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Tesla Unveils the Model X
An anonymous reader writes with news that Tesla has officially unveiled its Model X SUV. It's their third vehicle, after the Roadster and Model S. Its 90kWh battery provides 250 miles of range, and the vehicle can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. According to Reuters, the high-end versions of the Model X will cost between $132,000 and $144,000, while the base model's pricing is not yet known. The vehicle's doors open upward, and it can have seating for either six or seven passengers, depending on layout. The back row of seats can fold down when not in use. The Model X has automatic emergency braking, a 5,000 pound towing capacity, and a so-called "bioweapon defense mode" for its air circulation system that keeps positive pressure within the cabin.
They're planning on selling a $35K model in around 2-3 years, after their battery factory opens.
Meanwhile, there's no shortage of demand for the existing models.
Tesla has never made a secret that their approach was to sell the high margin luxury vehicles first, where the margins are. The next model they introduce is going to be priced at $35K, which is solidly in the 4-door family sedan price range (Accord, Camry) and the low end of small upscale sedan territory (3-series).
The overpressure would have to be greater that the water pressure at the depth you were driving at. I doubt it would be high enough to even marginally submerge the whole car, to be honest, with the roof just below the surface, the pressure at floor-pan level would probably be enough to overcome the cabin overpressure. Actually the overpressure would have to be greater that the water pressure at any potential point of ingress, which could be significantly higher that the static water pressure due to the motion of the car through the water.
Wait...you were actually just joking weren't you?
That's why Tesla has built and is building more supercharger stations.
http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger
Back when "The Millionaire Next Door" was written, the author included data from a survey that said the most common car driven by millionaires at that time was a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I think the next most common was a Ford F-150.
But there are a lot of misconceptions about millionaires (people with a net worth of > $1 million). Most are self-made, most are entrepreneurs, most are worth in the single digit millions, etc.
But the overall theme was, these aren't the people you see out there flaunting wealth. Those people are usually not worth anything. People who are really building wealth are not the conspicuous consumers.
Positive cabin pressure. So you can drive it under water right?
Well, one time. Sure.
Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..
$35,000 Tesla Model III coming in 2017
Since they've seemed to slip all of their shcedules by 1-2 years, I'm guessing 2019.
This blog post discusses Tesla's top-down strategy where they use luxury cars to fund development of mass-market cars.
He effected a bored affect.
Telsa has been occupying the high end market segment, not the mainstream, think of them as a competitor to Porsche and Mercedes, not Ford. This can be seen in the reactionary vehicles being developed at these companies as they've lost market share to Tesla. What Tesla is going to do with the Model 3 is attempt to move from the high end to main stream. This would be like Porsche attempting to make a mainstream $30k vehicle that anyone could buy.
Time will tell if they succeed, personally I wouldn't bet against them.
Don't be a douche and leave the snow on the roof. When you drive it just blows onto the car behind you. It's polite to sweep it off before you leave.