Laurent

Any hints as to when it will be unveiled ? Obviously some time in the next 4 months. Maybe at the LA auto show ? Or at a press-only event ?

graham

They were not specific about that. The closest specifics we got were that the Model S design needs to be completed by the end of this year. This is to allow them to have enough time to do all the DOT safety testing to ship in 2010. We can assume that shortly after they finish the design they will show it to the public, but that was not mentioned.

Joseph

Having all that weight down low does make the car more stable, but there's still a rule that's rarely broken: A huge 7-Series-like car will likely be a heavy car; a heavy car, no matter how stable, rarely has the driving dynamics of a more compact car.

There are exceptions. The X6, Charger SRT8. These are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head. It can be done, it's just uncommon.

__________________
"Success is 99% failure" - Soichiro Honda

graham

The ball-park number I have heard folks from Tesla throwing out is around 4000 lbs.

stopcrazypp

A Charger SRT8 is ~4140lbs, so it isn't too heavy (given it is based on an older E-class, which is midsized, chassis this shouldn't be a surprise). An X6 is actually 4894lbs-5269lbs depending on the engine. If they can make the X6 handle well, then if Model S is ~4000lbs it shouldn't be that bad.

A standard V8 7 series is ~4500lbs. The Quattroporte, which is the segment Model S is supposed to be in, weighs ~4400lbs and most reviews say it handles well. I would expect the Whitestar to weigh around this range if the materials are more conventional.

A 5 series handles well and it is ~4000lbs, but it is midsized.

It'll be a challenge to keep it at ~4000lbs rather than ~4500lbs given the heavy batteries and the size of a 7 series. But the Jaguar XJ8 is only 3726lbs, it's a big and long car, and it uses an aluminum frame and body (like the Whitestar, the body part at least), so perhaps Tesla might pull it off.

__________________
Because there are tons of crazy people in this world...

GSP

I'm sure the Quattroporte handles well for what it is, a grand touring car. However lower mass and lower polar moment of inertia will make the handling of a car much more responsive. A Lotus Elise will change direction much quicker than a grand touring car like the Quttroporte or an Aston Martin. Likewise, a go-cart can run circles around the Elise.

Kinda of like comparing a Pitts Special to a CitationX biz-jet.

I'm glad to hear that the Model S is going to be 7 series sized. Providing 7 series like accommodations is a good way to keep the cost/value equasion of the Whitestar competitive with gasoline cars.

By the way, with the Whitestar now called the Model S, I assume the Bluestar will be the Model T. How cute.

GSP

malcolm

Autocar UK claim to have a rendering of Model S:

Autocar - Scoop: Tesla's future

http://www.autocar.co.uk/contentImag...3988101641.jpg

TEG

Hints of Mazda Rx8 there...

graham

Interesting comparison, TEG! They made a point in the article that this design is incomplete. They did this before they hired Franz von Holzhausen from Mazda with the intent that he complete the last 10 percent. It is interesting that it already resembles a Mazda design.

Of course it is difficult to tell what it really looks like from that picture. Supposedly it looks to some like a CLS as well... which looks nothing like an RX8

vfx

The Mazda has the hidden half doors. It is hard to see the back doors in the rendering. To me that arrangement is a great function/styling solution. I even ordered an RX8 based on the pre-press when it was coming out the first year. When it arrived I went to the dealership and after driving it, I passed. Was not too impressed with the handling. Hope my grey/red color choice sold quickly for them.

I thought someone had said the nose of Model S kept the styling cues from the roadster? I see at the bottom the inverted smile grill but the new grill is a shape they have added -and will become relatively permanent to the company's look.

BTW that Autocar article had a bunch of new info. A racing series was one of them.

__________________
.
.
.
.
.
.
The world loves to be deceived.