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TBH I’m surprised Musk hasn’t bought them out yet and “released” a limited edition Model 3 with a DeLorian body kit for like $500,000... if Cyan can release a V
by dogma1138 6y ago
TBH I’m surprised Musk hasn’t bought them out yet and “released” a limited edition Model 3 with a DeLorian body kit for like $500,000... if Cyan can release a Volvo P1800 for 500K and you usually need to provide the 50 year old P1800 for them to convert and tune there clearly is a market for these things.
- buzzert 6y agoIf Tesla just made a sedan version of the Cybertruck, it would look just like a DeLorean.
- bredren 6y agoMy impression was Cybertruck is heavily influenced by the DeLorean design. It would be great to be able to get a DMC-1200 by Tesla.
- GuB-42 6y agoFrom what I've seen, there are technical reasons for the design of the Cybertruck. Tesla wanted to use stiff stainless steel for their "tough" vehicle. The use of stainless steel for the SpaceX BFR (aka Starship) may have also been a factor. Problem is that the usual techniques for making nice curved shapes don't work on such a material, so they used folded metal sheet instead, resulting in that "low poly" look. Considering that the DeLorean is also made of stainless steel and also has a rather angular shape, you are bound to make the comparison. The necessarily noticed it at Tesla and I am not sure what they intend to do with that. The DeLorean is iconic and (back to the) futuristic, it also had the reputation of a terrible car and was a commercial failure.
- bredren 6y agoI recall the reasons given as you describe. So my impression is not due to statements from Tesla. That said, the resemblance is unmistakable. The designers could not have been unaware of the dmc-1200. As for the reputation of the delorean’s quality and commercial failure, I don’t think this would give Elon pause in the slightest. That guy does whatever he wants.
- alasdair_ 6y agoThe model X doors just scream "delorean" more than any other Tesla feature, in my mind.
- tonyedgecombe 6y agoTesla and DeLorean have common roots. The DeLorean was largely engineered by Lotus based on technology from the Lotus Esprit. The original Tesla Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise.
- breakfastduck 6y agoLotus Esprit is an absolute classic. They've made some great cars.
- caf 6y agoThe DeLorean and the Cybertruck both have the stainless steel body, too.
- xiphias2 6y agoThe year Tesla started manufacturing Model 3s got Elon back to the ground from dreaming about special cars, like the new Roadster: to get to a huge company and deliver on sustainability, they have to focus on cheap cars in huge volume, and can't afford many fun projects (except things like Tesla Tequila, that they can mostly outsource :) )
- bitwize 6y agoTIL that Tesla Tequila is an actual thing, and it's somehow even more ridiculous than Tres Comas.
- toomuchtodo 6y agoTesla Tequila is a spoof off of Tres Comas (was priced at $250, limit two, as an alleged nod to their imminent inclusion in the S&P500), and honestly it’s pretty good tequila for a marketing spoof.
- alasdair_ 6y agoCan you use the Tesla Tequila as fuel in the Tesla flamethrower?
- toomuchtodo 6y agoAnd waste good Tequila!? Sir or madam, the tequila is fuel for me.
- orange_tee 6y agoAre you sure about that? Why would Tesla want to compete with Toyota and VW to produce the bottom tier of cars? When at that point they are competing with the best of the best at making the most affordable cars at the largest volumes? They could also maintain their brand image and sell their mid range luxury models achieving less volume at a higher profitability margin.
- 6y ago
- duxup 6y agoFor a big car maker volume and the efficiencies you get from that is a big deal right? That would seem at odds with a one off limited edition.
- bryanlarsen 6y agoOne of the advantages of using bent stainless rather than pressed & painted steel is that it can be done efficiently and cheaply in low volumes. A modern paint shop costs about a half billion; the forms & presses for pressing steel are also quite expensive. 750,000 preorders means that these low-volume production advantages are mostly moot, but perhaps Tesla will still take advantage of this to create some low volume variants. Which is the only way you're going to see variants -- the unibody design of the Cybertruck means that coach-builders can't use a cutaway base.
- duxup 6y agoInteresting, I wonder if we will see mass 'limited edition' options out there. I do wonder how accessible they'll be as even today with mass production getting the color, price, options you want has always been a bit of a hassle / compromise outside of ... cars I don't want ;)
- mc32 6y agoWhat makes the Deloreans so appealing? From what I’m told, it wasn’t very well made and on top of that it was underpowered. So I get the iconic aspect from movie lore. And I get the founder was very... idiosyncratic —and an underdog and ultimately spiraled into making very unfortunate choices. But other than that, what’s the appeal?
- DC-3 6y agoThey look like spaceships and when you buy one you feel like a king (i.e. you're stealing from the British taxpayer).
- tracedddd 6y agoI love how they look, everything about them from the doors to the instrument panel to the steel body. I honestly don’t like back to the future much, not more than any other movie, and it’s popularity from that has dissuaded me from buying one (not to mention the soaring prices due to the film.) Nor do I particularly care about the founder or his choices. For some, the design simply has a great appeal. An EV refresh would be a dream and I would absolutely buy a somewhat overpriced Tesla produced Delorean.
- ryandrake 6y agoModern car styling is about as exciting as a mud pie. Go to any parking lot and try to find a sedan built after 2000 that doesn’t look like the same boring bar of soap with wheels. Sure they may have different grilles or headlight clusters, but these days I can’t tell most models apart until I get clise enough to see the badge. I’d buy an electric delorian just for the unique style. I love the cybertruck’s look too, and although I wouldn’t buy one because I have no use for a pickup truck right now, I’d like to see more of them on the road and fewer white, gray, and black soap bars.
- tracedddd 6y agoYou’re absolutely correct, I hate how new cars look between the crumble zones, plasticky everything, and wind tunnel optimizations smoothing every stylistic choice out. They do drive well, crash well, and have sweet fuel economy though. So for ICE it’s probably best. I’m happy to see EVs having design flexibility again.
- oliv__ 6y agoI didn't realize that Volvo had such a rich history. That P1800 is gorgeous!