The number of people willing to plunk down a $1,000 deposit for a Tesla Model 3 currently stands at about 455,000. In the third quarter of 2017, Tesla delivered 220 units of its smallest and most affordable electric car. Last quarter, some 1,550 buyers took ownership.If it looks like it’s shaping up to be a long wait for the newest reservation holders, you’re right. Tesla claims it has succeeded in working out some of the issues hampering production at its Fremont, California assembly plant, but the pushed-back ramp-up of Model 3 production means some reservation holders won’t see their new car this decade. Meanwhile, you can not only walk into a General Motors dealer and order a Chevrolet Bolt today, but you can expect delivery well before the 2020 election campaign gets into full swing.Is GM planning to exploit its competitor’s production woes? Not us, the automaker claims.Speaking to Automotive News, Steve Majoros, marketing director of Chevrolet cars … [Read more...] about As Tesla Model 3 Reservation Holders Wait (and Wait and Wait), GM Says It’ll Play Nice
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Elon Musk plans Tesla Supercharger drive-in restaurant, and Twitter goes nuts
Outside of his Steve Jobs-ian product reveal events, Elon Musk's Twitter feed has become arguably the most important communication platform for the Tesla chief and serial entrepreneur, a window into his ambitious, audacious and often playful psyche. It's where he announced his plan to launch a SpaceX rocket carrying a Roadster into orbit around Mars, among other things, and it helps cement his brand as a man of the future.So what to make of his claim over the weekend that he plans to put an "old school drive-in" restaurant, complete with roller skates and rock 'n'roll, on the site of one of Tesla's new Supercharger locations near Los Angeles?Is he serious? Who knows. It strikes us as a not-half-bad idea in car-mad Los Angeles, even if it would be a weird mashup of old-meets-new (the name Tesla's Drive-In somehow feels disorienting in a time-space-continuum kind of way). But in this case, at least, Twitter definitely has risen to the task. We'll let the social network speak for … [Read more...] about Elon Musk plans Tesla Supercharger drive-in restaurant, and Twitter goes nuts
Meet the Byton, a Tesla Model X-rivaling crossover
It’s the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. For the car world, it’s an increasingly important show, particularly when it comes to alternative powertrains and autonomous driving tech. The first big reveal from CES is this, the Byton Crossover Concept. Yep, if you’re going to make an impact with a concept at the moment, it seemingly has to be SUV-ish. It’s electrically powered and comes from a Chinese start-up company. It may be a little generic to look at on the outside, but it’s very artfully crafted inside. Beyond its very intricate door handles and some neat stitching, it’s absolutely dominated by a 49-inch screen, which the production car will keep. Tesla Model X’s – there are additional screens on the steering wheel and ahead of the rear passengers. Spec wise, there will be two options: a rear-wheel-drive entry model with 268bhp, 295lb ft and the ability to travel 250 miles on a charge, and a … [Read more...] about Meet the Byton, a Tesla Model X-rivaling crossover
It Looks Like The Tesla Model 3 Is A Lot Quicker Than Advertised
As Model 3 “production hell” continues, few of the 400,000 or so people on the waiting list have gotten hold of their cars. But the silver lining is the lucky few who actually have taken delivery now own something that is - by the looks of it - quite a bit faster than it should be. We’re keen to see more acceleration tests, but this early one from DragTimes is certainly very promising. Despite the chilly conditions, the Model 3 used here managed 0-60mph in a VBox-recorded 4.663 seconds - significantly faster than the rather underwhelming 5.1sec figure Tesla itself quotes. It managed to do a quarter-mile in 13.376 seconds meanwhile, ending the run at 103mph. Not bad considering this is just the base, rear-wheel drive Model 3 - a dual motor version will eventually join the ranks, and yes, there’s already talk of Ludicrous Mode. We can’t wait for the inevitable BMW M3 drag race when that one’s here… … [Read more...] about It Looks Like The Tesla Model 3 Is A Lot Quicker Than Advertised
Can An Acura NSX Beat A Tesla Model S P100D On The ‘Strip?
The McLaren 720S may be becoming the new darling of the YouTube drag race world, but there’s still plenty of straight-line fun to be had with the former ‘king’: the Tesla Model S P100D. As a perfect case in point, here’s Tesla’s most potent Model S taking on the new Honda/Acura NSX. The latter may source most of its power from a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, but that mid-mounted six-banger is augmented by a trio of electric motors: one for each front wheel, and one attached to the flywheel on torque-fill duties. As a result, it’s brutally quick off the line, and even though its total power figure of 573bhp falls well short of the P100D’s, the car is a lot lighter. Let the battle commence… … [Read more...] about Can An Acura NSX Beat A Tesla Model S P100D On The ‘Strip?