Porsche Product Manager Says Tesla Ludicrous Mode Saps Battery In Two Launches
Originally published on EV Obsession.
A product manager for Porsche was recently quoted as saying that Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode upgrade was a “facade” — using the dig to also claim that the Porsche Mission E will be capable of being run very hard for long periods of time, without overheating the battery.
Here’s the exact quote from the Porsche product manager (as heard by Road and Track): “The thing about (Tesla’s) Ludicrous mode is that it’s a facade. Two launches saps the whole battery. That won’t be the case with the Mission E. You’ll be able to run it hard, over and over; the battery will not overheat, the power control module will not overheat, and the seats will not suck.”
The first thing that jumps out, of course, is that it’s completely ridiculous to say that two launches saps the whole battery of the Model S. Not even close.
I’ve also got to say here, even if you ignore the hyperbole (assuming it is just that) … none of that sounds relevant to typical car drivers. How many people need to accelerate 0–60 mph at sub 3 seconds, repeatedly, over and over? There may well be a small subset of electric vehicle buyers willing to pay for the very expensive Mission E in order to have some fun racing at the track … but how many people? Most Tesla Model S and Model X buyers aren’t looking for a racecar. They’re looking for a Model S or Model X.
It should also be noted here that the Mission E isn’t due for release for quite some time … so this is all simply talk, for now.
Here’s more:
In case you weren’t aware that Porsche aimed its upcoming all-electric Mission E sedan squarely at the Tesla Model S, a Porsche product manager went ahead and clarified that. In fact, the engineer thoroughly trashed Tesla while loudly proclaiming that the Mission E will be a game-changer in the world of electric cars.
Eric Weiner over at Automobile Magazine recently spoke with a Porsche product manager that isn’t working directly on the Mission E, but seems to know a thing or two about it. The manager said the Mission E will be “something special,” and “a true Porsche through and through.”
Despite the tone that I’ve taken in this article, I am somewhat intrigued by the Porsche Mission E. I’m just also skeptical that the model is being designed with a range and release that’ll make the model compelling in 2020. And I also have to wonder about the attitude of the product manager quoted above…. That kind of entrenched and petty arrogance is never a good sign.
(Tip of the hat here to “yeti” on the Tesla Motors Club forum.)
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It is a very good looking car but without the internal space and utility of the Model S. I expect it will have a similar range to the Model S. They need to have access to a fast charging network. They could negotiate a deal with Tesla or club together with other prestige manufacturers to build a network. Talk is cheap. There is not much point in giving them credence until they have a clear path to fast charging network access.
Rumor has it that all the German brands are cooperating on a new fast charging ‘standard’ (that isn’t Tesla)…
even if they do, at this point Tesla will have amortized a lot of their superchargers. If they start moving towards a new standard,
they can add that to their sites.
What would be really nice would be if ‘other’ EV owners could pay Tesla the US$2k to use the SC network, however the other EV’s would probably need better cabling internally to handle the juice being dumped into their battery. Just an idea…
The ability to furnish more power should have no effect on how much a charger takes. An EV with less ability would just take longer to charge.
I expect to see no German or large US companies signing up with Tesla. I suspect their feelings are much too hurt by having to play catchup to permit them joining up and thus admiting that Tesla has a good system.
The big US and German companies are going to have to do something. Let them invent their version of the wheel. Realistically, I can’t see Tesla being hurt if they are the only company using Tesla Superchargers. What might be interesting is if some of the Asian companies, being less ego involved, would join with Tesla. Nissan/Renault and Tesla combined could kick some butt.
The thing I’m waiting to see what model Tesla uses for the 3 and Y. Will they offer a limited, but adequate for most drivers, number of uses per year and packages for more frequent use? Or will they move toward a pay per use? Or might they start out with some limits and then add in unlimited use like they did for the lowest priced Model Ss?
Different approaches is probably a good thing at this point in time. Experiment. Standardization, if it’s needed, can come later. Switching to a “all included” or a “pay per use” system is pretty much just a software tweak. It’s not like having to rip out gas/diesel tanks and installing hydrogen tanks.
Plus, of course, right now the Porche Mission E is vaporware. Tesla Model S and Model X have people driving them around.
I’ve seen many YouTube videos of different Model S cars racing in Ludicrous Mode and never once has anyone indicated that they could only do it twice or they would have to be towed home. I’m certain it does drain the batter quicker but after two launches? I’ve very skeptical of that claim. Given how many Tesla haters there are out there I’m sure we would have heard about this long ago.
Be more than skeptical. It’s absolutely ridiculous. 😀
I’m pretty sure the dude just meant that the power-train over heats after two ludicrous launches to 60mph and goes into limp home mode. Tesla has room to improve in this area, and for all of us track enthusiasts its worth calling Elon out on this.
No Zac it is Ludicrous 😉
Good one!
When Porsche says their BEVs are not going to overheat I believe them. Tesla Model S overheating will be one of those odd quarks people talk about in the decades to come.
The majority of Tesla’s sales come from the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. Whether it is needed or not it makes people buy.
