Suaviloquent

All Tesla have available awd, and the Model X is AWD only.

It looks alright. But that steering wheel. That's a really old design, and I after a quick glance, I wish they had put the new Chinese Buick Excelle's steering wheel in the Encore/Mokka.

This was bound to happen. Diminishing returns props its head up.

The model S has the combined cargo volume equivalent to many midsize SUVs like Ford Egde or Hyundai Santa FE. It has a hatch instead of a trunk, and the front storage is just a bonus.

The Model S is RWD and yet has excellent packaging efficiency. Electric cars don't have the same packaging concerns as an ICE powered car. Besides, the Model X is also RWD, and have you seen how cavernous it is? Or the frunk? Ultimately, people don't care which wheels are the drive wheels. The Bolt doesn't have mass appeal in the traditional sense either. Like really, does anyone expect the Bolt to sell in similar numbers of units as a Malibu? People talk of the Bolt being the second coming of Jesus, and you know what it might have a competent range... but you're not getting Cadillac levels of tech on the base model either. I expect the Bolt fully loaded to stop at around $50,000 before incentives. So it's not going to be an insignificant chunk of change either. I don't care really what anyone thinks about the issue of looks, the Bolt looks like a mash-up of a Honda Fit and Chevy Trax. Neither of which are beautiful cars, and the Bolt can't even be called a crossover, because you can't get AWD. So, the only thing the Bolt has going for it is a competent range, and some nice techy options. As far as looks go, you know it's a lumpy dumpling like how the Nissan Leaf is. Nothing standout. No design that is worthy of COTY type of award. Even the previous gen Volt atleast looks decent. And we're talking about a car, that will have a Nissan Leaf with 200 miles of range bearing down its neck too, and the Leaf has consistently outsold the Volt for two years in a row.

The Model X starrs right at around $80,000 with the base 70 dual motor that has 200 miles of range. Naturally, the first pre-orders being fulfilled as we speak are all fully loaded 90 dual motor models that optioned up to maximum are $130,000 plus. They've already started deliveries. Tesla's biggest problems are capacity and the teething problems facing all affordable electric vehicles. Which means that the Model 3 is the product that should really be looked at. The Model X is completely sold out for 2016. They can't build them fast enough, the sell really quickly.

You know what, they'll probably turn the Model X into their halo SUV while their underling below it, like a Model C whatever they call the lower one will have conventional doors.

Good question. Not really random thought in terms of my answer. I'd like to give an open answer, and so I will. In a PM. Random thoughts required here, after all.

Uh, it's been widely publicized that the Bolt EV's batteries will be made in South Korea. Who cares if it;s Panasonic or Tesla or LG? I want the batteries to be assembled in North America.

Ford has an interesting development going on. The Mustang is selling really well overseas, much better than expectations because buyers love the intense association with the Pony Car lifestyle, the branding and just the American values that are depicted by the product. Certainly, it also fulfills some volume goals, but the car isn't getting too much direct competition either. None of it really is about hardcore performance. The car, I guess made to make the Pony car approachable for worldwide consumption. That's why the car looks more like a sporty coupe than a butch Mustang - but again, it redefines how the car should look, and what brand image it should garner. I like how it did. Also, I don't know why but the Shelby was compared to a Z51 Corvette, and I'm just gonna say whatever the result was, America won, again. Just brush away the 2 point victory for one of the cars... But I gotta hand them to it, I would expect a top of the line Mustang to be able to roar alongside a Corvette.

And you know what? While I agree that powered Falcon doors is certainly over the top... You're seeing powered this - powered that, you get trunks and tailgates that are hands-free and minivans already have power doors. Something that Ford's CEO, Mark Fields actually mentioned that is because of aging populations in most of the lucrative and even growing car markets, mobility concerns are becoming real. People who want to operate their own automobile (but have arthritis or are disabled for example) have their lives enhanced by all these power functions. You're not going to see power operated car entry and egress functions reduced, actually they're going to penetrate even lower price points in the coming future. So the thing is, while the implementation of those features may be to a person's taste, because of changing consumer preferences, and needs of mobility being articulated, it's beyond doubt that the future that the real cutting edge is what the Model X is a peek into.

