I'd like to see and have more info, more tech and more control.
I believe that Tesla has shown with the Model S and Model X that the big screen is there to provide more information, better access to the underlying technology of the vehicle, and more control over what could have been done with a dashboard full of gauges, buttons, and switches.
By that I mean I'd like to
a) Have the latest tech, I understand that's not going to happen, Elon's made that clear but it's a strange sentiment that Elon is drawing a line that tech is being stripped away unless you get an S/X with no other choice. Almost all manufacturers will sell you an add-on tech package if desired we haven't seen any indication that will happen.
That is why I pointed out the words
'customer facing' earlier. Anything
'significantly new' that is a touch, feel, interact experience will appear on Tesla Generation II vehicles, Model S & Model X, first. But make no mistake, the underlying technology for the Model ☰ will undoubtedly be the absolute latest and greatest that Tesla has to offer as the initial representative of Tesla Generation III vehicles.
Take a look at BMW's website. There are some features that are available for the 7-Series that are simply not offered for the 3-Series at all. That's perfectly OK. The same will happen between Model S and Model ☰. At the same time, you may expect that useful technologies that are standard issue or optional on 3-Series, A4, ATS, C-Class, Giulia, IS, Q50, TLX, XE, and others will also be available for Model ☰. Not necessarily the comfort and convenience items or window dressing gimmickry features, but everything regarding safety & technology at the very least.
b)More control - (again depending on the package) most manufacturers will allow you to do things like put the car in sport mode, turn off fraction control, manual shift, etc...all things to tweak the driving/handling performance to what you want in a particular scenario. Heck even Tesla gets into it a little with "insane" mode and launch control. There's no indication I'll see this on my model 3 at least in the first year or two.
As I understand it, the switches for different modes are all there -- in software -- accessed from the central screen. It sounds like you would prefer physical buttons instead. Too bad. You won't get them. Here, take a look at this video from 2013 of Chris Harris covering the Mercedes-AMG SLS Electric Drive, I think it does things the way you would prefer, but requires you come off something like $500,000 to get it...
Never mind that it cost four times as much as a Tesla Roadster, had 13 kWh more battery pack capacity, and quad motor all wheel drive, but had the same 0-60 MPH speed, and half the overall range even though it came out five years later.
To some extent, I do agree with you somewhat... It would be nice to be able to get into the very nitty-gritty of things, tweaking each and every parameter one by one, instead of just switching between pre-programmed modes. I remember that my biggest frustration with Sony PlayStation videogames has been for over twenty years that there are only preset control schemes in the options, instead of allowing me to individually assign buttons as I prefer. Difference is, I think, that I trust Tesla to have modes that work well and allow the car to remain durable and exhibit long term reliability and endurance. Plus, I understand that Tesla doesn't yet want to allow Customers to get themselves into trouble by inadvertently doing a home tuning operation that breaks the car.
c) More info - I'd like to see the most of the info shown on the S/X small screen. AP info, speed, small map, heck call me old fashioned but I even like right/left blinker lights, I have no idea how those will get displayed right now.
Yeah. I think I'll call you
'old fashioned' on this one.
The blinkers? You don't really need a binnacle for those, do you? Since Tesla isn't able to eliminate the mirrors yet, chances are the blinkers will appear on those, as they do on so many other cars in the segment. It's hard not to see which direction you are indicating for a turn with those things.
The Autopilot information isn't really necessary to be shown. It is just there in the current iteration of technology mostly to show off. You have the windshield and windows to show you what the car is doing. It is probably best to monitor the car by looking out of those than at a display.
I hope it still is with the Model 3. I can't wait until we get some Tesla employees putting up youtube videos comparing the TM3 next to a BMW3/Audi A4.
I am certain you don't have to worry about this. The BMW 3-Series has been repeatedly beaten with it comes to handling, and fun-to-drive factor over the past five years. With so many examples of how to exceed its capabilities, there is no way that Tesla will miss the mark.
Although the steering wheel comment was meant to illustrate an example of how engineering design form follows function I do actually think that Elon would be happy with a Total recall design. Between his riding around in a taxi comments, his autonomous Tesla network where the car earns money for you idea, and the hard push to level 5 automation why would you need a steering wheel?
Keep in mind that Elon still drives himself to work. Not riding in a limousine or taking a helicopter. And he does that going Southbound on the 405 through horrid traffic, to then get on the 105 through similarly bad traffic, just to get to SpaceX here in Los Angeles. That has got to suck. But he still does it because he WANTS TO DRIVE. Remember, in his youth he bought a McLaren F1. I believe he also bought a
Jaguar E-Type that he admittedly paid
'way too much for'.
Heck, I love to drive too, but I'll tell you right now, long before I became a billionaire, if I had the dough, I'd never drive myself anywhere in this town. I wouldn't even ride in the front seat, just to make sure if there was a problem, I couldn't be blamed for the incident. There are too many predators looking to purposely get into accidents with famous and/or wealthy people so they can sue. But without doubt, Elon believes in vehicles that are
'drivers cars'. And he wants them to be as close to stunningly beautiful, inside and out, as possible.
The Tesla Autonomous Fleet may well include some type of
'Johnny Car' without steering wheel or pedals some day. So what? They won't be selling them to anyone. So no one needs a steering wheel or pedals in them. That way, no one will bother to carjack them either. And in any case, their design aesthetic is sure to be better than in that movie, or others, like
'BLADE RUNNER' (1982) or
'The FIFTH ELEMENT' (1997).
You need the steering wheel to have fun. I know that there are a lot of people that look at driving a different way than I do. They want to demonstrate their ability to
'tame the wild beast' or whatever. Maybe they want to show off the skill they have developed at taking a car just to the edge, but not going over it, and they consider that to be
'fun' for some reason. Hey, as a matter of defensive driving, it is important to know how to control your car in an understeer or oversteer situation. But that still doesn't mean the fastest way around a track is sideways. And it doesn't change the fact that burning rubber ruins tire life.
I don't need three pedals on the floor, a handbrake, and a four-on-the-floor gated shifter. I don't need a tachometer, oil pressure gauge, voltmeter, ampmeter, water temperature gauge, or any of those other dials in front of me. I don't need to be reminded that I am operating a machine in order to enjoy driving. I'm good with a steering wheel, the long skinny pedal on the right, and a nice brake pedal that works when I need it. I believe the biggest challenge is not getting the most out of the machine, but proving myself as the fastest guy on the track. You don't race the other cars, you race yourself, and the track.
On an unrelated note, thanks for a well thought out discussion Red Sage. I see where you're coming from.
Thank you for your replies, comments, and the effort to fully communicate your position.