Nobody buys a Porsche cares about their money. It’s all about marketing based on performance.
It is funny and annoying to hear Tesla’s fans go on and on and on about 0-60 acceleration. Then when it is pointed out that the Tesla falls apart on Nürburgring from overheating in, what, the first 60 seconds of a ten minute race they go all sour grapes. If Porsche delivers a BEV that can do 0-60 in 2.8s or better and can do the Nürburgring in 6 or 7 minutes it will be game over. No knuckle dragging Neanderthal will ever want an ICE car again. All the auto manufacturers will have to immediately pivot. Then we will all be thanking Porsche for it.
It is funny and annoying to hear Tesla’s cynics go on and on and on about some small niche thing Tesla can’t fill and which Tesla never intended to fill.
It sounds to me as if Porsche is not intending to produce a car that is intended for Tesla’s market space but a car designed as a street-drivable racer. And that’s fine. An electric car with higher performance ability than the S would be good for electric cars. It would get a lot of attention in the car world and create more EV admirers.
Now, 2020. That’s four years away. Can Porsche deliver an EV designed for continued high speed driving and sell it for Model 3 prices? Perhaps. Battery prices should be much lower so more can be spent on robust electronics.
But what will the 2020 Tesla S be like? Don’t you think there are people at Tesla who have already designed the Tesla Skpb? The Tesla S that kick’s Porsche’s butt.
Porsche though isn’t ULA. They may leapfrog Tesla on the performance end. Before Tesla gets a chance to fix their problems they weren’t able to get to on the first release.
Porsche is jewel of the sea?
Yes, Porsche 2020 may be better than Tesla S 2020. That would be a good thing. It would take EV development to a higher level.
Thank you. Porsche’s entire brand is based on high priced performance. If they can’t beat Tesla they will probably go out of business. Porsche will make the BEV world a better place.
Musk is clearly interested in performance cars. I suspect Tesla will pursue that niche to some extent. I’m looking forward to seeing what the second coming of the Roadster will bring to the table.
But hopefully Tesla’s main effort will be to produce the EV that’s more affordable than the Model 3. If Tesla can introduce a sub $25k 200+ mile EV by 2020 then we should see a rapid switch to EVs.
I too think that the second roadster might be an interesting thing to see. Put a P100D skateboard under a light carbon-filament body. Lose five seats, a lot of luggage space, and about 500 lbs. Probably would get 0 to 60 in a half second less than a model S in whatever is next after ‘insane’ mode.
They are coming out with an S that can go 0-100 in 0.4 seconds. It’s called Trump mode.
I’m guessing the next Roadster will also be a useful testbed for really pushing their battery / cooling tech.
Musks aim, with a bit of over zealousness, was to prove EVs are not golf karts. That along the way to revolutionize the auto market and storage markets. A side turn to ego driven pursuits of fancy would be a mistake when the real goal is to turn autos from oil monopolized transport, to electrified.
There won’t be much point in an acceleration war. Its already ridiculous.
Come on, give the design folks some room to push boundaries and destroy ICEV acceleration records.
With a seven seat sedan…. ;o)
At this point I would think the S/X and 3 models have separate design teams. The top end models are less cost restricted, let them shoot for the Moon. If someone wants to pay extra for a cooling system that let’s the S/X run fast for longer periods that takes nothing away from the 3 or from the future less expensive EV yet to be announced.
And as S/X performance improves the brand and EVs get more attention.
Haha. Next the Tesla garbage truck. For those in a hurry to empty the garbage. And it runs silently, unlike the current crop of early morning sleep stealers. Comes with bioweapon stink reduction mode.
Musk does have his competitive side. I doubt he can completely give it up.
Musk already said the magic words, “hubris”. Porsche is displaying same.
Porsche and other manufacturers are already willing to design cars at really low volumes and prices in very high numbers just to prove a point.
The big news there is that Porsche, one of the leading ICE sports car makers, is being forced to go all out in the EV world. The unintended consequence of that is the ultimate demise of the ICE vehicle.
Hot rodeos will become battery boosters.
While Porsche is busy worrying about bragging rights, Tesla will be silently usurping the mid luxury sports sedan market. This is territory more in jeopardy for the likes of BMW, Lexus, Cadillac, Audi, etc. Not much Porsche action there. The Panamera is impacted by the Model S.
This Porsche guy doesn’t seem to know his markets. The model he is touting doesn’t have a Tesla equivalent. It makes him look pretty bad comparing his sports car to a luxury passenger sedan.
Let me finish that for you –
The big news there is that Porsche, one of the leading ICE sports car makers, is being forced to go all out in the EV world by a sedan.
Not by Maserati, Ferrari, Mclaren, or some other exotic internal engine company, but by a company that has put a simple electric motor on four wheels and built a roomy, comfortable sedan on top.
A souped-up golf cart is creating major sphincter pucker at Porsche headquarters.
From memory, I believe the human body has about 30 sphincter muscles… Which one are you thinking about puckering 😉
The one that prevents one from having to scurry off for fresh skivvies.
