How about a bridge to Model III in a economy Model S.

Jeff Songster said:

Why not provide one model of the 60 that has a lower price and is the best possible range options. Maybe a 180hp motor with the skinnier tires for lower rolling resistance. Top speed of 90 and an eco mode to go maybe 250 miles easy at lower price? Eco Model anyone?

I know it goes against the brand... but it would probably get the 150 to 200 milers pinched back hard... and prep the way for the model III without much expense.

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That is called buying a used S60 and modifying it (skinny rims/tires)

Simple.
Tesla is constrained right now on the amount of battery cells they can obtain from Panasonic.
This effectively limits the amount of cars they can produce.

Selling a cheaper Model S would harm the profit of Tesla at the current moment, profits that need to be re-invested to fund the Giga factory, Superchargers and other R&D.

The P85D was an effective way to raise more profit with the same number of battery cells used.

Plus, none of those changes would drastically cut the cost of manufacturing a Model S, and thus would not allow for it to be offered at a lower price.

One of the rules of portfolio mgmt for a premium brand is don't drop price - instead you maintain price points and add features & functionality. Apple is the master of this - their iPhone price points rarely move, even though capabilities increase between subsequent models.

There are a some folks waiting for a Model III because it's smaller rather than--or in addition to--the lower price point.

Maybe a 180hp motor with the skinnier tires for lower rolling resistance. Top speed of 90 and an eco mode to go maybe 250 miles easy at lower price? Eco Model anyone?

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Such changes would suffice for *maybe* $5000 lower price. Battery itself would still cost same $37,102
Tesla would end up with an expensive model s that noone would want. They've already offered an 'economy Model S' - S40 that was canceled before first delivered car. The economy of a cheap and good EV just doesn't work out yet.

WarpedOne said:

Such changes would suffice for *maybe* $5000 lower price. Battery itself would still cost same $37,102
Tesla would end up with an expensive model s that noone would want. They've already offered an 'economy Model S' - S40 that was canceled before first delivered car. The economy of a cheap and good EV just doesn't work out yet.

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Yes the S40 was cancelled, but not because of the economics of building a less expensive EV. There was just not enough demand in the pre-order phase. If the OP had been around during that time and pre-ordered, he could be like me! Driving the cheapest Model S out there...