Autocar: Tesla Model S vs Aston Martin Rapide S

[anoother]

Monty Python said:

All they need now is a range-extender version, that will eliminate the need to recharge off the mains.

I think they're planning on building stations where you can just get the batteries swapped in a matter of minutes and be back on your way. With the way these are selling in America, it doesn't seem too far-fetched.

What I think is most impressive about this car, is that they realized they don't just have to do an electric car well - they have to do a car well. The depth and breadth of disruptive engineering that's gone into this car is staggering... everything from the door handles, to the drivetrain, to the factory that builds it.

Shame it doesn't (and shouldn't) sound of anything.

[Welshbeef]

Instant throttle response max torque from zero rpm very good looking car, as fast if not faster than its competition.

Lack of noise will be an issue but as with huge powered diesels its nice to have a choice

[kambites]

Kronstein said:

Didn't Autocar achieve less than a 300 mile range? 30 mins for a half-recharge - every 100 or so miles then...

About 250, which is roughly ten times what I need.

[AnotherClarkey]

MonkeyMatt said:

AnotherClarkey said:

Not that comparable on performance though - and it would probably have caught fire. Also, I don't think they are being made any more and the company is on the verge of bankruptcy.

I agree about the company being a bit shaky, but the performance seams to be not to far adrift of the Tesla, Aston and Porsche.

Depending which figures you take it is up to 2s slower 0-60 (getting on for half as long again) and takes more than 2s longer on the 1/4 mile. Part of the problem is that it has to constantly lug about an engine that is hardly ever used.

[petrolsniffer]

Some exciting development.

300mile range means i'd only have to charge it up once a week.

Will be some years before the tech filters down to little hatchbacks etc?

[anonymous-user]

I sorry, but that ridiculous touch screen, which looks to have been specifically developed for people with poor eyesight, is THE most distracting thing i have ever seen in a car since Keira Knightley stopped doing a spot of taxicabing on the weekends.



And, electric cars aren't going to be properly fast until they get more than 1 gear..........

[McWigglebum4th]

Kronstein said:

Didn't Autocar achieve less than a 300 mile range? 30 mins for a half-recharge - every 100 or so miles then...

Trip to Valencia from the UK: pick a diesel Panamera with the 100 litre tank and don't need to stop for fuel.

Have enough swap stations and you'd be stopped for less time in the tesla

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5V0vL3nnHY

[E38Ross]

RumpleFugly said:

About £80k for the range topping model so nearly half that of the Aston

Yes but that's just because it's an Aston. You can get an M5 for half the Aston with some change and it still performs every bit as well, if not better.

[AnotherClarkey]

E38Ross said:

RumpleFugly said:

About £80k for the range topping model so nearly half that of the Aston

Yes but that's just because it's an Aston. You can get an M5 for half the Aston with some change and it still performs every bit as well, if not better.

Maybe, maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvHTN0Yi1t4

I know which I would rather own and it wouldn't be the BMW.

Edited by AnotherClarkey on Saturday 7th September 13:29

[E38Ross]

AnotherClarkey said:

E38Ross said:

RumpleFugly said:

About £80k for the range topping model so nearly half that of the Aston

Yes but that's just because it's an Aston. You can get an M5 for half the Aston with some change and it still performs every bit as well, if not better.

Maybe, maybe not.

So the tesla started before the bmw and wins just as the M5 was catching?

Still very impressive of the tesla, mind. I'd take a rapide over an M5 but would take an M5 over a tesla.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvHTN0Yi1t4

I know which I would rather own and it wouldn't be the BMW.

Edited by AnotherClarkey on Saturday 7th September 13:29

[AnotherClarkey]

E38Ross said:

More like the Tesla started first because the is no lag between you mashing the throttle and it moving.

[JonnyVTEC]

petrolsniffer said:

Some exciting development.

300mile range means i'd only have to charge it up once a week.

Will be some years before the tech filters down to little hatchbacks etc?

The tech being a 85kWh battery compared to a Leafs 24kWh item? Over tripling the most expensive part of the car to increase the range is bringing nothing new to the table really.

[E38Ross]

AnotherClarkey said:

More like the Tesla started first because the is no lag between you mashing the throttle and it moving.

Erm, if doing that you'd use launch control, in which case there's no lag at. And there isn't either if you suddenly mash your foot. Just a poor start.

[caine100]

AnotherClarkey said:

Maybe, maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvHTN0Yi1t4

I know which I would rather own and it wouldn't be the BMW.

Interesting result. The M5 is lighter, more powerful, and has better tyres with a larger contact patch. I guess EVs are just magic.

[98elise]

Max_Torque said:

I sorry, but that ridiculous touch screen, which looks to have been specifically developed for people with poor eyesight, is THE most distracting thing i have ever seen in a car since Keira Knightley stopped doing a spot of taxicabing on the weekends.



And, electric cars aren't going to be properly fast until they get more than 1 gear..........

Why do you need more than one gear? Gears are used to overcome the issue that ICE engines have with rev/torque limitations. EV's don't really need gears or a clutch.

[AnotherClarkey]

caine100 said:

AnotherClarkey said:

Maybe, maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvHTN0Yi1t4

I know which I would rather own and it wouldn't be the BMW.

Interesting result. The M5 is lighter, more powerful, and has better tyres with a larger contact patch. I guess EVs are just magic.

I suppose a lot depends on how much of the time the BMW is getting more power to the road than the Tesla during the run.

[JonnyVTEC]

98elise said:

Why do you need more than one gear? Gears are used to overcome the issue that ICE engines have with rev/torque limitations. EV's don't really need gears or a clutch.

Gears would be nice to broaden the envelope of very efficient running! Ie optimised motor speed for the traction motor and power electronics.

Also would help tractive effort to increase performance.

Edited by JonnyVTEC on Saturday 7th September 18:18

[c2mike]

I test drove a T Model S in Florida recently. It is astoundingly quick and the touch screen works very well - driving the future car now.

[AnotherClarkey]

JonnyVTEC said:

98elise said:

Why do you need more than one gear? Gears are used to overcome the issue that ICE engines have with rev/torque limitations. EV's don't really need gears or a clutch.

Gears would be nice to broaden the envelope of very efficient running! Ie optimised motor speed for the traction motor and power electronics.

Also would help tractive effort to increase performance.

Edited by JonnyVTEC on Saturday 7th September 18:18

Didn't Morgan make an electric version which kept the manual box and clutch? I think they made it 'just to see what would happen' - it would be interesting to know how it panned out.....

[Vipers]

GroundEffect said:

The Model S has been all the rage in the US car mags. It looks pretty sorted.

A full charge in 6 hours on the mains? And nearly 300 mile range? That is perfectly usable. And it looks the part. And it's fast.

Thought it was a lot less than that. Managed to sit in one in a showroom last month in Bellevue, fantastic interior, dash board better than Star Trek, just looked so alien having no "Engine", just an electric motor on each back axel.