Mentioning sports sedans like BMW m3 or the new Alfa quadrofollio and I'm a sports car enthusiast for decades...as great as the telsas perform...they can't really do even a lap of say car and drivers lightning lap.
Tesla is an amazing street passenger vehicle and in acceleration it's amazing....but it's not a sports sedan in the same vein as an Alfa quadrofollio or m3....no matter how fast it accelerates...
There is a reason why Elon Musk and JB Straubel refer to the Model ≡ as the Tesla Generation III vehicle. Quite some time ago, Elon noted that with any type of technology it typically takes about three iterations to get it
'right'. So that it is undoubtedly
'better' in all the ways that matter most compared to what came before it. The idea is that you build upon what was learned before, to create better products.
From my perspective, Tesla moved from the experimental
'Proof of Concept' vehicle built by
AC Propulsion, the tzero, to their Generation I vehicle, the Tesla Roadster.
Next was the Model S as the first of two Generation II vehicles. And the Model X more recently arrived as part of Generation II as well. Both vehicles have been continually improved since their release. And Tesla learned the fundamentals of mass manfacturing and distribution with these Generation II vehicles.
The company grew through many trials and tribulations and became stronger as a result. Among those was proving that long range electric vehicles are a viable form of sole transportation. Another was proving there was a viable market of buyers for them. Another has been dealing with legal challenges to their chosen means of distribution through direct sales. Another was demonstrating the ease by which a network of DC Fast Chargers, Superchargers, could enable long distance driving between population centers.
Now is the time to bring together all the lessons learned so far for a proper Tesla Generation III launch with Model ≡. Please understand that from the very beginning, the earliest point where Elon Musk spoke of Tesla Generation III, he indicated their target was the BMW 3-Series. People such as you gaffed.
It is interesting to note however that since 2012 or so, BMW has no longer been able hide behind their legendary handling, steering feel, or
'fun-to-drive' factor to win head-to-head comparison tests. They had been losing instrumented tests since the early 1990s, but seasoned professionals still preferred the way their cars
'felt' while getting their butts kicked, so BMW 3-Series would still
'win' those tests somehow.
Not so much anymore. And if so many others, including Buick, Cadillac, AUDI, Jaguar, and Alfa Romeo have managed to
'dial in' their cars to consistently, one after the other, best BMW at their own game... There is no reason whatsoever to believe the Tesla Model ≡ won't be able to follow suit.
Yes, the car will be great on public roads, surface streets and open highways. But just as the Model S and Model X have proven effective on the Autobahn, I believe the Model ≡ will go the extra 2-1/2 to 14 miles or so to prove electric drive can excel at the world's best closed circuit raceways as well. I would not doubt that a Model ≡ P85D would be tuned so that it could perform admirably compared to race-prepped gas guzzling vehicles. Look for a
'flying lap' below 7:30 at Nürburgring by 2020. And on shorter courses, gas guzzlers will be seeking relief from event regulators once they can no longer score a podium position. Likely by asking for reverse pole position starts and weight handicaps for EVs. It won't matter one bit. That's assuming all the oil sponsors don't lobby for EVs to be outlawed by formula from the outset.
Do not doubt that theTesla Model ≡ in Performance trim will offer a sense of driving excellence that goes far beyond straight line performance both on road and track.
