Motor Trend's 2013 Car of the Year: Tesla Model S

[Jeff7]

However, all judges were impressed with the Tesla's unique user interface, courtesy of the giant touch screen in the center of the car that controls everything from the air-conditioning to the nav system to the sound system to the car's steering, suspension, and brake regeneration settings. The system means the Model S interior is virtually button-free, and the car has been effectively future-proofed: More functionality is only a software update away.

Touchscreen controls for everything?

Isn't that....kind of a big step in the direction of being dangerous? Sure the screen looks all shiny and impressive, but there's a lot of benefit in being able to make adjustments to things without having to look at the controls. Something I don't like about my Impreza is that the dials for air direction, fan speed, and temperature all lack any kind of tactile indication that says which way they're currently pointing. The only tactile feedback they offer on absolute position comes at the ends of their movable ranges. Even the pushbuttons are visual - instead of latching in the ON position, they only show an indicator light for the current status.

 

[phucheneh]

Touchscreens are such a great innovation for cheap, asshole corporations.

If it hasn't already happened, the day will come when a Chinese touchscreen is much cheaper than a big piece of PCB full of switches, the associated plastic parts, and the associated cheaper screen.

And car manufacturers get to pocket this cash and charge more, doing their best Steve Rimjobs impression and talking about how they've changed the future of driving, while dumb people stare and go 'oooohhh....shiny thing.'

 

[bigi]

Just curious, what would make you get a model S over other cars in its class? Which model of the S would you go with?

S Performance Signature Red - Options

1. No gas.
2. Electric engine, full torque at all PRMs, quiet, no gas, oils, transmission fluids, coolants, no emissions (and testing)
3. Looks
4. Air shocks - nice ride quality.

All are sold out/reserved for 1 year.

 

[Brovane]

Holy shit that guy is bad with money.

Why don't I just buy a Delorean?

Risk taking is what can make a Multi-millionaire into a Billionaire. Musk estimated net-worth is now over 2 Billion dollars according to Forbes.

 

[phucheneh]

Risk taking is what can make a Multi-millionaire into a Billionaire. Musk estimated net-worth is now over 2 Billion dollars according to Forbes.

It was somewhat in jest; I guess the phrasing just amused me. Like 'I made $1000 this week...I put 700 into hookers and 300 into blow...oh shit I need money for other things...'

Although I can see this whole operation going tits-up pretty easily. Prior to the reading I started doing as a result of this thread, I had no idea Tesla was trying to get this serious. Moving from building an interesting niche playtoy (that is well-known enough to easily move product) to trying to really take on the electric car market...pretty big step.

Granted, they're not going for the market/accessibility of something like the Leaf...but then again...I live by Nissan HQ and still don't see any of those cars on the road.

 

[Brovane]

It was somewhat in jest; I guess the phrasing just amused me. Like 'I made $1000 this week...I put 700 into hookers and 300 into blow...oh shit I need money for other things...'

Although I can see this whole operation going tits-up pretty easily. Prior to the reading I started doing as a result of this thread, I had no idea Tesla was trying to get this serious. Moving from building an interesting niche playtoy (that is well-known enough to easily move product) to trying to really take on the electric car market...pretty big step.

Granted, they're not going for the market/accessibility of something like the Leaf...but then again...I live by Nissan HQ and still don't see any of those cars on the road.

Tesla is a huge step. If you think about it, Tesla is trying to launch a brand new car company in the US to compete directly agains the big 3. Not a easy task at all. Both companies Tesla and Space X are full of huge risks but so far things are still moving forward.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

S Performance Signature Red - Options

1. No gas.
2. Electric engine, full torque at all PRMs, quiet, no gas, oils, transmission fluids, coolants, no emissions (and testing)
3. Looks
4. Air shocks - nice ride quality.

All are sold out/reserved for 1 year.

There is transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid.

 

[sandorski]

I am all for tech in cars, but that center console looks terrible to me. I would have much rather had it in landscape mode. But I suppose it works. Maybe if I had one, or the desire for one, I would enjoy the look.

Ya, seems to be the weakest part of it IMO. I have seen vids where it gets covered in finger prints or suffers from glare in the sunlight. I think they should cut it in half.

That said, the car seems rather nifty overall. It will take awhile to assess reliability though.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Ya, seems to be the weakest part of it IMO. I have seen vids where it gets covered in finger prints or suffers from glare in the sunlight. I think they should cut it in half.

