Silliness!!
It's a prototype! why are people acting like this is the first time Tesla has done this?!
de704:
Good pictures, thank you for adding them to the mix. That is the kind of stuff an old-timer can bring to the table and I'm happy someone finally has. We have far too little old-timers taking part in the analysis. More is always welcome.
I don't think we're acting this way because of the mule shots, though. Like I said: September leakster claimed nosecone would be gone (the leakster got some credibility by posting a CAD that got pulled by Tesla, but that CAD didn't show that area though), Tesla head designer said the nosecone is the one thing he'd change on the Model S, and now "throwawayaccount" pops out of the woodwork with claims that the nosecone will be body colored. Finally, the nose cone area is the most camouflaged area on the Model X mules, suggesting some changes there might be hiding underneath.
Now, even if we assume the September leakster and the OP are accurate, they might still merely report on the mule(s) they've seen - not necessarily be privy to the final shipping configuration. But it isn't just because of the mules have black noses that we talk this. The mules are somewhat compatible with this line of thinking we're having, but they are not proof of anything of course.
This image, though, (just add Tesla logo stripe) suggests to me Tesla might try something like this - a chome-trimless nose cone - on the Model X as well, if they have been unhappy with the Model S nose design for whatever reason.
Again, thank you for sharing the reference Model S prototype photos. MUCH appreciated.
There is another older thread with more on this:
Model X mules - is the nose cone gone?
- - - Updated - - -
AR's design with just the black cross piece and no chrome outline looks too awkward. I think it needs some sort of defining and cohesive shape. I've seen a few Model S with nose cones wrapped in body color and I wasn't a huge fan of that either. Hopefully Tesla can come up with an attractive design that maintains some texture but eliminates contrasting colors.
I would expect they will add shape, even if they get rid of the chrome surrounding that area. My Photoshop's obviously are overly simple.