[954Stealth]

Thoughts?

A new electric model from Tesla which is set to "challenge the BMW 3 series"
It is coming in 2017 and will be priced around $35,000 USD.








Tesla’s confirmation came in a Tweet late Tuesday night, responding to to an exclusive article by Auto Express magazine, which wrote:

“Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has exclusively revealed to Auto Express plans for a new electric BMW 3 Series rival, including its name – Tesla Model III. There were rumours that a new smaller Tesla was to be called Model E, but in one of his most candid interviews yet, Musk revealed why he had to have a rethink on the name. “We had the model S for sedan and X for crossover SUV, then a friend asked what we were going to call the third car,” Musk told us. “So I said we had the model S and X, we might as well have the E.

[KingOfJericho]

I hope that's just a render or chop because it looks virtually identical to a model S. I hope they differentiate the models a little better than the current crop of Germans.

[dkexige]

It won't be $35k and it won't be ready by 2017.

I'm listening though

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by dkexige

It won't be $35k and it won't be ready by 2017.

True and true.

[Slops]

i may consider picking one up for 35k.... if all the tech is still available in it

[TheBingoBalls]

Full electric going up against the 3-Series, C-Class, A4, ATS and IS? Yeah, likely not going to happen. People are throwing the "3-Series competitor" around too much lately.

The Model S is a great car for what it is but it's hardly a competitor to any petrol car. If you want to buy one over a similar priced petrol car, great but no one is going to put it through any serious comparisons (I don't want to see that drag race between the Model S and the M5...).

I do appreciate Tesla's idea of really pushing electric technology and while it may be the future, I just can't say it's a competitor to any car that isn't electric today.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I hope that's just a render or chop because it looks virtually identical to a model S. I hope they differentiate the models a little better than the current crop of Germans.

It look similar but is allegedly 20% smaller than the "S". But, yes the photos in the OP are renderings.

Also, supposedly gets around 200 miles per charge.


We all know how R&D and production for these thing can go but hopefully it'll stick around the date/price tag currently esitmated.

Musk is supposed to have built a gigafactory battery plant to develop the batteries which will hopefully keep the pricetag sub $40K (although the cost of building the plant is astronomical)

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Full electric going up against the 3-Series, C-Class, A4, ATS and IS? Yeah, likely not going to happen. People are throwing the "3-Series competitor" around too much lately.

The Model S is a great car for what it is but it's hardly a competitor to any petrol car. If you want to buy one over a similar priced petrol car, great but no one is going to put it through any serious comparisons (I don't want to see that drag race between the Model S and the M5...).

I do appreciate Tesla's idea of really pushing electric technology and while it may be the future, I just can't say it's a competitor to any car that isn't electric today.

Maybe not NOW. But I am confident in saying that electric tech is becoming more and more prevalent in the automotive/motorsports industry. This is making it cheaper (cost to the end user keeps going down) and the competition between companies is pushing the tech forward by leaps and bounds.

By the time this car comes out it will be positioned at a better place and time to compete with others in its class. So we're talking closer to 2020

[Slops]

I'm curious why you think it can't be compared to any petrol car? I mean i guess if you think about it, the comparison would be out of the window if you compare a car by acceleration if you get 100% from an electric engine from the start, and basically the limited range from an electric engine... other than that, there's tons of things to compare - luxury, convenience features, drive ability, handling, braking, service etc..

[Meeni]

For35k I will give it a long, serious look for sure.

[954Stealth]

How about Model 3 vs i3?

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Maybe not NOW. But I am confident in saying that electric tech is becoming more and more prevalent in the automotive/motorsports industry. This is making it cheaper (cost to the end user keeps going down) and the competition between companies is pushing the tech forward by leaps and bounds.

By the time this car comes out it will be positioned at a better place and time to compete with others in its class. So we're talking closer to 2020

I'm fully behind Tesla and what they want to do with the electric car but as it stands today or even in 2017, I don't see the tech improving that much and that quick. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. I fully agree with you that cars like the Model S and III are made to help with future costs like the i8/i3 is with carbon fiber, but I just can't label it a serious competitor because it isn't a total package with range being the biggest factor (avg. 220 miles/300KM in the real world?)

[KingOfJericho]

How exactly do they intend to make a 20% smaller version of a car 50% cheaper. There really isn't much that they could cut out of the car to make it fit that price point.

[Meeni]

Economy of scale, already amortized R&D, chain production, etc. And also there is a lot of margin in a 80k car. Some can be squeezed out to favor volume sale.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Economy of scale, already amortized R&D, chain production, etc. And also there is a lot of margin in a 80k car. Some can be squeezed out to favor volume sale.

This. Heavily market the car and sell it against competitors so folks will buy into it. Helps finance the R&D and production and allows for mass production. As output increases to mass production (the variable cost) it will lower the cost per unit and the overall total cost.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

This. Heavily market the car and sell it against competitors so folks will buy into it. Helps finance the R&D and production and allows for mass production. As output increases to mass production (the variable cost) it will lower the cost per unit and the overall total cost.

In theory this is true but then there's market and other external factors you consider. If it were a perfect world, Audi's would be cheaper than what they are with the amount of R&D and part sharing done throughout VAG.

[Red Bread]

You're both assuming that manufacturers are looking to maximize units sold, not profits. Audi's probably could be cheaper, but they can sell them for more, so they do.

Also, see $50k four cylinder 3ers.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

In theory this is true but then there's market and other external factors you consider. If it were a perfect world, Audi's would be cheaper than what they are with the amount of R&D and part sharing done throughout VAG.

True. Theory versus real world appliation do not always align.

Originally Posted by Red Bread

You're both assuming that manufacturers are looking to maximize units sold, not profits. Audi's probably could be cheaper, but they can sell them for more, so they do.

Also, see $50k four cylinder 3ers.

True for Audi. If they can sell it for a higher price and people will buy them, why not?
For Tesla though, I think maximizing units sold, even as a loss leader, is a viable strategy for an emerging technology...

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

For Tesla though, I think maximizing units sold, even as a loss leader, is a viable strategy for an emerging technology...

For consumers, it's a great idea but I'm not too sure shareholders will be happy (another external factor) which is why I don't think $35,000 is realistic unless something happens within the next 3 years

[Red Bread]

I'd be happy to test that. Hell, there's no way if buy a 3er over a Tesla with 250+ mile range for sub $50k.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I'd be happy to test that. Hell, there's no way if buy a 3er over a Tesla with 250+ mile range for sub $50k.

This. If the Model III undercut a decently equipped 3er by a fair amount, I would go tesla but if we're talking similar price point, I don't see any value in picking an all electric over a traditional petrol car.

[DrivenByE30]

On paper it sounds good, and i am sure it will come out good like free hot potatos...

But at this point we are all speculating, need more details...

This is going to hurt the sport sedan segment so bad...