That said, the car seems rather nifty overall. It will take awhile to assess reliability though.

Their endurance car covered 150,000 miles without any services and one a single battery pack...

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/show...passed-150-000-miles-on-a-single-battery-pack!


And there is a guy with a Roadster and well over 200,000km without any major services, aside from an ac flush and trans flush.

 

[MrA79]

It was somewhat in jest; I guess the phrasing just amused me. Like 'I made $1000 this week...I put 700 into hookers and 300 into blow...oh shit I need money for other things...'

Although I can see this whole operation going tits-up pretty easily. Prior to the reading I started doing as a result of this thread, I had no idea Tesla was trying to get this serious. Moving from building an interesting niche playtoy (that is well-known enough to easily move product) to trying to really take on the electric car market...pretty big step.

Granted, they're not going for the market/accessibility of something like the Leaf...but then again...I live by Nissan HQ and still don't see any of those cars on the road.

We must be practically neighbors - I live maybe 5 mins from their HQ in Franklin. If that.

 

[sandorski]

Their endurance car covered 150,000 miles without any services and one a single battery pack...

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/show...passed-150-000-miles-on-a-single-battery-pack!


And there is a guy with a Roadster and well over 200,000km without any major services, aside from an ac flush and trans flush.

Hopefully that's the norm. Either way they have a winner. One of the Big 3 should snap them up before it gets too expensive.

 

[adlep]

Here, take my money!
I would love to own one soon.

 

[bigi]

There is transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid.

Source?

I did not say brake fluid.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Source?

I did not say brake fluid.

It still has a 1 speed transmission that is designed like a differential, so it still needs transmission fluid. Pretty standard.

The coolant is cooled by the AC system (which runs off R134 in liquid form) and then cycled through the battery, PEM, and Motor to keep it cool. Unlike other electric cars (the leaf) it has thermal management for the battery.

The only thing that was really removed was engine oil and gasoline.

 

[Brovane]

It still has a 1 speed transmission that is designed like a differential, so it still needs transmission fluid. Pretty standard.

The coolant is cooled by the AC system (which runs off R134 in liquid form) and then cycled through the battery, PEM, and Motor to keep it cool. Unlike other electric cars (the leaf) it has thermal management for the battery.

The only thing that was really removed was engine oil and gasoline.

I would also say Combustion Engine maintenance items like sparkplugs. Also no emission systems to maintain which also means no smog check. Not sure if it has any belts or not.

 

[Pulsar]

I would also say Combustion Engine maintenance items like sparkplugs. Also no emission systems to maintain which also means no smog check. Not sure if it has any belts or not.

I suspect you will still be ordered to come in for a check. There are still items that fall under regulatory emissions standards. The fluids are the first that come to mind. At the same time, it's also a safety check and not just a smog check in most places. Burned out tail lights, headlights, turn signals and other miscellaneous stuff gets checked.

The government is going to figure out a way to make that tax writeoff back.

 

[Brovane]

I suspect you will still be ordered to come in for a check. There are still items that fall under regulatory emissions standards. The fluids are the first that come to mind. At the same time, it's also a safety check and not just a smog check in most places. Burned out tail lights, headlights, turn signals and other miscellaneous stuff gets checked.

The government is going to figure out a way to make that tax writeoff back.

Looking online it looks like in CA electric vehicles are exempt from smog checks.

 

[Doppel]

EVs really do away with a lot of the complexity of an ICE. If in the meantime they end up being not as reliable it's only due to being a new tech. As mentioned above, so much is now irrelevant with them: everything about emissions is gone. Everything about fuel delivery and ignition is gone. No belts. No alternator. Transmission simpler. Accessories (AC, power steering) are run with electric motors and although some extra components are added in like battery management and a charger, I expect that overall we will see their reliability prove itself as exceptional in coming years. Damn few maintenance items, the major wear part should be battery life. As a non road-trip car they are absolutely superior vehicles with only one hangup: cost of batteries, which impacts cost of car and range (which is a product of the size of the battery).

When one gets used to the drive train of an EV, the delayed torque and gears associated with an ICE-based car (even one with a cvt) feel downright antiquated.

 

[JCH13]

EVs really do away with a lot of the complexity of an ICE. If in the meantime they end up being not as reliable it's only due to being a new tech. As mentioned above, so much is now irrelevant with them: everything about emissions is gone. Everything about fuel delivery and ignition is gone. No belts. No alternator. Transmission simpler. Accessories (AC, power steering) are run with electric motors and although some extra components are added in like battery management and a charger, I expect that overall we will see their reliability prove itself as exceptional in coming years. Damn few maintenance items, the major wear part should be battery life. As a non road-trip car they are absolutely superior vehicles with only one hangup: cost of batteries, which impacts cost of car and range (which is a product of the size of the battery).

