"twinturbobmw" (twinturbobmw)
08/20/2013 at 19:24 • Filed to: Rants
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"twinturbobmw" (twinturbobmw)
08/20/2013 at 19:24 • Filed to: Rants | 1
| 27 |
I want to talk about electric car design, specifically, the Tesla Model S and Fisker Karma. Have you noticed anything different about Electric cars and how they look? Whether we're talking about the $30,000 Nissan Leaf or the $100,000 Fisker Karma, they all have very...unique design. For example the Karma uses all "green" materials on the interior. What was wrong with normal luxury interiors? I know you want to appeal to buyers who like to be eco friendly (hence the electric car) but just because it is powered by something "futuristic" doesn't mean you have to make the entire car that way. There is really no other car that has a cross shaped steering wheel and a grille that looks like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
The same goes for the Tesla Model S with that tablet screen TV thing. Was a screen of that size really necessary? I find it understandable that the Model S puts all the controls on the screen, therefore in theory needing it to be larger. (Heard of buttons?) However look at the iPhone: it does everything that an iPad does, in a smaller size. I'm not saying make the screen the size of an iPhone but don't make it big enough that it can be seen from space. If you are going to make a screen that big why not at least give it a center console too? With that you would have something that looks somewhat like a normal car. You can't say it was something you just didn't think through because the concept car had it. Why delete that?
While we're on the subject of Tesla let's talk about the exterior. Like the Fisker it has that weird grille only this time it has a mustache. Could you have at lease taken a bit of time to design it and not stick a big black cover over what was the grille? Also, the door handles. The idea is you unlock the car and the door handles come out, then you pull on the sensor on the back and the door opens. The problem I have, and if you have a Tesla you may prove me wrong here, (I've only used it once) but that must get annoying not only because it might be slow, but when I used it the sensor didn't respond every time.
(all photos: MotorTrend)
So to sum up this short rant I want to ask why do Electric cars (I know I haven't mentioned the Leaf/Volt) have to be different in every way to gas powered cars? Can't we get an electric car that fits in with the rest? When the day that electric cars look normal, have normal looking/functioning interiors I would want one, but for now, we need to progress.
PanchoVilleneuve ST
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:26 |
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Because they are expensive, and they need to present themselves as totally different to other expensive cars.
Speedmonkey
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:26 |
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Renault Zoe is refreshingly normal
Jonathan Harper
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:28 |
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I think the model S looks pretty normal at a quick glance. When I'm not with car nuts like myself, the Model S goes by largely unnoticed.
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PanchoVilleneuve ST
> Jonathan Harper
08/20/2013 at 19:30 |
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I live right in SuperCharger central (southeastern Connecticut), and I see so many of them I don't even react anymore. I see more of them now than I do 7-Serieses.
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twinturbobmw
> PanchoVilleneuve ST
08/20/2013 at 19:31 |
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True, however if you look at other luxury cars, they present themselves in a way that doesn't stand out compared to all other cars in general. For instance BMW use kidneys and iDrive while Mercedes use hood ordainments and a different interface system. What I mean is I want these cars to be normal compared to all cars, not just their competitors.
ZeFookus
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:32 |
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Dammit. I'm never gonna unsee the Fisker Karma/Totoro thing.
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twinturbobmw
> Jonathan Harper
08/20/2013 at 19:32 |
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I can agree with this statement. In fact I would say it is a very good looking car, however every time I see it, the grille puts me off.
Anon
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:33 |
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I personally think they both look pretty kickass.
Bird
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:33 |
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I know a Tesla owner that lost his car to his wife because of that giant touchscreen. She hated her BMW's iDrive, but absolutely loved the interface on the Tesla. I haven't had the chance to use it, so can't say for myself.
I think you should check out the interface before you knock it. Personally I love buttons and switches, but I really think that's because I haven't met a touchscreen 'Infotainment' system that had even a halfway decent UI.
Also, phone sized? You crazy? Can you imagine some geriatric trying to use an iPhone sized screen in the dash of their car! lol
Blondude
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:34 |
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I wonder how much more electricity is being used to power these massive screens over traditional buttons and gauges. You'd think they'd go the other way to try and maximize what they can get out of their batteries.
RMudkips
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:34 |
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It's like immigration. They stand out and they may be weird to other people, but over time they'll assimilate and it'll fit right in.
I think right now, electric cars have to stand out as "electric", to encourage potential buyers that they could save the earth or plant tries for each mile or something. Within a certain period of time though, you'll find electric power as an option alongside hybrid power and gas power, and no one will know unless they don't hear it coming and see the "electric" badge.
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Bird
> Bird
08/20/2013 at 19:34 |
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Also, the Tesla is sexy! You'd rather it look more like an Accord?
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twinturbobmw
> Bird
08/20/2013 at 19:35 |
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"I'm not saying make the screen the size of an iPhone but don't make it big enough that it can be seen from space."
YSI-what can brown do for you
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:37 |
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My gripe with electric cars? THEY ARE TOO DAMN QUIET!!
Races are gonna be no fun if race cars go all electric.
