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This is a nice upgrade for the Model S, however, I'm really curious what Tesla's design refresh roadmap looks like for their older models. The Model S has remai

This is a nice upgrade for the Model S, however, I'm really curious what Tesla's design refresh roadmap looks like for their older models. The Model S has remained mostly the same since 2012, and while the design is pretty good, very few companies can get away without a major design refresh for 7+ years.

iambateman 8y ago
I wonder if this still applies in the same way, considering how few Model S units there are from 2012-2014, relative to mass market cars like the Camry. For a lot of people outside the Bay Area, a Model S still feels like a design revelation, not old hat.
CalChris 8y ago
Well, there’s also the facelift and all wheel drive.
- prklmn 8y ago
  All other car manufacturers play that game.
ddoolin 8y ago
Does the 2016 refresh not count?
- notatoad 8y ago
  The 2016 refresh was basically equivalent to most models mid-cycle design update. It was exactly that, a refresh, not a replacement model.
  - sandos 8y ago
    WV seems to update their cars basically every year. Also mixing and matching single parts, like updating the headlights year X, then year X+1 a total refresh with newer headlights that look almost like the smaller refresh from the year before! I am impressed that they can do stuff like that, but they are also kinda big....
- rootusrootus 8y ago
  Not to me. I judge Tesla on the same metrics as any other car company. The Model S is getting long in the tooth.
  - greglindahl 8y ago
    As long as I can smoke that Maserati at a stoplight on Sand Hill Road, not a problem.
    - saiya-jin 8y ago
      People in the luxury goods category expect much, much more than just straight line performance. Handling the corners or interior aesthetics and quality isn't something I would choose Tesla for for example.
      - dsfyu404ed 8y ago
        I love how this is (was) down-voted but this is exactly kind of comment people on HN would use to poo poo the various ~700hp straight line rockets that FCA sells (which you can get with arguably better interiors than any Tesla). "It's not a true luxury car because it's only good in a straight line" is a perfectly valid (and widely held) opinion but if you invoke it against Tesla that's not ok.
    - floatingatoll 8y ago
      I’ve done that in PA with a Ford Focus because the Maserati driver was on their cell phone. They obviously caught up and passed me once they bothered to start driving, but I bet they didn’t look at their cell phone the rest of their drive home, either.
    - rootusrootus 8y ago
      I agree. After driving a P3D this weekend one of my conclusions was that if you wanted to street race, there were very few cars that would beat it aside from one of the P-model S's. But if you want a drivers car, Tesla is not currently in that market. I look forward to seeing someone serve that market. Maybe BMW will try to live up to their motto again.
pvelagal 8y ago
More than model S , model X badly needs a refresh. Thing started to look like a giant Prius.
aiisjustanif 8y ago
Camaro (9 years), Ford Ranger (8 years), Mustang Shelby GT500 (30 then 7 years), Acura NSX (11 years), Challenger (24 years) and the Ford GT (11 years) all come to mind. Also keep in mind Tesla technically already did a somewhat refresh, like a generation 1.5 of sorts in 2016 [1] (New seats, slight interior changes, facelift, autopilot updates). 1. https://www.autoblog.com/photos/2017-tesla-model-s-facelift-comparison/ https://www.autoblog.com/photos/2017-tesla-model-s-facelift-...
jfoster 8y ago
Do they have to follow the convention? Are consumers irked by their breaching of the convention? I think existing owners would already understand that their cars are iteratively improved upon and that a Model S purchased in 2019 is going to be a lot better than one they purchased in 2013.

iambateman 8y ago

I wonder if this still applies in the same way, considering how few Model S units there are from 2012-2014, relative to mass market cars like the Camry. For a lot of people outside the Bay Area, a Model S still feels like a design revelation, not old hat.

CalChris 8y ago

Well, there’s also the facelift and all wheel drive.

prklmn 8y ago
All other car manufacturers play that game.

ddoolin 8y ago

Does the 2016 refresh not count?

notatoad 8y ago
The 2016 refresh was basically equivalent to most models mid-cycle design update. It was exactly that, a refresh, not a replacement model.
- sandos 8y ago
  WV seems to update their cars basically every year. Also mixing and matching single parts, like updating the headlights year X, then year X+1 a total refresh with newer headlights that look almost like the smaller refresh from the year before! I am impressed that they can do stuff like that, but they are also kinda big....
rootusrootus 8y ago
Not to me. I judge Tesla on the same metrics as any other car company. The Model S is getting long in the tooth.
- greglindahl 8y ago
  As long as I can smoke that Maserati at a stoplight on Sand Hill Road, not a problem.
  - saiya-jin 8y ago
    People in the luxury goods category expect much, much more than just straight line performance. Handling the corners or interior aesthetics and quality isn't something I would choose Tesla for for example.
    - dsfyu404ed 8y ago
      I love how this is (was) down-voted but this is exactly kind of comment people on HN would use to poo poo the various ~700hp straight line rockets that FCA sells (which you can get with arguably better interiors than any Tesla). "It's not a true luxury car because it's only good in a straight line" is a perfectly valid (and widely held) opinion but if you invoke it against Tesla that's not ok.
  - floatingatoll 8y ago
    I’ve done that in PA with a Ford Focus because the Maserati driver was on their cell phone. They obviously caught up and passed me once they bothered to start driving, but I bet they didn’t look at their cell phone the rest of their drive home, either.
  - rootusrootus 8y ago
    I agree. After driving a P3D this weekend one of my conclusions was that if you wanted to street race, there were very few cars that would beat it aside from one of the P-model S's. But if you want a drivers car, Tesla is not currently in that market. I look forward to seeing someone serve that market. Maybe BMW will try to live up to their motto again.

pvelagal 8y ago

More than model S , model X badly needs a refresh. Thing started to look like a giant Prius.

aiisjustanif 8y ago

Camaro (9 years), Ford Ranger (8 years), Mustang Shelby GT500 (30 then 7 years), Acura NSX (11 years), Challenger (24 years) and the Ford GT (11 years) all come to mind. Also keep in mind Tesla technically already did a somewhat refresh, like a generation 1.5 of sorts in 2016 [1] (New seats, slight interior changes, facelift, autopilot updates). 1. https://www.autoblog.com/photos/2017-tesla-model-s-facelift-comparison/ https://www.autoblog.com/photos/2017-tesla-model-s-facelift-...

jfoster 8y ago

Do they have to follow the convention? Are consumers irked by their breaching of the convention? I think existing owners would already understand that their cars are iteratively improved upon and that a Model S purchased in 2019 is going to be a lot better than one they purchased in 2013.