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My Leaf does not have any chrome around the windows. Just about the only place there is chrome is on the door handles.
That said, I think the chrome looks sharp on the blue color I intend to get my S in. I agree matte black would probably look better on white or silver cars though.
Just because many do it doesn't make it look any better. Sorry, but I think it's just tacky. I've been looking and it seems about half the cars on the road have the chrome and half don't.
As an aside, there are many Prius detractors who complain about the nickel in the battery being environmentally unfriendly. Besides the fact that the nickel mining in North America has been cleaned up, very little nickel goes into batteries of all types. Far more nickel is used in automotive chrome than has ever been used in batteries. However, you never hear the detractors complain about the nickel that is used to make chrome.
That's exactly why I said "not that it should matter" that many are doing it. But if you look at any of the modern luxury car companies, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Infiniti, etc. they seem to all have chrome trim around the windows. Perhaps for some it's thinner and more subtle, but that's the way it goes. At least you can always address this aftermarket if you're so inclined.
smorgasbord
Active Member
I would be willing to pay extra to have black chrome accents instead of plain old chrome.
This would be an example of the result:
http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/admin/d/6734-2/sema2008-vw-supercc.jpg
This would be an example of the result:
http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/admin/d/6734-2/sema2008-vw-supercc.jpg
AustinPowers
Total Smeghead
Here's hoping Tesla sells enough cars to spawn a burgeoning aftermarket. I did see a white BMW 3-series today, and all the trim around the windows was black. It looked nice. I still don't mind the regular complement of chrome, except for the one strip...
I second that. I always thought the chrome strip under the doors looked awful, on light colored cars at least. It was one things that made me want the prototype back, as that didn't have black plastic around the lower part of the car.
By the way, my BMW has the "black shadow line" (as it's called here) option you mention seeing, but I didn't get it on purpose to get rid of chrome, it was just part of the M sport package I ordered.
rogbmw
Member
One easy thing to do on the chrome strip under the doors on people who have the performance, is that there are some very high quality adhesive carbon-fiber look alike vinyl that really looks good and holds up well. One could have the strip done in this to accent the other CF trip on the car....just a thought.
contaygious
Active Member
My vote is that light-handed use of chrome is a hallmark of premium sedans. My touchstone is Aston Martin, which have thin chrome trim around the side windows. The complete absence of chrome signals either cheap or edgy; the border is not always clear. Tesla may have over-chromed the Model S a touch, though: certainly the under-door accent is unusual and not entirely welcome on light-colored cars, and the side-window surround is a trifle thicker than I would like. Per the OP, a "smidgen less chrome" would be a good thing, IMO.
thelastdeadmouse
Member
Personally I love the chrome. I wish there was an option to replace some that matte finish aluminum looking plastic on the interior with chrome. Then again, I drive a 72 MG Midget, think car design peaked in 1965 and that all ICE cars should have side pipe exhaust. :tongue:
Not outright awful to me but popping out. To me the photoshop works of the OP really improve looks of the car, adding to a stretched, streamlined impression.
Overall chrome is OK for me. So, instead of wrapping the door chrome in vinyl, I consider adding an adhesive chrome strip before and after the doors, extending the chrome line between the wheel wells. How would that look? Have to try myself...
chmod a+wrx
Member
Like this?????
I think it looks much better!!!! It definitely looks evenly distributed and not nearly as distracting IMHO.....So, I would say a smidgen more chrome....!
In person, I really never really noticed the chrome along the bottom. I think it's one of those things that shows up more in pictures. It's the chrome around the windows that I think looks bad.
I'm getting the red, so it impacts me somewhat less. But if I was getting white or silver, I would be sending this picture to my Tesla rep (with the added pieces pointed to by giant red arrows) requesting that they consider adding this. It really does solve the "doors seem long" disjointedness problem.
contaygious
Active Member
Yeah it looks better that way, but I'm still wrapping it in cf. I'd rather not see the bottom line at all and focus on the other lines
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