Dealer channels are not superior for smaller automakers if they want to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. For one, most dealers don't pay list price. Automakers bend over their backs to deliver competitive discounts, waiving freight, and other pricing mechanisms because the dealers commoditize the car market in many instances. In hindsight, any automaker could fix any mistake if only they could go back in time (which oddly enough SpaceX might just achieve in a millennium near you). What Tesla has to do is to continually build off of the fact that there is a ever increasing segment of customers that are perpetually tired of the incumbents or their distribution channels. They don't want the value of their dollar eroded by the chance one dealer could offer the same vehicle at a lower price. I think it's just brilliant how all customers pay the same price, which means customers are sure that that atleast the price is fair in the sense everyone pays the same, less available local and federal tax credits. Which are really more required for the incoming affordable EVs, not the top-end that Tesla currently caters to. And ultimately, by removing the middle-person Tesla gains valuable insights about its customers. What does this all mean? You know, Tesla already broke many rules that other automakers do to stay viable. Tesla released most of their EV patents for free and unrestricted use. Of course the company is using it for some kind of marketing strategy advantage, no doubt. But I firmly believe, even if the company folds in the next 5-6 years, when the real hurdles start to bear on the firm, they'll have done what they've always wanted - to jumpstart the electric car, and make it relevant for automobile consumer. And that's why people who want them to fail, over-look everything the company has done. Get out of your product silos. Look at the customer experiences. They have a massive charging network, easily the superior choice for people who actually want to use their Teslas for travel on the major Interstate and highway corridors. Their buyers are thus constantly bombarded with the stories of other buyers, and they're always surrounded by Teslas. Brilliant. The company is building a very high capacity for vertical integration. It's almost like Fordism... which is weird. No doubt you know, they are taking advantage of tax incentives in the states of Nevada for example. But which competitive automaker isn't finding ways to get some kind of break? Or making decisions in the same vein. Amazon, a huge a retailer didn't record a single profit for about a decade since its launch. Could anyone have thought that now that same company is a real threat to brick and mortars Wal Mart? Obviously, that example has little to do with Tesla and other automakers. But what it does say is that as long as Tesla can capture the value it wants to give to customers through its products, remember it's the experiences, not just the box on four wheels - it can survive long enough for things to turn around, and become very profitable. Now please, someone do the informed thing and do some bloody research on this topic instead of plucking opinion editorials from here and there. And real research means looking into the entire history of the company not just its recent past or projected recent future.

Okay maybe the ones I looked at are private party sellers, so no chance of being vetted or being certified pre-owned.

DFelt, all that talk about Gm sourcing its batteries from South Korea... You know what I will just put it out there that Tesla of all makes - the smallest of all of them is the one that will be manufacturing batteries in America of all places. You know what? GM could have easily been the company to do something like that. The whole vertical integration to have complete control over the product. But you know what? Tesla doesn't need to succeed in traditional means. The company can go bust for all I care. However, they will really only go bust if a lot of automakers jump ship and go to electric vehicles permanently, and of course, like Tesla pursue means to produce batteries cheaply and with the least environmental impact. Which I hope they do, for the sake of the planet.

The thing is, I've also seen the Camaro in person. I don't think the styling is a departure, it looks very similar - but it kind of just looks like what I wished the 5th gen would have looked like, lean and ready for blood. The Mustang looks very pretty. What they did to the rear haunches, the presence is there. The Camaro, only by being someone who talks about it all the time do I think gives a real menacing look. If I was a lay person on these matters, I'd gravitate to the Mustang solely on looks every time.

Ripped straight out of FapTurbo's playbook: Or how about that Acura NSX that was delayed to the tune of about 5 years. Delays and delays from the big behemoth automakers? YOU DON'T SAY!

The general public disagrees. Due to just how lucrative that market segment is, and its continued momentum, Jeep of all makes is going there. Ford is going there. Cadillac and Lincoln are almost already there, not to mention the bounty of German makes already there. Whether we like to or not, a Model X had to exist. The general public also doesn't buy many alternative vehicles. If Tesla can capture all of the premium EV segment at this early stage, they will have continual superior returns while other automakers juggle their electrification programs by using their future legacy and defunct conventional cars to fund the growth of those same segments.

Ahhh... I think you're getting fleeced at that price. $1500 is all I would go. Because a quick search (in CDN funds too) you get vehicles with $h!ty mileage and something like $1750 asking price.

There's some real mismanaged companies such as (clears throat) a certain Italian company that delays profitable (like really just clear shoo-ins as far as vehicles go) models for the explicit purpose of bringing niche, tiny volume, unprofitable vehicles to market. And I hear they've delayed the their "Grandest" of wagons by 2 years or more, ever since they first announced it. And last but not least ALAS Tesla does not have showrooms. You can't buy the Teslas at their stores, and just drive them off the lot. The stupid thing that the editorials do is compare Tesla to the biggest and most successful automakers. Here's a fact, there's more automotive losers out there than those specific winners, who if I recall correctly, were even bigger losers, and not too long ago either. Compare Tesla to a REAL competitor - and they simply don't exist. And they still don't. Last I heard, the Bolt is going on sale effectively this time next year. Just a waste of breath. That's what the article really is.

