Tesla

January 13, 2009

Talk Back Tuesday: Detroit Auto Show -- the Fantasy and the Reality

Dodge Circuit Toyota Prius.jpg Auto shows are supposed to be filled with fantasy cars. After all, for decades the glitzy show cars at these flashy gatherings were referred to as "dream cars," so expecting nothing but down-to-earth reality vehicles to appear on the show floor would be unrealistic (and, honestly, boring).

But at this year's Detroit Auto Show I found myself increasingly annoyed by the unending parade of pure fiction being shown off. This aggrevation came not as much from the show cars' embodiment as metallic vaporware as it did from the messages surrounding them. Basically, the automakers were claiming these vehicles would be available in the next 12-24 months when, of course, they probably won't represent viable transportation for upwards of 12-24 years.

By now you've probably identified which cars I'm referring to -- electric cars.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (25); Karl Brauer January 13, 2009, 12:06 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Dodge, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, MINI, Talk Back Tuesday, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show Electric Vehicles Fantasy Reality

January 25, 2008

Tesla: Failure to Launch? Apparently not...probably

By now you've probably seen the news regarding Tesla's launch date for its all-electric roadster. The day that will live in infamy (or not) is March 17th.

I'm heartened by this news, as I (along with many others) had been moving from cautiously optimistic to downright skeptical regarding the Tesla's real-world chances. Does this date mean I'm no longer skeptical? Nope. Beyond the slipping launch date the car's technical specifications keep slipping, too. What started as a 250-mile range car with zero-to-60 in 4.0 seconds and an MSRP of $92,000 has shifted to 200 miles, zero-to-60 in 5.7 seconds and $98,000.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (25); Karl Brauer January 25, 2008, 7:00 AM
Categories:: Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, Tesla

August 21, 2007

Talk Back Tuesday: Tesla too Good to be True?

It's time I admit it publicly -- I'm worried about the Tesla Roadster. Just last week a story by Automotive News' Mark Rechtin covered the latest delay in the electric Roadster's on-sale date, now scrubbed from late summer 2007 to fourth-quarter 2007. This announcement comes only a week after an announcement that the company's co-founder, Martin Eberhard, had "stepped down" from the post of CEO. Our own investigations have suggested the move was meant to free up Eberhard from the rigors of running the company and allow him to get back to the business of producing the car. An awfully good explanation...almost too good.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (27); Karl Brauer August 21, 2007, 6:00 AM
Categories:: Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday, Tesla