Magazine test drives coming soon

TEG · 11-30-2007, 12:25 PM

http://sanmateodailynews.com/article...30-11-30-tesla

Kardax · 11-30-2007, 02:41 PM

This is a very important milestone. When Tesla starts getting kudos from major automotive magazines, they had better have production up and running or all the publicity will be wasted.

I hope this means they expect to have production underway by then :)

-Ryan

mt2 · 11-30-2007, 04:08 PM

The article says, "Tesla officials said they want to produce 1,800 cars in 2009". I don't recall seeing a specific number before. Wasn't it only supposed to be around 1,000 per year? If they can make 1,800 a year, they will certainly sell 1,800 a year.

tonybelding · 12-01-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mt2

The article says, "Tesla officials said they want to produce 1,800 cars in 2009". I don't recall seeing a specific number before. Wasn't it only supposed to be around 1,000 per year? If they can make 1,800 a year, they will certainly sell 1,800 a year.

It's hard to pin down their production capacity exactly since it's all done on the Lotus assembly line, and one must presume Lotus's own products come first. Making 1,800 Teslas per year might require adding a shift -- unless Lotus sales have gone soft, which is also possible.

I've heard a lot of different production numbers tossed around at different times, but I think 2,000 per year is the highest that I've ever heard.

malcolm · 12-01-2007, 06:02 AM

I'll have a large "Whoo" with a side order of "hoo!"

So we can expect clarification on the gearbox and air bags, when? By January at the latest?

BlackbirdHighway · 12-01-2007, 06:51 AM

They must be doing this with a VP, I can't imagine they have any production cars yet. It does indicate that they are confident about having most of the bugs worked out, and that probably the production plan is on schedule.

Maybe they have more VPs upgraded with the new transmission, and otherwise brought up to production intent, since lack of available vehicles was one reason they were putting this off.

I'm not sure how the car mags will react. They will cetainly like the performance, but probably diss the lack of engine growl. I remember C&D in particluar had good things to say about the Elise, so they should like the Tesla even better.

vfx · 12-01-2007, 08:54 AM

The first articles will be "First Rides".

Tesla would give them a car for 15 minutes or an hour so they can write about first driving impressions. After Tesla exhausts (!) all the chosen media then they start over again giving them test days, and week long "ownership" rides. And then there are the ones where a writer keeps a car for a few months and gives a long range review of the car. (These are not usually exotics though).

I'm curious how the Tesla with its propriety charger that gives the fastest, safest charge -the one you want journalists to swoon over, will be supplied to the temporary owners.

I'm guessing a certified electrician would be 500 to 1000 dollars to do an install depending on power availability and proximity.

mt2 · 12-03-2007, 11:01 PM

Well, here's the "official" announcement.
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog3/?p=69

siry · 12-03-2007, 11:42 PM

drive went great today with motor trend. Kim seemed to like the car quite a bit and enjoyed the meeting at the end of the day I set up with key engineers for all the major subsystems.

they did an instrumented 0-60 and I will say it was pretty consistent with what we have gotten, if not exactly.

Tomorrow I host Csaba Csere of Car and Driver, who is an engineer by background

mt2 · 12-03-2007, 11:54 PM

Darryl, you posted that you were excited about having the magazines review the car. What is your impression of the reviewers' level of anticipation? After all, they are some of the first people to drive something that is totally new - something that will rock the auto industry. They've got to be at least a little pumped.