vfx

I had not heard this one before:

ELON MUSK: That actually is faster than any Aston Martin or any Ferrari currently in production. And that understates the acceleration of the car because a gasoline car 0 to 60 is measured from when the wheels start moving. The wheels only move after you've engaged the clutch. In our case there's no clutch. So if you were to measure a green flag to 60, we'd probably be apples to apples about a quarter second better than an equivalent gasoline car. So our 3.9 is probably like a gasoline car's 3.6.

from here:
Extended Interview: Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk | Online NewsHour | June 25, 2008 | PBS

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doug

I think I heard Darryl make that claim a while back. I think it was on one of the ABG podcasts.
Autoblog Green Podcast #21 - AutoblogGreen
Not sure, though.

stopcrazypp

When I heard that on the video I wondered what he meant when he said the Tesla was faster than any Aston or Ferrari. The F430 can get 0-60 in 3.5, the Enzo in 3.14. Evenwhen I heard it, without the exact numbers, I knew the Enzo & F430 was at least in the mid 3s.

I think what Musk means is if you start the time at when you start engaging the clutch, then a gasoline car that can get 0-60 in 3.6, when measured at the wheels, will probably take 3.9 seconds. Maybe he is talking about reaction time in drag racing, not that sure, since I'm not a drag racer.

Edit:
Reading more into it, in drag racing you can jump the gun a little by starting earlier than the green light so that the reaction time is minimized even with the clutch engaging. He does have a point about how 0-60s are measured from when the wheels start moving up to 60, but in racing there is the reaction time from the green flag to getting the car moving, which the clutchless Tesla probably minimizes. But since 0-60 is still traditionally measured from when the wheels start moving, the number should stay.

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doug

He said something like "green flag to 60". So including reaction time, and time to work the peddles. I don't know if I believe him, though. Yes, if you were in the Tesla, you'd just floor the accelerator when you saw the flag. Some cars with electronic shifters are pretty fast, though. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia (shown in the recent Top Gear episode) supposedly shifts in 0.06 seconds, 0 to 60 in 3.5 s.

Top Gear - Ferrari 430 Scuderia

But more generally, we know Elon has a way of making statements while dropping important qualifiers. (Top gear acceleration comparison as an example.)

DaveD

Is the F430 or Enzo currently in production? I ask because Mr. Musk was quoted using that qualifier in his claim.

vfx

Yeah I think you guys nailed it. He is talking about the time between the green flag (or green light) to go and the wheels moving...

So I'm sitting at the Christmas tree waiting for the lights to begin I have my clutch is engaged, my car in gear and my revs are high. The green lamp innights and lift my clutch foot.

How is that different than stepping on the Tesla "torque pedal" ?

__________________
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The world loves to be deceived.