8 ms·

What is absolutely stunning about what Tesla is building is simply that they are building gorgeous vehicles with great features/performance and they are chargin

What is absolutely stunning about what Tesla is building is simply that they are building gorgeous vehicles with great features/performance and they are charging appropriately for them. They aren't built to fit into a particular price range or demographic, they're built to be great vehicles, so that people will want to buy them. I'll admit it, I want to buy a Tesla, even if it makes no financial sense for me to do so.

vertr07 13y ago
They are definitely putting the design talent of every other American automaker to shame.
- laureny 13y ago
  They are becoming the new Apple.
  - unalone 13y ago
    We need better design in the world in general. I'd hate to think only one company gets to be the designer-of-good-and-popular-things at a time.
- Aloha 13y ago
  How is it substantively different on styling than a 2014 Focus 4 Door or Taurus. The styling is bland an unoriginal, it looks like every other car for sale these days, whats worse, its bland an expensive, I can afford a focus, I cant even begin to hope to afford a Model X.
  - ok_craig 13y ago
    Design is about more than the shell of the car. It is about everything, from the touch screen to the heads-up navigation, to the automatic handles, the interior space, and even the fact that it's electric. It's really just an amazing all-around car, and you can't make something like that without designing every detail.
    - Aloha 13y ago
      The shell of the car however is the part that us mere mortals can see right now. Having recently driven a Kia Optima, Ford Focus, Fiat 500 and a couple older vehicles (2011 Crown Vic, 1997 Town Car, 1967 Cadillac) I dont see a substantive difference, the difference in my mind is less a function of design, and more a function of the materiel chosen to implement the design. All of these cars clearly had a whole bunch of thought put into where the controls are and how they functioned, but what made something feel quality, was the choice of materiel and how well it was put together, the design qualities were more or less equal. What makes the Tesla innovative to me is the technology in the drivetrain, not the inside of the car. My personal tastes would dictate having more things labeled with words over say otherwise inscrutable symbols - I rented a 2010 DTS once, it took me 15 min to figure out how to turn either the wipers or the headlights on, because I couldn't figure out what the icon meant.
      - grinich 13y ago
        Have you actually driven a Model S?
  - _mulder_ 13y ago
    I might add the Ford Focus is designed by Europeans not Americans... hence why it's not a big square on wheels
- TallGuyShort 13y ago
  Every time I drive an American car it puts American automakers to shame.
- jusben1369 13y ago
  American cars have come a long way very quickly.
Amadou 13y ago
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I saw a model S in person for the first time about a month ago and was struck by just how bland the car looked. It had a vibe that made me think of mazda and not miata or rx7 but whatever their sedans are called. The kind of styling that wouldn't turn a single head. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I am a big believer that flashing ones wealth is a bad idea - it's gaudy as well as attracts unwanted, potentially dangerous, attention.
- tokipin 13y ago
  this is probably more deliberate than you might think. one of the problems electric cars have had is that they have a reputation for being dorky. there is a limit to how "interesting" Tesla can make one of its cars look at the moment that said, i've heard people compliment the car profusely on its beautifulness, so you might be surprised by how pretty it looks to the general public
  - ams6110 13y ago
    one of the problems electric cars have had is that they have a reputation for being dorky Why the gullwing doors then? That's about as dorky as you can get.
    - simik 13y ago
      Indeed, gull wings doors are dorky, that's why Tesla X has FALCON wings doors!
      - jack-r-abbit 13y ago
        Just Falcon Wings. Calling them doors would be an understatement. :)
    - nrivadeneira 13y ago
      I don't think I'd consider the Mercedes SLS dorky.
    - 13y ago
colmvp 13y ago
It's sort of sad people only recognize Tesla for Elon Musk and not say, for Franz von Holzhausen. Tesla's designs are largely the reason why my head turns when I get a glimpse of those beauties on the road.
- gre 13y ago
  Who the hell is the other guy? (Why don't you elaborate)
  - jmduke 13y ago
    He designed the Tesla S: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Holzhausen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Holzhausen (I hate people who post LMGTFY links, but seriously.)
- nrivadeneira 13y ago
  I think recognizing Tesla for Elon Musk is reasonable considering he's the founder, CEO, and face of the company. The cars are making waves not for their design, but for their technology. If they were based on normal combustion engines, I doubt too many people would be talking about them.
- smacktoward 13y ago
  A good designer's work is subtle; it doesn't let the personality of the designer overwhelm that of the designed product. An example of an automotive designer whose style was overwhelming would be Chris Bangle (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/chris-bangle-le/ http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/chris-bangle-le/, http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0601_chris_bangle_bmw_design_chief/ http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0601_chris_bangle_bmw...), whose work at BMW was highly distinctive -- so distinctive that it became quite polarizing. Bangle's design language was so striking that it was easy to lose sight of the personality of individual cars he designed; their "Bangle-ness" was the most visually obvious thing about them.
onebaddude 13y ago
>They aren't built to fit into a particular price range or demographic I'm not sure about this statement. If you follow the investment news on Tesla, it seems that the Model X was built specifically to fit into a lower price range, and hence get more people into Teslas. The reality is, there's no way they are going to sell 500,000 luxury cars; they needed a "real" car. And I think that's a great strategy. This is an interesting car. I have to admit I've been a Tesla skeptic, but between the crash tests and the Model X (and whether they can really build it for the stated price), I'm coming around.
- tocomment 13y ago
  But the model X doesn't sound like it will be any cheaper than the model S right?
  - Shivetya 13y ago
    I seriously doubt it could be. With the same battery packs and similar size adding in four wheel drive it might even reach prices as high as the performance version of the S. I am disappointed in that prospect as it makes a sub 40k car even less likely. It is one thing to make profitable vehicles at the price point he is at; its easy; its another to get the pieces to work in the 40k down market. If the X was going to be in the 40K, with 60k well equipped I would be impressed. When he gets there, and its a big when, he will be up against a whole slew of similar and possibly better vehicles than he is facing now. Simply put, while he brought electric to a mass produced car he still isn't making enough to matter. Put it this way, Subaru sells more in a month than he sells in a year and Subaru is a small player. Even 2014 goals won't exceed Porsche's same year sales let alone the dogs like Mitsubishi.
- tsotha 13y ago
  $80k is hardly the low end of the car market. I can buy a decent Porsche for less.
tootie 13y ago
I generally abhor motor vehicles of all kinds and hate driving, but when I saw a Model S roll past me while walking to work, I had to push my jaw back up. The lines are just so luscious.
thufry 13y ago
It's easier to price a luxury car appropriately if the taxpayer is contributing $7,500.

