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Car companies want to present a unified look to their customers. Not all of an automaker’s models have to look identical, naturally, but when you see twin kidney-shaped grilles, you think BMW, and when you see a spindle you think Lexus. Or at least the marketing teams hope you do.
With premium automakers putting so much effort into a corporate face, focusing specifically on the grille, how does an automaker that makes cars that don’t have radiators set their vehicles apart? Simple: remove the grille entirely.
That’s the direction Tesla is going, anyway. The first Tesla that didn’t have a grille was the Model X, and then the smaller, cheaper Model 3 followed suit. And as you can see, the company’s bread-and-butter sedan, the Model S, is also going grille-less.
Tesla
Here’s another look at the new Model S (above in red) compared to the old. As you can see, the basic shape hasn’t changed since the Model S first went on sale in 2012. That’s fine, because the car is still a stunner, with a long and low footprint and an aerodynamic, arching roof. The door handles still retract into the doors, too.
It’s up front where big changes are happening. Gone is the old black fascia, and in its place is a smooth surface painted body color. There’s still a small opening lip at the top, and there’s a splitter of sorts down below. On either side is an enlarged opening that houses auxiliary lighting units.
Tesla
Here’s a closer look at the new face of Tesla. Also new is a more powerful charger that allows the Model S to recharge more quickly, and an advanced air filtration system that first debuted on the Model X.
Tesla doesn’t use model years on its vehicles, which means this isn’t a 2016 or 2017 Model S. That can be a bit confusing for American car buyers, who are well accustomed to identifying a vehicle by its year.
Tesla Motors
You can clearly see the old grille of the Model S in this image. The new face is said to be more aerodynamic, and because there’s no radiator needed to cool an engine, the grille was mainly for looks, anyway.
Tesla
Nothing has changed at the rear of the Model S. You won’t know whether it’s a new one or an old one unless you can see its face. Regardless, it’s a beautiful vehicle.
And, of course, there aren’t any tailpipes, either!
Tesla Motors
Autoblog Beauty-Roll, nothing but high-def video of the cars you’re looking for. Today featuring the 2016 Tesla Model S P90D. Set your resolution to max, kick it into full-screen, turn up the sound, and enjoy today’s subject the 2016 Tesla Model S P90D.
AOL OnHow will Tesla reach its sales projection of 500,000 units by 2018? The answer may lie to the east. Tesla Motors is looking to broaden its sales throughout Asia with a combination of production- and sales-expansion plans in China and South Korea, respectively. The California-based electric-vehicle maker is also making financing easier in China. Tesla’s Asia-Pacific region sales began in China in 2014.
One big question with 500,000 is how will Tesla do it? Back when Tesla’s Fremont, California plant was a Toyota-GM joint venture, production peaked at 428,000 units. In other words, most people assume Tesla will need a second production site, and fast. To that end, Tesla
signed a memorandum of understanding with Shanghai government-owned Jinqiao Group for a Shanghai factory that will cost about $9 billion to build, the
Business Times says, citing a person familiar with the process. Having a local factory will allow Tesla to avoid the 25 percent tax levied on all imported vehicles and will let the company better compete with Audi and BMW, as well as with China-based BYD. SAIC Motor Corp., which has partnerships with both Volkswagen and General Motors, is also based in Shanghai. Suzhou and Hefei are also being considered as potential Tesla factory sites.
Meanwhile, Tesla is also
readying itself to start sales in South Korea, as the company has listed sales, engineering, and recruiting jobs on its website for South Korea, according to
Automotive News. Tesla confirmed to the publication that it will set up an office and Seoul and has registered as a corporation in South Korea. Tesla has already said it will sell the Model 3 in South Korea. Notably, South Korea-based Hyundai, along with sister company Kia, are planning more than two-dozen electrified vehicle models in South Korea by 2020, including a plug-in version of the Hyundai Ioniq compact hybrid by the end of the year.
Finally, Tesla is trying to spur more sales in China by
launching zero-downpayment, zero interest rate financing programs with China-based bank Fosun, according to
Electrek. For the Model S 90D, the zero-interest-rate applies to a one-year financing program; a 2 percent rate applies for a two-year program; and a 6 percent rate is for a three-year program. Under a separate program, customers can buy a Model S 75 with no money down. The financing plans will last through the end of the year. Tesla’s “cheapest” financing program had been for about $3,450 a month for a Model S.
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from
Autoblog on Tuesday morning.
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