Tesla Unveils $35,000 Model 3 Electric Car, Shipping Late 2017

[dgr]

Why can't they design an affordable electric car that also looks good?

Looks like a sportier version of the Toyota Prius. I wish they would go away from that template.

 

[RightMACatU]

I hope that this event did not "overshadow" any other event

Looking good Tesla. Elon not the greatest speaker but great car.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

It'll be delivered far over the $35k price and still lose money for Tesla. They're struggling and profitability is still a LONG way off. Not sure they'll make it to that point.

 

[kodos]

Hard to see what the point of the Apple Car would be. If cars were like Blackberrys, and the Apple Car would be like the iPhone then fair enough - but other than autonomous driving, a vastly increased range, or lower price (or all 3) I'd rather Apple didn't compete.

Tesla' goal seems to be (from their keynote) to move the world on to electric cars, help clean up the air, etc, which is exactly what I'd expect Tim Cook's goal to be.

It would be nice to have another player in this space to drive competition. Last thing you want is a virtual Tesla monopoly on electric cars. GM and Toyota certainly don't appear to be giving them much competition right now! No one is lining up to get a Bolt (that I know of). Only Apple could rival Tesla's brand loyalty.

That said, I wouldn't have high hopes for an Apple car at this point. I think they have a lot of work ahead of them. Tesla didn't get to where they are overnight either, and they have a pretty focused leader - and are not a vague bureaucracy like most of the entrenched car companies who run hundreds of models.

 

[ioioos]

Maybe the more expensive model will have a touch screen with pencil. The Tesla Model 3 Pro.

 

[Bug-Creator]

The car will, just the battery will need replacing every 8 years or so, which is above average even in normal cars.

'An average car battery lasts from 5 to 7 years' - http://www.testingautos.com/when-to-replace-car-battery

A normal lead car battery costs something between 50 and 100€, how much is the much bigger lithium battery ?

I'm not saying that electric cars ain't the future, I'm just not sure it's allready here and I would evenmore never preorder such a car at this point in time.

 

[Julien]

Would love to see a coupe or better yet a sports/roadster version. Hope Tesla can iterate off the platform quickly (18/19 range) and offer a SUV 3X, coupe and sports/roadster.

 

[shadowmatt]

They should make a front grill and blow air to front trunk? There is no big engine in front u know.

No a fake grill that is there more for style than function. A bit like a lot of the trim on any car, it looks nice but thats all.

 

[smacrumon]

Farewell, General Motors. (Good luck with that petrol, oil, coolant etc etc.)
Hello, Tesla!

 

[gixxerfool]

Looks like a sportier version of the Toyota Prius. I wish they would go away from that template.

I get it that it's designed to eek out every last possible resource from the drivetrain with minimal drag, to me that's telling that the electric car isn't there yet.

 

[doelcm82]

Looks beautiful. but the no grill thing is a bit much. They should have put one on.

I wonder if a grill on a Tesla counts as Skeuomorphism.

 

[Julien]

$150,000,000 interest free 18 month cash loan that you will only have to payback less than 10% of the principal. NICE

 

[cdmoore74]

All we need now is for Tesla to make a phone and tablet. People will be going 2007 iPhone era crazy.

 

[Rogifan]

I have to laugh, someone in my Twitter feed is freaking out with worry about an Apple car because car design is polarizing. OK I can think of a lot of reasons to be skeptical about an Apple car but not everyone agreeing with or liking the design isn't one of them. Every car company faces that. There is no car design that is universally loved by everyone.

 

[doelcm82]

I've no idea how so many people sign up to a new car without reading the road tests and reviews first! Lunacy!

A thousand bucks gets you a spot in the virtual queue. Many people stood in a physical line for hours to pay a thousand bucks for an early spot in the virtual queue.

I waited until there were 115,000 people ahead of me. But getting the car in 2018 (or later) is better for me than getting it in late 2017.

The deposit is refundable if I decide I don't want the car.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Yeah it eclisped the SE launch! And it's way thicker!

Plus more than 16GB

 

[Lennholm]

Not sold on the complete removal of digital instrument panels directly in front of the driver. Seems like it would be annoying glancing over at the giant bright screen for basic speed indication. An optional headsup windshield display would be a much nicer solution imo, even if offered as an optional redundancy in functionality.

I wouldn't assume the interior of the prototypes shown at the event is in any way final. Musk didn't say anything about it and no official press photos show the inside.

 

[Julien]

...There is no car design that is universally loved by everyone.

Hard not to love a time traveling and flying DeLorean.

 

[doelcm82]

Yeah it eclisped the SE launch! And it's way thicker!

But thinner than the Model S.

 

[juanm]

I'd buy one in a second if they made trucks. I am a small truck man. Right now ford ranger, but eyeballing the Colorado. I don't need more then 100 miles before a charge with my particular functions for the truck. Would be sweet!

You're in luck, Musk has mentioned it was a possibility. After the 3, comes the Y, but maybe after that...

 

[Julien]

Just released I was on the MacRumors site. What is the Tesla thread about?

 

[Lennholm]

I've no idea how so many people sign up to a new car without reading the road tests and reviews first! Lunacy!

However having said all that I will most likely replace my diesel with one of these. I drive 600 miles a week so for me it would be a complete game changer.

It's simple, if you didn't sign up you would've missed the chance to get the car as soon as possible, those who haven't signed up by now is probably going to have to wait a year from the time Tesla start delivering the cars until they get theirs.
However, if you did sign up and didn't like what you saw you could cancel your reservation and get a full refund.

 

[juanm]

a) a car should last much longer than 8 years, or it will start loosing value rather drasticly after just a few years

b) that warranty covers the much more expensive current models which may allready have those costs factored in, lets wait and see how conditions are for the 3

c) at which point does Tesla consider a battery defect under warranty ?

My point of entry on this is that the lease for an BMW i3 is about as twice as for a (specced up) Mini with the same sticker price.

"We want a faster horse". Tesla has been experimenting with battery swaps, it might be the surprise reveal just before the actual lunch Musk has hinted at.

 

[doelcm82]

Not sold on the complete removal of digital instrument panels directly in front of the driver. Seems like it would be annoying glancing over at the giant bright screen for basic speed indication. An optional headsup windshield display would be a much nicer solution imo, even if offered as an optional redundancy in functionality.

The fuel gauge and speedometer should be analog. If you lose power how are you going to know how fast you're going or how much fuel is left?

Please no earnest replies. I'm joking.

 

[Mums]

Tesla is a fake front company to keep back electric car production, and an insult to Nikola Tesla. Volkswagen and Mini electric car production and sales would have both been in full swing if it weren't for a nefarious cabal keeping it all reined in. You'll scoff, but electric cars have been around for more than a century. You'll say it's due to battery size that they haven't ever been mass produced, but this would not have been an issue if there would have been charging stations set up everywhere. Elon Musk is a con-front-man for oil interests.