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Print 19 comment(s) - last by hexxthalion.. on Jul 16 at 10:54 AM

Next model will aim for $30,000 starting price

When it comes to electric vehicles, Tesla undeniably makes some of the coolest and most attractive electric vehicles on the market. All other companies such as Nissan, Toyota, and GM focus on relatively unattractive cars, while Tesla prides itself on making cars that are both sexy and green. Tesla recently started shipping its new Model S and will put the Model X crossover into production late next year.
 
Tesla is also looking down the road to a third generation EV that will rival the BMW 3-Series. The BMW 3-Series luxury/sports cars are often the target of automakers looking to get into the reasonably affordable coupe and sedan market. According to Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, the new model could launch as early as 2015.
 

Tesla Model S
 
“The third model will continue to drive down the price point as fast as possible,” said Von Holzhausen.
 
According to Holzhausen, Tesla is targeting an entry-level price of $30,000. It would be safe to expect versions of that third model with larger battery packs and more performance to sell for significantly more than $30,000. The designer also says that the new model will have more distinctive styling compared to the Model S.
 
"We will become more experimental as we develop as a brand,” he said. “Our cars need to have some personality." Von Holzhausen also said, "There are lots of ways in which we can exploit the platform. here will be a time and place for us to develop something around a pick-up. That’s a market for which the torque of an electric motor would be ideally suited."

Source: Autocar



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Good Luck With That
By Spuke on 7/13/2012 11:31:34 AM , Rating: 1
This car is already at a disadvantage with the weight penalty of the battery pack. Sure it can match the 3 in a straight line but with enough power, any car can do that. Weight is the enemy of good handling and this car won't equal the 3 in that arena which is the whole point of the 3. Maybe if the start with a 1600 lb chassis...




RE: Good Luck With That
By EnzoFX on 7/13/2012 11:44:49 AM , Rating: 4
Lower center of gravity may give it a run for its money.


RE: Good Luck With That
By danjw1 on 7/13/12, Rating: 0
RE: Good Luck With That
By Apone on 7/13/2012 12:37:15 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Also, BMW is a dinosaur, Tesla is young and agile.


Are you suggesting BMW is incapable of competing against Tesla in the entry luxury $30k segment considering it's a seasoned veteran? Quite the contrary, it's Tesla who should be worried because classic Strategic Management 101 says you never ever attack a competitor's strengths; you exploit, attack, and capitalize on its weakness. Not only does BMW have a considerable pool of automotive resources and experience, BMW is also a trail blazer which means Tesla has their work cut out for them innovation-wise.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Reclaimer77 on 7/13/2012 12:58:10 PM , Rating: 3
Gunning for BMW is a pretty stupid move, I agree. In the segment where BMW is, customers don't give a crap about mileage, "foreign oil", electric drivetrains and whatever other garbage Tesla is pushing.

A ton of BMW sales are just because they are BMW and people buy into the namesake and reputation. Tesla? LAWL, not so much.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Church of Dirac on 7/13/2012 3:27:05 PM , Rating: 2
While I'm sure some people buy BMWs for the name only (like all the middle aged business women driving x5's 10mph under the speed limit talking on the phone), people looking for the prestige and poshness will go for Mercedes, Cadillac, or maybe Lexus. Many people buy BMWs for performance and the joy of motoring. BMW enthusiasts tend to resist deviation from the standard formula. The softening of the steering in the E46, the switch away from the I6 and the hatred of iDrive are a few examples.

The 1 series and to a certain extent the 3 series are in the range where buyers still are concerned with reliability and mileage. BMW is investing heavily in developing their own electric and hybrid cars. (The i8 will do 0-100km/h (62mph) in 4.8s and get 75.1 mpg). I don't think they would waste all that cash without knowing if there is a market for these new vehicles.

I personally think the success of this new Tesla will be based on handling. The electric motor should provide ample torque. If they design the suspension right and mount the batteries to get a 50:50 weight distribution, it should do alright. The cheaper ones with less batteries will handle better.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Spuke on 7/13/2012 12:38:23 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Also, BMW is a dinosaur, Tesla is young and agile.
How is BMW not responsive to its customers? Especially, when their whole deal is responsiveness? I'm not a BMW fanboy by any means but the definitely get the job done.

quote:
Lower center of gravity may give it a run for its money.
How does center of gravity negate weight? I take it you've never heard of Colin Chapman. Maybe you should look him up sometime.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Keeir on 7/13/2012 4:07:13 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I take it you've never heard of Colin Chapman. Maybe you should look him up sometime.