vertr07 13y ago

They are definitely putting the design talent of every other American automaker to shame.

laureny 13y ago
They are becoming the new Apple.
- unalone 13y ago
  We need better design in the world in general. I'd hate to think only one company gets to be the designer-of-good-and-popular-things at a time.
Aloha 13y ago
How is it substantively different on styling than a 2014 Focus 4 Door or Taurus. The styling is bland an unoriginal, it looks like every other car for sale these days, whats worse, its bland an expensive, I can afford a focus, I cant even begin to hope to afford a Model X.
- ok_craig 13y ago
  Design is about more than the shell of the car. It is about everything, from the touch screen to the heads-up navigation, to the automatic handles, the interior space, and even the fact that it's electric. It's really just an amazing all-around car, and you can't make something like that without designing every detail.
  - Aloha 13y ago
    The shell of the car however is the part that us mere mortals can see right now. Having recently driven a Kia Optima, Ford Focus, Fiat 500 and a couple older vehicles (2011 Crown Vic, 1997 Town Car, 1967 Cadillac) I dont see a substantive difference, the difference in my mind is less a function of design, and more a function of the materiel chosen to implement the design. All of these cars clearly had a whole bunch of thought put into where the controls are and how they functioned, but what made something feel quality, was the choice of materiel and how well it was put together, the design qualities were more or less equal. What makes the Tesla innovative to me is the technology in the drivetrain, not the inside of the car. My personal tastes would dictate having more things labeled with words over say otherwise inscrutable symbols - I rented a 2010 DTS once, it took me 15 min to figure out how to turn either the wipers or the headlights on, because I couldn't figure out what the icon meant.
    - grinich 13y ago
      Have you actually driven a Model S?
- _mulder_ 13y ago
  I might add the Ford Focus is designed by Europeans not Americans... hence why it's not a big square on wheels
TallGuyShort 13y ago
Every time I drive an American car it puts American automakers to shame.
jusben1369 13y ago
American cars have come a long way very quickly.