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Bird
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:37 |
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I know...that was a joke...sorry, didn't come through on the internet.
Random Commenter
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:47 |
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*Ahem* Here's an electric car that isn't all that different from a normal car...
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twinturbobmw
> Random Commenter
08/20/2013 at 19:48 |
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Ok, I'll give you that. But still, what's up with electric cars and grilles?
crown victor victoria
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:50 |
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The model S does have a center console. You just have to buy it separately .
As for that screen...on a normal car, don't all of the knobs and buttons and existing infotainment system take up approximately the same amount of space? All they did was convert useless plastic bezels and tiny storage bins into usable touchscreen.
And I mean the HD backup cam displays through here, you can watch youtube videos on it, check your facebook page, follow navigation PLUS do all of the stuff those buttons and knobs they eliminated are supposed to do. I don't see any of these as negative issues. The trend for anything with a screen is "make it bigger" anyway; bigger cell phones, bigger TVs, bigger computer monitors. Why can't you apply that to in-car systems as well? I don't want that to be smaller, I want it to be as big as possible. Yeah the current screens in other cars work fine, but this was intended to be much larger and much easier to use. There's also telemetry data and usage statistics that you can look at through the system. It's begging you to use it.
And I don't think it looks bad, it's actually very impressive and a hallmark design cue. It also allows Tesla to control and update every available feature you access through that screen. It's the interface for the car itself. It should be as full-featured as possible.
Mikeado
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:53 |
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Why on earth should they "fit in"? They're meant to be something new, a modern take on the car. Why shouldn't the whole car feel new? Otherwise it would almost make it seem like they're ashamed that it's an electric car, which they really aren't. Quite the opposite, in fact.
The Fisker (R.I.P) used natural materials that had fallen of their own accord because that's very eco-friendly. It's not designed as a normal luxury car that happens to have batteries, it was designed as an eco car you might actually want. As for the moustache/Joker Smile, that's a Fisker thing. See the Tramonto.
The Tesla is again designed as a 21st century product, not a carryover from the 20th century. These days, there are lots of touchscreens everywhere. I've played with the Model S's dashboard and liked how it divided into two sections, so that you could have a big Sat Nav screen and still adjust the windows/air con/whatever. It's as big as the whole centre console because it IS the whole centre console. It does everything from infotainment to HVAC, and it's big enough that it's easy and intuitive to use. You can even browse the web! My only aversion to EVs using screens for everything like the Volt and Model S is that it must surely use more electricity than buttons and knobs. As for the non-grille, well that's for brand identity, and because people expect a grille. What else would you put there? Nothing? That would be like drawing a face with no mouth or nostrils.
The Leaf was designed by JDM Nissan. All their cars look that weird.
The point is, they're different because they're different. They do things differently because they're made by new companies with fresh ideas, or because they want the whole car to feel as modern as the advanced powertrains so that it feels like progress rather than Just A Car with no noise.
When your car needs to stand out and attract new buyers, conventional doesn't cut it. Especially if nobody's ever heard of you.
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Random Commenter
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 19:53 |
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I think that because the grill is not necessary on an electric car, they think that if they put something in the place of the grill, a placeholder, so to speak, that the car will look more "normal"... Personally, I think they should just design the front of the car to eliminate it... They should instead use that area to increase the car's aerodynamics. The more aerodynamic the car, the less energy is used to push the car forward through the air.
SpeedSix
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 20:15 |
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They should just design all electric car exteriors like Tatras. All of them look so purposeful and cleanly styled even without a grille/false grille on the front. The aerodynamics are quite advanced even for the 21st century.
Photo: Curbside Classic
feather-throttle-not-hair
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 20:49 |
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I think the tesla looks good.
Also honda tried to sell normal looking hybrids, but nobody bought them.
The truth is people buy these cars to show off. You can't show off if no one notices you.
jmgadget
> Random Commenter
08/20/2013 at 21:45 |
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But then people wont like the look of it because it doesn't have that car look. Unfortunately they have to be pretty careful with how far the look goes out of the box. We always say we want unconventional, but a lot of people would not be thrilled by an electric car that doesn't exactly look like a car.
Burrito de EJ25
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 22:16 |
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Was a screen of that size really necessary?
Missing the point of a luxury sedan entirely.
f86sabre
> twinturbobmw
08/20/2013 at 22:44 |
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I want them to be different and bold. I'm bored of the three boxes and the constraints they have put on designer's imaginations. Electric cars allow for a rethink of packaging. Let's try something different. Something crazy. It might be awesome or it just might make some quirky cars. Think of the cars we Opponauts lust after: McLaren F-1, F40, MGs, Baja Bugs all went their own way. How many cars have features like the original 300SL? How many of us would offer up a significant organ to get one? Screw conventional. Give me one of these...
TheManInBlack
> Bird
08/22/2013 at 15:01 |
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I have heard from several people that the interface in the Model S is fantastic. Very quick, responsive, easy to navigate, etc.
Rust-y
> SpeedSix
08/23/2013 at 21:04 |
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I would like to see more cars with covered rear wheels.