BMW might as well. The 335i wieghs in at 3545 min . A base model S comes in at ~4650. Its not really out of the realm of possibility for a 3-series sized Tesla car to come in around 4,000 lbs. A hefty addition over the 335i... but somehow BMW managed to make a great handling car that wieghs a heck of alot for a C segment size.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Blight AC on 7/13/2012 4:39:52 PM , Rating: 2
My Audi A6 is one of the best handling cars I've ever driven (with all-season tires)... it's also the heaviest car I've driven by far. Vorsprung durch Technik.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Spuke on 7/13/2012 6:59:13 PM , Rating: 2
I sort of agree. Yes BMW does nicely with 3600 lbs but they still are heavy and the Tesla will be even heavier. You can make a 4000 lb car feel great in a corner but it's still 4000 lbs and it will show it when pushed and be slower than a lighter car (ie BMW). All things equal, a lighter car will still handle better. I'm willing to bet that an older E30 M3 with equal power and grip would run circles around a new one.

I'm not saying the Tesla will handle like crap (it might though as this is a new area for them) but BMW has this down solid and they STILL have a weight advantage. I just don't see it unless they start with some super light chassis.


RE: Good Luck With That
By web2dot0 on 7/14/2012 4:37:45 PM , Rating: 3
Why does it have to be better the BMV in every area? It just have to beat it in the key areas (0-60, handling), the advantage of owning a EV, fuel economy, and comparable price point.

They don't need to kill off BMV. It just has to build a viable alternative. That in itself would be a phenomenal achievement for any EV.

It's kinda like saying I want a SSD that can beat a HDD in every aspect for the same price. The answer is no. You don't see SSDs having a problem flying off the shelves.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Keeir on 7/13/2012 3:57:14 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Sure it can match the 3 in a straight line but with enough power, any car can do that.


You're being too literal.

Since BMW is the "number 1" luxury car brand in the US, it makes sense to talk about luxury car costing between 30,000-45,000 of a similiar size as "targeting" the 3-series.

Just like the A/S 4, C-Class, ATS, IS, G Series, S60, etc.

I doubt Tesla's goal is to outperform the 3-series in every concievable way. The 328i and 335i are certainly good cars, but BMW also makes a 335d (and a 320i/d etc etc etc). So... apparently BMW thinks today there are at least 3 appropriate engine/handling/cost choices in this range for the US market and many more for the world.


RE: Good Luck With That
By Spuke on 7/13/2012 7:01:49 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Since BMW is the "number 1" luxury car brand in the US, it makes sense to talk about luxury car costing between 30,000-45,000 of a similiar size as "targeting" the 3-series.
And you're putting your head in the sand. Name one car company that targets the 3 series without targeting its performance. There are quite a number of cars in the 3 series price range that don't "target" the 3 series.


RE: Good Luck With That
By MisterEd22 on 7/13/2012 11:53:06 PM , Rating: 2
The big problem with Tesla's Model S are its batteries - they cost a small fortune (around $44,000,plus labor). They also experience significant loss of capacity and power over the years. They are only warrantied for 8 years and that excludes bricking (total loss due to total discharge) and capacity/power losses. According to my estimates, doing a full recharge will cost around $100, $90 for the batteries and $10 for the juice. Tesla's claim of "low operating costs" can be taken for what it's worth. Now let's see how large a battery they stuff into that proposed $30,000 BMW fighter. BMW must be laughing its head off about now.


RE: Good Luck With That
By web2dot0 on 7/14/2012 4:45:19 PM , Rating: 2
Haters are gonna be haters.

Ful recharge doesn't cost $100 buddy.


RE: Good Luck With That
By steven975 on 7/16/2012 10:21:39 AM , Rating: 2
Exactly...40KWH (not sure of the battery capacity, but this is probably close) would be $5 at 12.5 cents per.


Fisker
By v5out on 7/15/2012 1:17:56 PM , Rating: 2
"All other companies such as Nissan, Toyota, and GM focus on relatively unattractive cars, while Tesla prides itself on making cars that are both sexy and green."

What about Fisker?




work at home
By PittmanJack on 7/15/2012 2:30:12 PM , Rating: 2
as Marvin said I am inspired that anybody able to make $6830 in one month on the computer. did you see this web page makecash16 com




might be pretty
By hexxthalion on 7/16/2012 10:54:11 AM , Rating: 2
but wouldn't call it original at all - looks very similar to jag, just can't help it it does borrow quite a lot




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