Amadou 13y ago

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I saw a model S in person for the first time about a month ago and was struck by just how bland the car looked. It had a vibe that made me think of mazda and not miata or rx7 but whatever their sedans are called. The kind of styling that wouldn't turn a single head. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I am a big believer that flashing ones wealth is a bad idea - it's gaudy as well as attracts unwanted, potentially dangerous, attention.

tokipin 13y ago
this is probably more deliberate than you might think. one of the problems electric cars have had is that they have a reputation for being dorky. there is a limit to how "interesting" Tesla can make one of its cars look at the moment that said, i've heard people compliment the car profusely on its beautifulness, so you might be surprised by how pretty it looks to the general public
- ams6110 13y ago
  one of the problems electric cars have had is that they have a reputation for being dorky Why the gullwing doors then? That's about as dorky as you can get.
  - simik 13y ago
    Indeed, gull wings doors are dorky, that's why Tesla X has FALCON wings doors!
    - jack-r-abbit 13y ago
      Just Falcon Wings. Calling them doors would be an understatement. :)
  - nrivadeneira 13y ago
    I don't think I'd consider the Mercedes SLS dorky.
  - 13y ago

colmvp 13y ago

It's sort of sad people only recognize Tesla for Elon Musk and not say, for Franz von Holzhausen. Tesla's designs are largely the reason why my head turns when I get a glimpse of those beauties on the road.

gre 13y ago
Who the hell is the other guy? (Why don't you elaborate)
- jmduke 13y ago
  He designed the Tesla S: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Holzhausen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Holzhausen (I hate people who post LMGTFY links, but seriously.)
nrivadeneira 13y ago
I think recognizing Tesla for Elon Musk is reasonable considering he's the founder, CEO, and face of the company. The cars are making waves not for their design, but for their technology. If they were based on normal combustion engines, I doubt too many people would be talking about them.
smacktoward 13y ago
A good designer's work is subtle; it doesn't let the personality of the designer overwhelm that of the designed product. An example of an automotive designer whose style was overwhelming would be Chris Bangle (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/chris-bangle-le/ http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/chris-bangle-le/, http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0601_chris_bangle_bmw_design_chief/ http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0601_chris_bangle_bmw...), whose work at BMW was highly distinctive -- so distinctive that it became quite polarizing. Bangle's design language was so striking that it was easy to lose sight of the personality of individual cars he designed; their "Bangle-ness" was the most visually obvious thing about them.

onebaddude 13y ago

>They aren't built to fit into a particular price range or demographic I'm not sure about this statement. If you follow the investment news on Tesla, it seems that the Model X was built specifically to fit into a lower price range, and hence get more people into Teslas. The reality is, there's no way they are going to sell 500,000 luxury cars; they needed a "real" car. And I think that's a great strategy. This is an interesting car. I have to admit I've been a Tesla skeptic, but between the crash tests and the Model X (and whether they can really build it for the stated price), I'm coming around.

tocomment 13y ago
But the model X doesn't sound like it will be any cheaper than the model S right?
- Shivetya 13y ago
  I seriously doubt it could be. With the same battery packs and similar size adding in four wheel drive it might even reach prices as high as the performance version of the S. I am disappointed in that prospect as it makes a sub 40k car even less likely. It is one thing to make profitable vehicles at the price point he is at; its easy; its another to get the pieces to work in the 40k down market. If the X was going to be in the 40K, with 60k well equipped I would be impressed. When he gets there, and its a big when, he will be up against a whole slew of similar and possibly better vehicles than he is facing now. Simply put, while he brought electric to a mass produced car he still isn't making enough to matter. Put it this way, Subaru sells more in a month than he sells in a year and Subaru is a small player. Even 2014 goals won't exceed Porsche's same year sales let alone the dogs like Mitsubishi.
tsotha 13y ago
$80k is hardly the low end of the car market. I can buy a decent Porsche for less.

tootie 13y ago

I generally abhor motor vehicles of all kinds and hate driving, but when I saw a Model S roll past me while walking to work, I had to push my jaw back up. The lines are just so luscious.

thufry 13y ago

It's easier to price a luxury car appropriately if the taxpayer is contributing $7,500.