Tesla Model S face-lift. Anyone tempted?

[smyvy]

http://www.evperformance.co.uk/facelifted-model-s/

Looks good to me. I like the new headlights.

Edited by smyvy on Thursday 14th April 13:06

[oop north]

I had a look yesterday - prices have gone up too much for me now

[Edinburger]

Yes - I'm very tempted, I think it's a gorgeous car and phenomenal to drive.

You'll all know the detail of the change so I won't bore you with it, but when you look at what's now included it seems to offset the price difference?

I've test drove this car twice and I love it. Man maths tells me it makes sense financially (I do c.35K miles) but it's still an expensive car.

My only criticism is that it isn't available with black (rather than chrome) window trim. I noticed one of the Model 3s at Elon's press release had black window trim but that doesn't seem to be available on the S, unless it will be when the (alleged) new colours are launched. Does anyone know anything about that?

[gangzoom]

The update was pretty unexciting, new nose and LED headlights. There are better stuff coming, bigger battery, Autopilot 2.0 hardware, new seats etc. I'm going to wait another 12 months - also gives me a chance to up the budget .

[oop north]

Edinburger said:

Yes - I'm very tempted, I think it's a gorgeous car and phenomenal to drive.

You'll all know the detail of the change so I won't bore you with it, but when you look at what's now included it seems to offset the price difference?

Haven't been tracking prices for a bit but I have a note of the price of a P70D from mid-2015. After deducting 4wd, adding paint and roof it was a price payable of £52,900 (net of grant of £5000), which seemed reachable. The equivalent now (net of grant of £4500) is £60,450.

the increase might not all be down to the recent price rise, it might all be currency shifts - but that's a 15% rise in 10 months (which could well be currency)

Though used prices from £50k for an 85 (with 4 year / 50k mile warranty) look more interesting

Edited by oop north on Thursday 14th April 18:33

[Beati Dogu]

Yuck. Like the X and to a lesser extent the 3, they've ruined it with the new nose.

Reminds me of that scene in the Matrix when Neo gets his mouth fused shut.

[AnotherClarkey]

I prefer the new front - it is like they are moving on to an electric car aesthetic and leaving behind the more conservative internal combustion-a-like look.

[Beati Dogu]

It's a huge splatter zone for flies and stones. I wouldn't be choosing white or metallic paint as an option if I was ordering one.

[Edinburger]

AnotherClarkey said:

I prefer the new front - it is like they are moving on to an electric car aesthetic and leaving behind the more conservative internal combustion-a-like look.

I agree - I think the new nose looks great on the Model S. Somehow, I think it suits the S much more than the 3 or the X.

[Mike_C]

I think the new front end will grow on me and provides a family 'face' across the range; as someone said earlier, it's ditching the ICE-style nose that meant the S has been accepted by the mainstream and they can start being a bit more daring/controversial with the styling.

Have to say I won't be upgrading to a facelift just yet, but as and when a P100D becomes available with more range then I'd be tempted, perhaps. All depends on what my P85+ is worth at that time I guess!

[Beati Dogu]

It looks better with a front number plate, but you'd think they'd provide a flatter, recessed area to mount one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ4lYOSzh8w

[rossfitz]

Base level battery should be increasing soon from a 70 to 75 as the Model X configurator has opened with a 75 option. 8% increase from 70. If you are in the market I'd wait for that.

[rossfitz]

Anyone ever tested a 70 rear engine? Doesn't seem that outlets have 1 to try.

[JonV8V]

rossfitz said:

Anyone ever tested a 70 rear engine? Doesn't seem that outlets have 1 to try.

It will drive very much like all the others except for grunt as they share the same suspension (accepting springs or air is an option). There is also a feature in the cars to mimic any other model - the dealer (I know they don't like to be called that) should be able to do that for you. So in reality the only difference you might feel is if you drove a D model set to be a 70 is that it would have extra weight at the front.

[rossfitz]

Yes, been offered a test in the mimic option (which I think is on the ludicrous models) and an 85 rear engine option, but ultimately there will either be extra weight (with an engine and drivetrain up front) or extra power delivery somewhere in the speed spectrum which won't be representative. Maybe I'm getting old and picky, but Tesla are in the business of selling cars and there's a significant price jump from 70 to 90. Cynical me says if you drive a 70d or 90d you are more likely to spend more. Ever bought a hifi system with a budget in mind and had the guy bring out the better kit? Annoying thing is Tesla sales people seem reluctant to put their hands up and say they haven't got one to try.

