With so many different mule spotting threads being filled with idle banter, I have been making new threads of some of the more interesting (personal opinion) details surrounding the Model X mules like the bumper cameras, rear spoiler area and cargo solutions. I hope these help the moderators as well as the conversation along.
Next I thought we could discuss the question of the nose.
Back in September the new member "insiderinfo" posted some drawing related to the Model X and this tidbit. The drawing was quickly pulled by request of Telsa, as doug put it "Sorry folks. Got a friendly request from Tesla to take it down as it's "proprietary info"." lending instant (if still suspect) credibility to the poster.
"insiderinfo" also had other things to say:
Teslarati toyed with this idea on a Model S back in the day - and I also made the point some time ago that if Tesla changes Model X nose, could the facelift Model S to follow suit...?
This has been in addition to several other sources noting clear changes in the Model X design between the 2012-2013 prototype and the eventual production version, others also have suggested a revised nose. Already the 2015 Model X mules show clearly different roof, hemline, shoulderline and side window shapes, as well as a new rear diffuser shape and rear spoiler area shape, some of which is listed on the http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/show...odel-X-prototype-(2012-2013)-vs-Mule(s)-(2015) thread. Now, these may of course change prior to production, but it speaks of development and design direction at least.
Even assuming the Model X mules on the road were to sport near final body panels, which they may not, the front of the car has enjoyed the most camoflage making it hard to determine what is going on there. Still, something obviously has changed - the bonnet now extends lower than in the old prorotypes before ending up in what would be anything from just a Tesla logo and a slit, to a re-designed nose cone.
The November 2014 update email image from Tesla may show the difference in the new(er) front (and falcon wing) designs - note how the November image doesn't have the old nose cone where it ends:
The Model X mules seen since show similar shape on the nose (as well as on the redesigned falcon wings) as on the November update image, supporting the idea that both at least represent similar timeframes of development, as an image from robby's post illustrates on the black-camo mule:
The white-camo mule seen more frequently since has been spotted with higher resolution and even on video:
Picture 1 - Spied: 2016 Tesla Model X
tesla model x in palo alto - YouTube
It seems like the fog-light areas have been redesigned into the Model S direction. As has been discussed, it also seems like there may be cameras in this area. The video shows better the camoed chrome trim extending from the foglight, Model S style.
What is happening in the nose cone area in these sightings is interesting. The re-designed bonnet on the mules seem to end up in a slit, where the top of a nose cone and the Tesla logo would seem to go. Aerodynamically speaking, putting a hole in there doesn't necessarily seem like something that would happen, but who knows. It could also be that a hint of the old nose cone design could remain here (and just is missing from the mule) and underneath some new nose design appears.
Underneath the slit and the heavy camo, which is so bumpy that it suggests decoy elements but also possible some new vents (notably the "D" radar is not seen, could be under the wrap here?), there is something that does still resemble a nose cone under the camo wrap. Could be real, could be old, could be decoy. Whatever is underneath, though, looks so badly mangled that it doesn't look like a real shape shining through, but something that is well hidden. I wouldn't put it past Tesla - had they removed the nose cone - to simply twist an old Model X prototype nosecone underneath and wrap it to look like it is a part of the design. Lowest of all, a new front spoiler completes the mule front - in any case, compared to the prototype, this lower area of the mule(s) is far more aggressive-looking.
If Tesla wanted to drop the nose cone, maybe they would do something like the Porsche Cayenne, only with sharper lines, smaller vents and less ugly:
Next I thought we could discuss the question of the nose.
Back in September the new member "insiderinfo" posted some drawing related to the Model X and this tidbit. The drawing was quickly pulled by request of Telsa, as doug put it "Sorry folks. Got a friendly request from Tesla to take it down as it's "proprietary info"." lending instant (if still suspect) credibility to the poster.
"insiderinfo" also had other things to say:
Teslarati toyed with this idea on a Model S back in the day - and I also made the point some time ago that if Tesla changes Model X nose, could the facelift Model S to follow suit...?
This has been in addition to several other sources noting clear changes in the Model X design between the 2012-2013 prototype and the eventual production version, others also have suggested a revised nose. Already the 2015 Model X mules show clearly different roof, hemline, shoulderline and side window shapes, as well as a new rear diffuser shape and rear spoiler area shape, some of which is listed on the http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/show...odel-X-prototype-(2012-2013)-vs-Mule(s)-(2015) thread. Now, these may of course change prior to production, but it speaks of development and design direction at least.
Even assuming the Model X mules on the road were to sport near final body panels, which they may not, the front of the car has enjoyed the most camoflage making it hard to determine what is going on there. Still, something obviously has changed - the bonnet now extends lower than in the old prorotypes before ending up in what would be anything from just a Tesla logo and a slit, to a re-designed nose cone.
The November 2014 update email image from Tesla may show the difference in the new(er) front (and falcon wing) designs - note how the November image doesn't have the old nose cone where it ends:
The Model X mules seen since show similar shape on the nose (as well as on the redesigned falcon wings) as on the November update image, supporting the idea that both at least represent similar timeframes of development, as an image from robby's post illustrates on the black-camo mule:
The white-camo mule seen more frequently since has been spotted with higher resolution and even on video:
Picture 1 - Spied: 2016 Tesla Model X
tesla model x in palo alto - YouTube
It seems like the fog-light areas have been redesigned into the Model S direction. As has been discussed, it also seems like there may be cameras in this area. The video shows better the camoed chrome trim extending from the foglight, Model S style.
What is happening in the nose cone area in these sightings is interesting. The re-designed bonnet on the mules seem to end up in a slit, where the top of a nose cone and the Tesla logo would seem to go. Aerodynamically speaking, putting a hole in there doesn't necessarily seem like something that would happen, but who knows. It could also be that a hint of the old nose cone design could remain here (and just is missing from the mule) and underneath some new nose design appears.
Underneath the slit and the heavy camo, which is so bumpy that it suggests decoy elements but also possible some new vents (notably the "D" radar is not seen, could be under the wrap here?), there is something that does still resemble a nose cone under the camo wrap. Could be real, could be old, could be decoy. Whatever is underneath, though, looks so badly mangled that it doesn't look like a real shape shining through, but something that is well hidden. I wouldn't put it past Tesla - had they removed the nose cone - to simply twist an old Model X prototype nosecone underneath and wrap it to look like it is a part of the design. Lowest of all, a new front spoiler completes the mule front - in any case, compared to the prototype, this lower area of the mule(s) is far more aggressive-looking.
If Tesla wanted to drop the nose cone, maybe they would do something like the Porsche Cayenne, only with sharper lines, smaller vents and less ugly:
