While we all cannot wait for the Model S to come out, I know that most of us also are anticipating the BlueStar. The fun exersize for this thread is to come up with a "Wish List" of what features you would love to see in the blue star. Maybe tesla will read this, and get some ideas
For me, the perfect BlueStar would be :
Size : Similar to a Ford Fusion or Hyundai Sonata.
Styling : I love the styling of the Model S, and would love to see some of the styling cues carry over. I also love the "hatchback that does not look like a hatchback" design of the S, and would love to see that layout carry over.
Range : I really think that Tesla hit the ideal range on the head with the roadster. 240 miles seems to be the sweet spot, where most people would not even need to think about range, and simply drive as much as they want to throughout the day. The 160 mile range really does work for most people today, but assuming a 30% loss at highway speeds, and a 30% loss of range near the end of the life of the battery, the 160 might not work for everyone for the entire life of the car. I would like to see the base Blue Star have a 240 mile range. A long range 400 mile option would be the other variant, at a significant price premium. The 400 mile ferry range also opens up a lot of options for people who want to drive their car to a service center, rather than pay for the tesla rangers to come out.
Interior : I would love to see the all touch screen interface carry over. With the smaller car, I would scale down the screen, for both style and cost reasons. A 12-14 inch touchscreen would be perfect for the Blue Star. I think the microfiber / leather options on the S are good, and would like to see those carry over with similar pricing.
Wheels : I would love to see 17 inch alloy wheels standard, with 19's being an option (hopefully with something as eye catching as the turbine wheels on the S)
Performance : 0-60 in 6 seconds would be perfect. A sport model with 0-60 in under 5 would also be a great option (at a significant price premium) A top speed of 120 should work across the board.
Price : This is the big one. I would target $35,000 as the base price for the 240 mile model ($27,500 after the tax credit) The 400 mile model would have a target price of $55 before tax credits, and the signature, fully loaded, would be priced at $70,000. I would try to price the sport model at $65000, and the Signature Sport at $75,000. I also suspect that the blue start coming to market will force a downshift in the price of the Model S by $5-10K for each model.
Battery Guarantee : This is actually the big one. The blue star is at a price point that appeals to people who do not own 2 cars, and cannot afford to buy a second car latter on if the range degrades to much. As a result, All models of the blue star need to have the 8 year unlimited mile guarantee. The average person buying a blue star is probably not an EVangelist, and needs to know that the car will meet their needs of tomorrow as well as it meets their needs of today.
Options : Options should include a second on board charger, moon roof, premium sound, several different tech packaged (to not force people to pay the full $3500 if they only want one feature) several options for wheels, super charger capabilities (an option on all models, included standard in nothing but the signature), and leather seats. Heated seats should be an option on all models, not just leather.
Charger : The new charger for the model S is great, and I would love to see it carry over to the bluestar. I would also like to see an inexpensive 110v charger that could be used when you need to park in an area that you are concerned about cord theft, but would like to get a few extra miles throughout the day (for example, charging for a full day at work, a 110 would provide me with all the miles I used to get work, letting me leave the office with a full charge. The only problem is, I would never trust a $1000 charger that I need to fully charge my vehicle from 240v at home to be sitting in the parking lot for anyone to grab all day long) I would not hesitate to use a $150 charger that if I loose it, my car does not become a paperweight until it is replaced.
This is my wish list for BlueStar. What is yours?
