Tesla launches new Model S with updated design | Hacker News Reader

Tesla launches new Model S with updated design

techcrunch.com

19 pointsRovanion12 comments

Does anyone else find the Tesla design to be its worst feature? I want to want one. Really, I do. But when I look at them (this update included) it just looks like a Lexus from 2005 or something. Not that I have something against the Lexus owners out there - it's just that the look doesn't seem to represent what's inside.

I wish it weren't true, but I think design is going to keep me burning fossil fuels for a while now. Am I the only one?

You might be, anecdotal evidence but I've taken mine to quite a few car shows. Overwhelmingly the feedback has said that their design is something people like as opposed to something crazy like the i3.

Yeah, I'm not really in the market for the i3. But if the Model S looked like an S3 or an M3 I'd be perfectly happy. I can't quite put my finger on why though.

Since I'm getting downvoted above, I'll take that as evidence that I am in fact the only one. Ha!

Yeah, to be fair the design of the S is to have one of the lowest cD of any production car. A traditional grill generates a ton of turbulence so that's a contributing factor to the nosecone/grill-less design.

The S has a small grill for battery cooling, as do the X and the 3.

Yup, and articulated louvers on either side for extra cooling(always fun to hear them open up and the fans go full tilt at 120kW supercharging).

The Mercedes CLA 180 BlueEfficiency has the lowest Cd of any current production car, 0.22 versus the Model S 0.24.

Even the three-box Lexus LS of 2000 could achieve 0.25.

It's funny that people are downvoting you for your opinion. I don't share the opinion, but downvoting is not for matters of opinion. Whatever.

In any event, I was about to add to my earlier reply that the modern M5 looks quite fantastic. I for one would love a Tesla-like experience in the body of the M5. But I think that speaking of design only, the Model S is at worst mid-pack among the mid- and large-size luxury sedan segments.

Yes, that's fair. Maybe I sound too negative. It's definitely mid-pack, but it's an incredible car! It ought to look like the sexiest, most desirable thing available.

To my eye, the overall body shape of the Model S has since its initial conceptual renderings and then at its launch appeared similar to the Jaguar XF. And in my opinion, that's a good thing. I'm not thrilled with this change to remove the false grill, but it's fine. I think this is a matter of not yet being used to the notion of cars with no grill, but over time it may seem more familiar and comfortable.

I am a Tesla advocate, so I am biased, but for what it's worth I feel the conservative styling is an upside. I leased an electric Mini (the "Mini E") for two years and really appreciated that aside from some special paint colors and a couple small graphics, it was basically a Mini Cooper. It wasn't a "Hey, look at me in this electric car!" design. I agree with Musk's opinion that electric cars don't need to stand out—they don't need to look goofy or extreme.

I think the Model S looks classy. Mainstream, yes, but classy mainstream and not boring mainstream. I prefer it to the modern bulbous Mercedes-Benz motif and the Predator-grill Lexus motif.

There were rumors that we were going to see a 100kWH battery with this refresh but looks like that will be for another time.

The HEPA filter won me over.

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