AGR said:
The WhiteStar should be the size of a CamCord(Camry/Accord) - 3 Series - C Class - A4 if the WhiteStar is the size of a 5 Series / E class it will be slightly too big.
I tend to dislike the use of the world "
should"... Are you saying "should" as "
ideally it would be ___", or "we
expect it will be ___"???
To me, I would like it to be the size of a 3 series, but I gather from Tesla mumblings that it is more likely to be 5 series+ sized.
The reality might be that the WhiteStar should be a CUV with distinctive styling and an AWD option. Similar to a CX7 - RDX and so on.
If Tesla had used the APX Crossover chassis (like Zap said would be the basis for their Zap-X), then it would be like you described (CX7 like).
I am convinced that Tesla wants to do a more conventional sedan. I don't think they will have a high seating position, tall roof design like the APX, CX7, etc. In a way the APX chassis would be the easy way to go because Tesla already has a strong relationship with Lotus and the APX is already a good design for a lightweight family vehicle. But Tesla wants to have full control this time, and expects to have cost savings by doing it themselves in the USA.
Tesla can buy a new C Class that will be available on Aug 7, and see what M-B is doing to keep weight down still have an excellent safety rating, steel, high strenght steel, aluminum, and a good measure of plastic. Newer cars the entire front end, and rear end is moulded plastic to save weight, and make it easy to have the car assembled.
To me the WhiteStar is a new frontier for Tesla. The Roadster was done by EV & computer people working with Lotus, whereas Tesla is now going to use the expertise of their new auto industry experts in their Michigan facility. I don't think they can rest on any Roadster laurels. They will need to work hard and fast to take on another large challenge usually accomplished only by companies much larger. I don't know if Tesla will have the space or budget to buy a lot of sample cars to pick apart. I have a feeling they are going to use the shared wisdom of people with a background in this area, and maybe they can figure it out with a clean slate. Tesla is certainly willing to "think outside the box" and try something different and innovative, but they are also trying to get things done fast and cheap by using as much existing commodity technology as possible. I bet the auto engineers working for Tesla in Michigan are being given an opportunity to try new things that are more "personally innovative" than what they would get to do in a low level job at one of the big old car companies. Hopefully Tesla can get a lot of value from some latent talent that was otherwise wasted being a cog in a big lumbering machine.
There is an appreciable difference between modifying and repowering an existing car to designing and engineering a car from a blank sheet of paper.
Yeah - there sure is - that is why I cross my fingers that Tesla gets the Whitestar right even though it looks like they did all the right things with the Roadster.
The time frame is at least 36 months, from the start to producing a car. When does Tesla want to start selling / delivering the WhiteStar?
A Tesla press release says "The first cars will roll off the assembly line in the fall of 2009, and Tesla Motors will produce at least 10,000 cars each year. The vehicles will cost $50,000 for the standard model or $65,000 for a premium model"
According to Wikipedia, "WhiteStar may be introduced in 2009 as a 2010 model"
By now Tesla should have a preliminary design of the WhiteStar, and start "leaking" the design to get the buzz going.
(Speculation) Based on the fact that the Roadster seems a tad behind schedule, and the construction of the WhiteStar factory seems behind schedule, I am going to guess that the fall 2009 production date might not happen quite on time (but please prove me wrong!)
We are getting small leaks of info already. For instance I recently learned the following:
* It may have a good portion of the ESS batteries flat (under the floor) rather than in a vertical box like the Roadster
* It is likely to fit 3 child safety seats across in the back.
* Martin's wife thinks the model looks very nice.
* They will attempt to design it to get a "5 star" safety rating.
They should also have the Roadster finalized, and start making it available to the automotive media and pundits to take it out and beat the you know what out of it, and tell me what you think. Chaperoned road tests in a controlled environment have a limited life span.
Yeah - I think Martin and Elon want to spend a little more time driving their VPs before they give it the final blessing to get thrown to the wolves.