Think I will watch for a used 70 to appear on Tesla site and then contact the outlet for a test drive.

[JonV8V]

rossfitz said:

Yes, been offered a test in the mimic option (which I think is on the ludicrous models) and an 85 rear engine option, but ultimately there will either be extra weight (with an engine and drivetrain up front) or extra power delivery somewhere in the speed spectrum which won't be representative. Maybe I'm getting old and picky, but Tesla are in the business of selling cars and there's a significant price jump from 70 to 90. Cynical me says if you drive a 70d or 90d you are more likely to spend more. Ever bought a hifi system with a budget in mind and had the guy bring out the better kit? Annoying thing is Tesla sales people seem reluctant to put their hands up and say they haven't got one to try.

Think I will watch for a used 70 to appear on Tesla site and then contact the outlet for a test drive.

The mimic is in all models, you just can't mimic a better car sadly (otherwise I might mimic a s90dl and save myself the cost. I guess the best bet after the car you want, a S70, is a S85 in mimic.

[Mike_C]

As I understand it, they are trying to reduce their loan car fleet, primarily because space is an issue at a lot of their showrooms, but also to reduce the amount of cash tied up I imagine - on a global scale, both add up!

As long as they have an 85 and a P90D with Ludicrous mode they would be able to accurately mimic all variants purely through software options. an 85 (RWD) can easily be restricted to 70 level power, similar a P90D-L could be restrcited to a P90D, 90D or 70D, they could even offer an 85D potentially. There would be no discernible difference to the driver between a mimic car and the real thing, other than range (not relevant on a test drive) and handling (only differs noticeably between RWD and AWD vehicles).

[gangzoom]

Apparently all the cars have essentially the same motor, ie 70D=90D, and the rear motor in the P90D-L is the same motor as in the old P85. It's the battery capacity/firmware changes that limit performance. Tesla are very very good at getting decent profit margins from their cars. They have just announced a 75D, with is $3K more than the current base 70S, which it self was more expensive than the original 60S.

I get the feeling they are quietly pushing up the price of the S to make sure there is a decent separation between the S and 3. By the end of the year I reckon the cheapest S will be north of £60K, compared to £49K when the S was first introduced to the UK. Been Tesla we know they don't do discounts, so the list price is the price people pay....Pretty damn amazing they can keep on increasing sales figures whilst pushing up the price, I bet CEOs at Merc/BMW/Audi would love to have a product line like that.

[Mike_C]

gangzoom said:

Apparently all the cars have essentially the same motor, ie 70D=90D, and the rear motor in the P90D-L is the same motor as in the old P85. It's the battery capacity/firmware changes that limit performance. Tesla are very very good at getting decent profit margins from their cars. They have just announced a 75D, with is $3K more than the current base 70S, which it self was more expensive than the original 60S.

I get the feeling they are quietly pushing up the price of the S to make sure there is a decent separation between the S and 3. By the end of the year I reckon the cheapest S will be north of £60K, compared to £49K when the S was first introduced to the UK. Been Tesla we know they don't do discounts, so the list price is the price people pay....Pretty damn amazing they can keep on increasing sales figures whilst pushing up the price, I bet CEOs at Merc/BMW/Audi would love to have a product line like that.

Yeah, it's a bit confusing; back in the early days the P85 had a bigger motor than the 85, but the same size batteries. Now, a 70D has the same size motors front and rear as a 90D, the latter just has a bigger battery so can delivery more power to the motor. Of course, the P85D has a bigger motor than the 70D/90D, and the P90D has the same size motors as the P85D but with a fancy fuse that allows more battery power be delivered to the motors! Sounds very confusing, but from Tesla's perspective there's a decent amount of commonality to keep things lean.

Price wise, they've increased around 15% in the last 6 months alone and I think you're spot on saying they're looking to broaden the gap between Model S and Model 3, and I think at the same time close the gap between Model S and Model X; Model X is over-specced for sure, and to make a profit on it will demand a pretty high price. To make it look palatable when it comes to the UK, the Model S price needs to be higher, which it now is.

Have to say, I'm more and more glad I got my P85+ when I did! Before the price increases came in, still got the Govt EV grant and the last of the RWD cars which, having had a P85D for a week, is definitely the most fun!

[AH33]

I don't like it's exhaust note.