Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Tesla Adds An All-Glass Roof Option For Its Model S (fortune.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the electric-vehicles dept.

Elon Musk has had roofs on his mind lately. Last week, Musk unveiled the residential "solar roof," consisting of glass roof tiles with integrated solar panels. Today, he announced that customers will be able to add a glass roof to the Model S sedan for an extra $1,500. Tesla said that the glass roof can give passengers the feeling of "an open expansive cabin" that makes the Model S interior "feel amazing." Fortune reports: The move is another example of how Tesla continues to add new features and technology to its four-year-old vehicle, the second to debut in its growing lineup. In particular, Tesla has routinely updated the Model S with technology that has also been available in more recent car models. For example, the company's upcoming fourth car, the Model 3, will come with a glass roof. The new glass roof option also shows off Tesl'a new investment in automotive glass technology. Earlier this week Musk revealed that the company had created an automotive glass division. In the tweet on Friday, Musk said that the Model S glass roof was "very hard to develop."

6 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sounds great for Northern California by slashgordo. · · Score: 2

    Their original panoramic sunroof had 2 parts: one over the front seats that could open, and one over the rear seats that was fixed, and there was a separation between the two with an interior piece that went across. They still offer this option, and what is new is that there is an option for a single glass roof that covers both the front and rear seats. It does not open, and it looks like it gives you a more open feeling. And as a Tesla Model S owner in Texas with the original panoramic sunroof, it is not as bad as you think. They have some material in the sunroof & windshield & rear window that blocks out a large amount of the heat while still giving you a good amount of light. It does make garage door openers and toll tags trickier to operate inside the vehicle, but compared to other cars I've owned in Texas, I'll take the reduced heat!

  2. good luck... by God+of+Lemmings · · Score: 3, Insightful

    just wait until the storm that drops hailstones.

    --
    Non sequitur: Your facts are uncoordinated.
    1. Re:good luck... by SeaFox · · Score: 2, Informative

      With my experiences with hail, the metal portions of the car get dinged up, usually permanently, while the glass portions are fine.
      And if the glass does get damaged? You insurance will get it replaced.
      Dinged metal? Well, they will cut you a check for lost value on your car (or not, if there's a lein on it still). But short of replacing the entire body of the car it's not getting fixed.

  3. Re:You're missing the point.... by mrchaotica · · Score: 2

    This is about building on to the previous model of vehicle instead of throwing away the whole car for ''next years model'. This is the way vehicles SHOULD be made.

    No shit. That is the way vehicles ARE made! The only thing different about Tesla versus every other car manufacturer is the hype and marketing.

    --

    "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  4. Re:I envisioned something else by swb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think the Model S is really cramped in the interior. I'm 6'1 and have to scrunch down to sit in the back seat and even the front seat feels cramped, although my head doesn't touch the ceiling in the passenger seat.

    The seats are also some of the worst car seats I've sat in -- way too hard.

  5. And yet crickets on / by stabiesoft · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So Tesla adds a roof and /. runs a story. Meanwhile GM starts an assembly line up to make a semi-affordable all electric and crickets on /. http://abcnews.go.com/Business...