Model S Nose Cone Designs (Prototype, Alpha, Beta and beyond)

[Lloyd]

Presumably there could be a range of after-market grills available in a variety of different styles. Much like alloys.

Check out the custom Grillz!

 

[tomanik]

I don't believe the black nose cose will be the production grill. It may have the shape of the intended grill but probably looks nothing like it.

 

[Todd Burch]

Not to hijack this thread, but I still wonder where I'll put the front license plate that the Commonwealth of Virginia requires...

 

[Todd Burch]

I wonder how much the front end gets "locked in" after crash testing?
Some things have to be left alone unless they want to do another round of crash testing later.
Or maybe they area already planning to re-do crash tests on the betas too?

I doubt they're planning on crashing in the beta stage unless they failed a test (highly doubtful given the allegedly "very successful" computer simulations.

I don't know for sure, but I'd suspect that non-structural changes (such as aluminum stampings around the front and changing the grill) have no effect on the crash testing, since they're completely non-structural elements. Just my suspicion.

 

[JRod0802]

I doubt they're planning on crashing in the beta stage unless they failed a test (highly doubtful given the allegedly "very successful" computer simulations.

I don't know for sure, but I'd suspect that non-structural changes (such as aluminum stampings around the front and changing the grill) have no effect on the crash testing, since they're completely non-structural elements. Just my suspicion.

Q4 Earnings Call Transcript

...Then there is going to be another period of intense crash testing for the betas starting towards the end of summer, and then yet more crash testing that takes place once we have our release candidates, because the beta is in sort of '89%, 90% production design,' but it isn't entire made with production tooling. So we have to get confirmation step with the release candidate articles which should be kind of in the roughly 11 to 12 months from now. That’s just to confirm that the process used to manufacture the cars results in cars that are consistently of the design intent. So, there is a whole lot of crash – there is a tremendous amount of crash testing taking place, because our standards that we're – what we're aiming for here with Model S is pretty extraordinary in terms of safety.

 

[TEG]

Thanks, JRod0802.
So they can make adjustments to the "nose" even if it could trigger a need to retest since they are planning to retest anyways.

 

[Todd Burch]

Well there you go. I sit corrected.

 

[suxxer]

1) I would think that if the alphas are representative of the new grill, then they'd change the gallery pics on their website...but they aren't.

yes, they did. Now both designs are mixed in the gallery ;(

 

[Cobos]

Not to hijack this thread, but I still wonder where I'll put the front license plate that the Commonwealth of Virginia requires...

A very good question as Norwegian law also requires a front license plate. Especially the Alfa Romeo with their sometimes excellent designs looks really wierd with the offset license plate that seems to have been thrown on in the last minute. A bit like the first version of the Roadster actually :-|

Cobos

 

[Eberhard]

Why not place the plate inside of a transparent nose?

 

[Nik]

Why not place the plate inside of a transparent nose?

The nose would have to be very low-reflection from a wide range of angles or it would restrict visibility of the plate. Speed cameras, especially at night, might be blinded by the reflected flash and the authorities wouldn't like that ...

 

[Doug_G]

Here in Ontario it's actually illegal to put a transparent cover on the plate, due to automated toll highways, red light cameras, etc. Of course you can buy the covers at Canadian Tire and everyone puts them on anyway. But I doubt they'll allow a car that's built that way.

 

[TEG]

Perhaps not legal anymore, but the old Citroen SM had the license plate in a little glass box...

 

[malcolm]

Thanks Lloyd - definitely Grillz

Re:license plate: If it's replacing the nosecone then the grill also doesn't need to allow air through. So nosecones and any alternative grills for particular territories could be made with the license plate built in to a suitable recess. The plate could be curved into a slight cylindrical shape to help it blend in (a bit).

ETA:

In fact the current nosecone seems close to cylindrical already:

 

[Jkam]

Maybe the reason they have the nose cone instead of a grill is they are installing an AWACS type surveillance equipment in the nose so the car can shoot missiles from the extending door handles. Now that would be cool. :tongue:

 

[TEG]

Oh, so Tony Stark wants a special edition Model S now? :tongue:

 

[de704]

Oh, so Tony Stark wants a special edition Model S now?

And He'll have one. Elon Musk is the real life Tony Stark.

 

[de704]

Yah, If the Model S does come with the nose cone. I will defently look into changing it at an after market shop.

 

[dpeilow]

Saw this picture on your Facebook. Like the derelict gas station...

 

[de704]

Saw this picture on your Facebook. Like the derelict gas station...

Here's the source video for that picture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ctr8mv_E8

The CG birds are flying in the background and chirping.