consumers attention to their brand and to sell other models.
Nissan didn't have to build the GT-R R35 but it did because it's a halo car.
Another example is Toyota LFA.
- tlrobinson 9y agoI imagine some of the technology in "halo" cars trickles down to mass-produced cars too?
- fma 9y agoThey might want to learn how to mass produce cars first, though...
- adamlett 9y agoBut why does Tesla need a halo car? They already have the consumers’ attention. Lots of people would buy Teslas today but can’t because Tesla is unable to mass produce the Model 3.
- sundvor 9y agoWhy not? It's their Formula One of development. Lots of competitors are entering the area. This helps remind everyone who the best is.
- adamlett 9y agoBecause they already have enough on their plate and are worse off for the distraction?
- sundvor 9y agoThe project / delivery timeline seems to stage this rather clearly as "next". Product design / R&D is also different resource pool to manufacturing (well, at least in my mind it is). Manufacturing issues may have forced redesigns but they'll need to keep working on the next thing; competition certainly won't stand still.
- rythie 9y agoTo get featured the list of fastest cars in magazines etc., to go to car shows, to get people into a show room, to get featured on TopGear/The Grand Tour, for kids to talk about at school and so on. All of which boost Tesla's brand (outside the tech echo-chamber, where it is already strong).
- dingo_bat 9y agoModel x is enough for all of that.
- ericd 9y agoI don't think kids are going to be lusting after an SUV the way we used to lust after the Lamborghini Countach. This, on the other hand, is lust-worthy.
- dom96 9y ago> to get featured on TopGear/The Grand Tour I doubt they'd allow that judging by what happened the last time they were featured.
- rythie 9y agoYes, on the UK one. However, there are many versions around the world. Also, the presenters involved have all left, and are now on the Grand Tour. My point was about halo cars in general, not Telsa's experience in general. The team at the Grand Tour are going to have to get used electric cars, since I expect all the fastest cars will be electric from this point. If they can't get a loaner car, they'll borrow or buy one, they've done that before.
- lovemenot 9y agoMaybe because the target is investors, rather than consumers.
- sunstone 9y agoMusk did mention in his presentation that the motivation for making this car was as "a complete smack down to gas powered cars" and it may be no more than that, though the halo effect doesn't hurt and neither does the R&D effort.