When one gets used to the drive train of an EV, the delayed torque and gears associated with an ICE-based car (even one with a cvt) feel downright antiquated.

I have a good example of that. Here is the last FSAE car I helped to build in full FSAE trim.

Here is the same car the next year, after being converted to electric with a similar amount of endurance (40-50 min drive time) but with less power. Only added a little overall weight despite using lead-acid batteries too. I was floored when I saw how much simpler the car was.

 

[Brovane]

My Dad has 10+ acres where he lives and several years ago he purchased a used Golf Car to replace the small tractor he was using as a small run about around his property. He loves it since the Electric Golf Car has just about zero maintenance. He even modified it with a trailer hitch so he can tow small trailers. He can stop some place on his property to fix irrigation tubing and not have to turn off a engine or anything. He can easily jump in and go pick up the mail, take his trash cans down to the road and even go to neighbors houses.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

The more I read about this car, the more I want one.
It looks great, it's quick, did great in crash tests (though still awaiting IIHS results), and the electric motor looks far simpler and easier to service than a gas engine. The motor/transmission/inverter assembly is so compact, it even fits under the rear trunk floor. Amazing.

I actually prefer big notchback sedans like the Audi A8L, LWB BMW 7-series or MB S-Class, but this is one midsize car I'd buy in a heartbeat.

I don't know why anyone considering to buy an Audi A7/A6, BMW 5-series, MB E-Class/CLS-Class, or Lexus GS wouldn't buy this instead.

 

[Imported]

The more I read about this car, the more I want one.
It looks great, it's quick, did great in crash tests (though still awaiting IIHS results), and the electric motor looks far simpler and easier to service than a gas engine. The motor/transmission/inverter assembly is so compact, it even fits under the rear trunk floor. Amazing.

I actually prefer big notchback sedans like the Audi A8L, LWB BMW 7-series or MB S-Class, but this is one midsize car I'd buy in a heartbeat.

I don't know why anyone considering to buy an Audi A7/A6, BMW 5-series, MB E-Class/CLS-Class, or Lexus GS wouldn't buy this instead.

It's simple for me.. There is no where to plug it in at my apartment.

 

[Ferzerp]

Until you can take long trips without such long delays for recharging, these will only be a luxury item. You can't just gloss over that. No matter how much more simple (yet still more expensive) they are. Until Joe Schmoe can hop in the car and take the kids 5 states away to visit the grandparents (just an example). They will remain niche. Americans take ultra-mobility for granted, and won't accept less. A $15-20k second car could work, but most families are still going to have an ICE powered vehicle still.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

It's simple for me.. There is no where to plug it in at my apartment.

Good point. I should have qualified that with, "I don't know why any home owner/renter considering to buy an Audi A7/A6, BMW 5-series, MB E-Class/CLS-Class, or Lexus GS wouldn't buy this instead."

Until you can take long trips without such long delays for recharging, these will only be a luxury item. You can't just gloss over that. No matter how much more simple (yet still more expensive) they are. Until Joe Schmoe can hop in the car and take the kids 5 states away to visit the grandparents (just an example). They will remain niche. Americans take ultra-mobility for granted, and won't accept less. A $15-20k second car could work, but most families are still going to have an ICE powered vehicle still.

That's true, most families I know usually do have a 2nd (or 3rd) car that's either an SUV or minivan. They leave the daily commuter sedan at home and use the family hauler for trips. However, this would be a great daily driver. Even the 40kW of the $50k base model car would get me through a week's worth of commuting to/from work. I live about 12-miles away from my workplace, and I think that's probably pretty average, if not a little further than average.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Until you can take long trips without such long delays for recharging, these will only be a luxury item. You can't just gloss over that. No matter how much more simple (yet still more expensive) they are. Until Joe Schmoe can hop in the car and take the kids 5 states away to visit the grandparents (just an example). They will remain niche. Americans take ultra-mobility for granted, and won't accept less. A $15-20k second car could work, but most families are still going to have an ICE powered vehicle still.

They have a super charging network that gets you an 80% charge in 30 minutes....and its completely free for Tesla owners. Eventually, you will be able to go from New York to LA without buying gas.