How to scam millions with vaporware.

"burglar can't heart click anything" (burglar) 01/05/2016 at 09:13 • Filed to: None

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Step 1: Create startup with fancy name. Let’s try Capacitance Horizon.

Step 2: Promise tons of jobs and a zillion dollar factory. Gets investors on board, and is able to swindle state governments for huge tax breaks.

Step 3: Find 14 year old GM concept car, dust it off and modernize the styling a little.

Step 4: Make tons of promises about how this is new and revolutionary.

Step 5: ???

Step 6: Profit?

Tekamul > burglar can't heart click anything 01/05/2016 at 09:23

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I think in FF’s case it’s more complex than that. That step 6 is very doable, for just the few that began the process, but much of the money has Chinese gov’t roots.

They tend to make people disappear if they think you were bilking them from the start. Fortunately, they may let you off easy if you rat out others.

Besides, FF’s days of fooling people may be over. That presentation was pretty flimsy.

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > burglar can't heart click anything 01/05/2016 at 09:24

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I liked that concept. I think they showed a couple of bodies that could be fitted on it?

Jayhawk Jake > burglar can't heart click anything 01/05/2016 at 09:31

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That old GM concept was brilliant. Not sure what exactly led to its demise, but I’d love to see it come back.

It would have been a true revolution. The idea was you build one platform for a myriad of cars. It would change the way cars are built: instead of building certain models to completion in various factories you’d have one factory pumping out the skateboard and other factories building bolt-on bodies.

Patrick Nichols > Jayhawk Jake 01/05/2016 at 10:01

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I don’t know if it would be totally possible to do it like that. I think VW and tesla have taken the platform thing about as far as it can go. VW has a couple platforms for all theirs and tesla (I think) has one platform, but they also only have a couple cars.

Jayhawk Jake > Patrick Nichols 01/05/2016 at 10:27

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It would be possible for sure, but it’s a paradigm shift in how manufacturing is done. The initial investment to change the process of manufacturing would be the challenge.

Patrick Nichols > Jayhawk Jake 01/05/2016 at 10:46

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I was more talking about the change in driving dynamics brought by the expectations of certain body styles. I don’t think anyone would buy the proposed concept above if they knew it shared the same platform as a crossover perhaps. Expectations and price points for different styles would be a huge factor and a hard sell if people think they are all relatively the same.

Jayhawk Jake > Patrick Nichols 01/05/2016 at 10:47

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Nah. Crossover’s are all car based as it is. No one would notice.

Patrick Nichols > Jayhawk Jake 01/05/2016 at 10:55

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Crossover’s are all beige car based as it is. No one buying the crossover would notice. Everyone buying the “sports” car/sedan would notice.

FTFY. I agree that commuter cars and crossovers could share, but performance cars, some niche vehicles, and trucks will need separate platforms.

Jayhawk Jake > Patrick Nichols 01/05/2016 at 11:31

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Not necessarily. Trucks, sure, but you could make the platform work as a truck. Niche vehicles are niche, as are performance cars.

There’s nothing that says you need just ONE platform. You could have various platforms meant for various cars. A performance platform for sports coupes/convertibles/sedans. A general platform for commuters/vans/CUVs. A workhorse platform for trucks/cargo vans/SUVs.

burglar can't heart click anything > Jayhawk Jake 01/05/2016 at 11:41

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So, coachbuilding. What’s old is new again.

Yeah, I thought this concept was a pretty great one at the time, hence my immediate recollection when the Faraday Future copy popped up. Lots of potential (pun not intended.)

burglar can't heart click anything > Patrick Nichols 01/05/2016 at 11:48

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Electric cars theoretically make it a lot more plausible, as the powertrains can be way simpler and totally modular. Throw in ideas like motor-in-hub and expandable battery tray options and the entire suspension and powertrain of electric cars can be like legos on the bottom of any body carmakers can dream up.

If done well, it could be revolutionary. You could buy a body from one manufacturer based on your style / size / luxury needs, pick a battery to match your range and budget from another, and go to a third manufacturer to choose from their economy drive unit, their sport drive & suspension unit, or their tow / haul unit.

Patrick Nichols > burglar can't heart click anything 01/05/2016 at 12:06

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It would be cool if not idealistic... see apple charging ports, the failure of phone blocks, the still not mainstream gaming PC market. All of those things could be vastly improved as far as the consumer value goes, but won’t because capitalism.

burglar can't heart click anything > Patrick Nichols 01/05/2016 at 12:33

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No argument there. But you still are a crusher of dreams.

Patrick Nichols > burglar can't heart click anything 01/05/2016 at 12:47

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The Grinch gets Christmas, everyone gets April 1st, politicians get election days (not the primaries), and I get the other 363 days of the year and this year I even get a bonus day.