Comparing the Model S to the Rapide is probably the comment that I have heard most from people (at least those who know cars). It probably is the most similar overall (especially the profile). The Jaguar XF is a close second (more so the rear on that car).
FWIW, I was shopping the Rapide when I found images of the Model S alpha. I now drive the Model S instead of the Rapide....
The initial designer of the Model S was Henrik Fisker, designer of the Aston Martin DB9 and Vantage. That's where the lines come from.
@Todd Burch, @vfx ... My understanding was that Henrik Fisker was tasked with the Model S initial design but Tesla went...um...another direction, and that direction was Franz's. I'm sure the forum historians will correct the record in short order.
No, his designs were dumped; he turned in progressively worse designs till he was dumped (then used his real designs for the Karma). These lines are Franz's.
I had heard that the rough shape came from Henrik...but I'm just passing on what I've heard in the past so I could very well be wrong.
"Henrik Fisker performed initial design on the electric car Tesla Model S" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Fisker More details on the whole Tesla vs Fisker battle here: http://wot.motortrend.com/tesla-vs-fisker-the-epilogue-or-why-tesla-owes-fisker-11-million-3052.html
A lot of the Aston Martin look came from Ian Callum, before Fisker. Then Callum went to Jaguar and that had a lot of influence on the XKR which looks very similar to the Vantage. He also designed the XF which, of course, has styling elements "borrowed" from the Model S. "In 1999, Callum was appointed to succeed the late Geoff Lawson as Design Director at Jaguar, which had become a Ford Motor Company subsidiary in 1990. For a short stint, Callum directed design at both Jaguar and Aston Martin and it is claimed that he laid the foundations for the DB9 which was later finished by Henrik Fisker ..."
There are old threads on this forum where the Model S concept was compared a long while back to Jag XF & Rapide. Some comparisons to Porsche Panamera, and Maserati Quattroporte as well. WhiteStar styling ideas - Page 8 WhiteStar styling ideas - Page 34 It's the new Masserati Quattroporte like the Model S? - - - Updated - - - Well, I think the precusor to the XF, the C-XF was shown in 2007... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_C-XF Also, we had Peter Rawlinson go from Jaguar to Tesla... List of Public Companies Worldwide, Letter - Businessweek - Businessweek (Note, he left Tesla a while back...)
Below are a couple of comparison images of the Model S VS Aston Martin Rapide 4dr, and the Jag XF. All are sleek good looking exec 4 door saloons. All have seriously good looks and common DNA due to messrs Fisker and Callum. Of course, whats under the skin couldn’t be more different and massively outweighs any looks comparison. But its infuriating having to wait for a RHD MSP85 here in the UK !!
Thanks for sharing that background. It is very interesting to see what the speculation was (over 4 years ago!) on what other cars the Model S would look like.
I own both the Karma and the Model S. I like both of them a lot. But I have to tell you, I get at least 3 times as many compliments on the looks of the Karma as I do on the Model S. As for the Rapide, IMO the lines of the Karma look more like an Aston (e.g. Vanquish) than the Rapide does:
I'm not surprised, the Karma has a more unique design (Although a little too cartoon-like for my tastes). Ironically, the Model S drives like the Karma looks, and the Karma drives like the Model S looks!
While that is definitely true from an acceleration standpoint, the Karma out-handles the Model S. Less initial understeer in the Karma, and better stability. This was borne out by the skidpad numbers: .91G for the Karma (Road & Track) and .86G for the Model S (Edmunds). Both have tons of understeer at the limit as would be expected for 5300/4600 lb. sedans on street tires.