Air suspension? I'm not a fan of that. In Renault Safranne, Range Rover & Audio Q7 I've found it to be quite sick-making.
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Alpha Build
- Thread starter Kevin Harney
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- Model S
Tommy
Member
V.P. Rawlinson mentions in his presentation the alpha model on display had been pulled from a fleet of alpha builds and had been "cosmetically enhanced" for show purposes. I take those comments to mean such things as door handle cutouts, charging door cutouts, etc were eliminated on this perticular model to put it's best face on for the public.
There are many other essential items missing that it would be very unlikely the vechicle on display is representative of an actual testcar; I believe the main purpose of the display was to showcase Tesla's engineering prowness.
yes i thought that to , but a cast is a cast , its more expensive to make a new cast for every step in the build process .
Also the fender has a different "dent" ( or how do you call that ) .
It looks like they anodized the aluminium to make it look better
But i guess we have to wait for the first pics off a finished one , or someone takes pics from the screens in Detroit
Also the fender has a different "dent" ( or how do you call that ) .
It looks like they anodized the aluminium to make it look better
But i guess we have to wait for the first pics off a finished one , or someone takes pics from the screens in Detroit
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tdelta1000
Active Member
One thing I wondered when seeing the Alpha chassis is how so much "seamless" aluminum welding can be done in mass production...? Typically I think car chassis use spot-welds because robots can do them very fast. The Alpha build chassis looks to have a lot of hand welding that I imagine would be time consuming and costly.
Perhaps that is one of the things they plan to do between Alpha and Beta builds is to optimize for quicker mass production.
Perhaps that is one of the things they plan to do between Alpha and Beta builds is to optimize for quicker mass production.
I think that is the power steering rack, with an electric motor to make the steering easy.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6749040.html
http://www.ebearing.com/news2001/news232.htm
http://bcs.fansamotors.com/index.php/2008/06/eps-operation-electronic-power-steering/
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tdelta1000
Active Member
If you are talking about the unit that has TESLA inscribed on it is the cover for the battery pack.
Has anyone seen a good picture of the model S Alpha show up yet? Based off of the NAIAS press announcment I had assumed that they would have footage of the Model S alpha, playing on the monitors, however I'm wondering if that was just a press only thing?
mt2
Member
In an extended version of the Auto Show presentation, they are specifically asked about the videos. Yes, that is footage of an Alpha build which they took in December.
Finally a video with a closeup of what was showing on the NAIAS monitors:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgaJW5gGGY#t=23s
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Tommy
Member
Agreed, although a "T" emblem is now on the nose of the hood, which I hope is removable. (or a decoy?) I very much liked how Tesla incorporated their emblem in the grill of the prototype; which I hope will remain.