Really what the author should have said is that the development time and the falcon doors are burdens, and lengthened the development time. But the way the title is stated, it's writing off potentially the most technologically advanced SUV in the world. The biggest threats to Tesla actually have nothing to with the vehicle itself. It's more to do with the company's potential margins on the Model 3, and low oil prices which affect every player that will sell the affordable EVs. Crossovers are crazy sellers. And like Cadillac has proven, it's never too late to join the party or sell exuberant and expensive behemoths.

So stop playing the role of wings and READ THE ARTICLE. I read the article, and it presents some nice points. But Musk himself is always frank and blunt. That's also how he's different. The thing is, all is done and now they're stuck to it. You're asking an all-new automaker to be perfect. The closest they can get to that is winning awards all over and getting car of the year type accolades. They've done that, so they're not lacking in product, and they still don't carry the baggage of the incumbent brands. Wrong. I'M not the one demanding Tesla gets it right 100% of the time. The financial model they operate on demands that. I have no hate-on for Elon Musk. I just know that he's bitten off more than he can chew. And he has. Simple as that. Oh, so other automakers don't do that? They don't aim for grandeur? They don't do escalation of commitment? Your argument is so untenable I'm just going to say that you've just phoned it in. Glad to know you're never going to buy one. Now, if the Lamborghini Urus comes out with scissor doors...

You know why I don't like these dumb Opinion Editorials? Because they're not vetted, and they're meant to peddle paper sales or be click-bait. This person hasn't done the real research. They only scratch at the surface. The Model X eschews a lower entry price point for excellence of engineering that justify its high price. There's a quite a few brands that we wish would do so, but they fail - because they cannot address the most pertinent needs of their customers. It's one thing to post an article for discussion and it's another to just propagate a targeted agenda which just draws more questions of the real motive of the OP. You clearly have demonstrated a real brand bias. Okay. Most of my academic textbooks rip on GM as an automaker the most, and they have financial information - market strategy - organizational behaviour, you name it, problems left and right even past BK plastered all over. And I take all of it with a mighty grain of salt.

So stop playing the role of wings and READ THE ARTICLE. I read the article, and it presents some nice points. But Musk himself is always frank and blunt. That's also how he's different. The thing is, all is done and now they're stuck to it. You're asking an all-new automaker to be perfect. The closest they can get to that is winning awards all over and getting car of the year type accolades. They've done that, so they're not lacking in product, and they still don't carry the baggage of the incumbent brands.

The problem with your counter examples is that they precisely prove my point. Chrysler DID own the minivan segment for nearly a decade, and Ford didn't relinquish its ponycar sales dominance for a long time either. GM will get to market first, with way more experience building cars and a dealer network more than up to the task of moving cars in the required numbers. The Tesla? Debut delays and troubled launch of current product are both very troubling signs. Their insistence on fighting legal battles to sell cars in Michigan will just wear them down even more. They're in huge trouble. No you're just heavily cheering for GM. The new market is heavily competitive. There's no protection for domestic makes from the foreign competition. GM will not gain any advantage, especially if gas prices fail to cooperate. I can for sure give GM a pity point for head a start of a few hundred to a couple thousand in sales. Pony cars sold in the hundreds of thousands, in the millions in the first few years they came out. That isn't going to happen for electric vehicles. The Volt was meant to transform GM's alternative vehicle footprint. It did in a sense, but now it's in dire threat by another Chevy, and by making a conventional Malibu hybrid - the Volt will be in even more scrutiny. Even the famed Prius is no longer going to be the top-seller Toyota as the company predicted. GM isn't going to win here. No one will, not at first. And because of inertia and bounded rationality, I can easily bet ham over fist that people will definitely wait just a few months more to get the Model 3. So anyways, go see my new thread on the subject and discover why I believe what I believe. Because Elon Musk admitted it himself. Uh, even incumbent automakers make some pretty stupid mistakes (read : ELR), but except here the problem is that Tesla's Model X is still sold-out. And yeah, they had an engineering gaffle. But then again, it's the only production SUV ever made that has Gullwing doors and a panoramic windshield as STANDARD equipment.

What is it with your incessant campaign against Tesla? Are you on the payroll of a signficant make, and this is all you scheme to do? Because we've had that happen here before, and it isn't something that's new nor is it refreshing.