The release candidate actually looks a lot like the original black render: Were we privy to the production design from the start?
I believe that's what he's pointing out. If you look at the video of the alpha as it drives by it look identical to the release candidate video. The duck bill is just a lot less pronounced from that angle.
Possibly. Because there's a very real chance that Tesla didn't change the nose at all. The black paint mutes the design features.
It's really hard to tell for sure with the bad video, but in my opinion it's quite possible it is unchanged:
Against my better judgement, I offer my opinion. Using the silver car as a reference, it is possible that the crease under the headlight has been modified and is now horizontal (rather than down-sloping) and blends with the top of the "duckbill." If that is possible, in my opinion it makes the front end design more cohesive. If correct, the change is subtle, not offending original design proponents while providing a "significant" modification for the change proponents.
That was the exact same thing I noticed as well. Crease under the headlight appears to be more horizontal.
It may take some digging, but Pando posted a GIF of the video, and you can see reflections moving in a horizontal pattern around the crease area. You'd be seeing the reflection dip and dive if it was the same design as the prototype.
That would be post #920. That GIF is very helpful. I am convinced more than ever that the crease under the headlight has been modified to minimize the "frowning duck" look.
Just noticed that there has been a significant change around rear door handle, the crease just above is much more prominent. I bet it was done for air drag reduction because I can't see an improvement aesthetically. Same goes for the base of the A-pillar just above the autopilot camera you can clearly see a protrusion in the panels. Look closely and you begin to see other subtle details. The new car is certainly more detailed than alpha prototype.
That could just be lighting. The shape of the crease looks the same as it was before. Remember the new picture was brightened artificially from a dark picture.
Look at the distance from the top of the air scoop to the top of the hood. It is hard to say but it does seem to be smaller making the nose pointer.
No change...all angles and light leading to wild speculation of a spectacular new front end. News flash...the original front end remains unchanged and is still spectacular as originally designed!!!
You certainly may be correct but I haven't seen anyone refer to the changes as "a spectacular new front end".
Really? You guys don't see the difference? Its huge. The "duck - socked in the face" front end is totally gone.
I'm pretty sure after the first reveal that Elon said they would probably be tweaking the front end and the trunk, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the front end has been changed.
How about the picture on the left is a computer generated render from the website... the two pictures are at different angles with different reflections. I still think they are the same. (reveal cars vs. release candidates, not sure about the website renders) I may turn out to be wrong, but I think you can't say definitively from these 2 pictures. We shall see when more pictures come out.