Sorry, that is just too much information before breakfast ! 😉
Hey, you asked!
Yes. Thats a more humorous way of saying that. 🙂 Right along with that, the Chrysler Fiat head is reversing his stories rapidly, now claiming to make a fast sports car in the near future.
I note that Acura is fielding an EV in the Pikes Peak. Could it be Toyota is hedging its FCEV bets with some EV development?
These companies are all claim they have a model in the works once their competitor has one that embarrasses them.
I’ll bet they all do have one or more EVs in the works. At the minimum they have a team that has done computer designs. And most manufacturers are making or have made an EV at one point in time. They just haven’t made a serious attempt to date.
There has been quite some discussion going on here in Australia as to how the Govt is going to tax EV’s (per mile / Km)… Why? Because of all the petrol tax thay are going to miss out on. And this is also probably why there are virtually no tax incentives to buy an EV down under (with one very small exception for the nations Capital Territory residents). Hopefully this will change by the time I get my Model Y.
Maybe Tesla could steal some ideas off Porsche, instead of the other way around ? 😉
Such as?
And that’s a legitimate question. Porsche has done a great job with internal combustion engines and transmissions. Tesla doesn’t need that.
Looks? Both companies produce cars that are attractive in my eyes. I’d say that the Panamera looks a bit more ‘aggressive’ but I’m not sure whether that would sway my choice one way or the other.
‘Leaks and squeaks’ quality? Sure. Tesla needs to get the details under better control.
Interior? I have no idea. I’ve never been inside a S or a Panamera. Perhaps the Porsche has better seats, I just don’t know.
Something I missed?
Sorry I should have been clearer… I meant that ‘when’ P releases their T beater in 2020+ it ‘might’ have some ideas that T could use (but then again, maybe not) 😉
Re the seats in a Panamera, I’ve only ‘seen’ them in person in Germany. Never actually sat in them though. They did look very supportive with side bolsters, and probably have hard-ish seats like almost every German vehicle ever made. Ive owned 4 BMW’s and 4 MB’s and all the seats were a bit hard (they call them ‘supportive’).
Re the S interior, it is one that could be considered ‘dated’, with the exception of the large screen of course, but the rest… very Meh (IMO). T needs to steal away some of the designers from the the latest MB C class, the interior of which is several levels above T (IMO). I attended the C Coupe launch recently, and it was stunning, inside and out – just a shame it wasn’t an EV, and doesn’t have access to the T SC network !!! 😉 T needs to learn from those that have been doing Prestige for years. There is a reason people like MB, BMW, Audi and Porsche. (Not so much VW).
Here’s something I learned in my last trip to the Autobahns in Germany… Evidently there is an unwritten ‘class’ structure for German cars on German roads… And those further down the list should give way to those up higher (usually because they are driving faster I assume). The list from top to bottom is: Porsche, MB, BMW, Audi, VW (Opel did not even get a mention). This info came from a woman, driving me in a MB SUV (GLK) at 180kph in the middle lane ! I tried videoing some of the cars passing us, but they were just too fast (mostly Porsches, but some were rust buckets that really should not have been going that fast – but they were – usually with non German number plates). It was a very interesting experience as a passenger, and somewhat scary as a driver.
However, nothing is scarier than driving on the unrestricted roads in Australia, which are just normal two lane roads, not freeways or autobahns. Passing a road train (a semi with 3 or more trailers) is an experience you don’t want to repeat too often. These trucks can be 50 meters long (or even longer), and are often speeding. Passing them (in the same direction) takes several kilometers. Google Australian road trains for some images – you’ll see what I mean. See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iFkKRh5kcM
Regards, Greg.
Didn’t Musk just hire the Porsche interior designer?
They sure are ULA there’s two sub 40k cars on that Nuremburg list that handily beat a couple Porsche models. 1/3 of the price and faster.
What Skpb refers to? Googling didn’t help…
“the Tesla Skpb? The Tesla S that kick’s Porsche’s butt.”
Surely the pivot point away from ICE will be the reasonable price, performance, and looks of the Tesla Model 3, or another car after it, not a high cost supercar that almost no one will buy.
I took Ivor’s comment to be about high end performance vehicles. If you watch Top Gear and Clarkson he absolutely loathes EVs (and weirdly Porsches come to think of it). If you can have one which outperforms on the ring then they will be impossible to ignore and that entire segment will drop ICE like a bad habit.
For most manufactures, I agree, Model 3 is the ticket. If it delivers as advertised it will dramatically change the more reasonable price points…
Agree it makes sense if it is a final pivot of supercars away from ICE.
The Porsche market. Its not about practicality, it is about having the fastest and most powerful. Not a big market, but the unit profit can be very high. So they care about how it performs in a short race, after which the car may need an expensive makeover, so the dollars per mile is high, but so are the bragging rights……
Except no.
Drop ICE? Won’t ever happen. Cars, especially cars at this price range are FAR more than just measurements noted on a spreadsheet.
Some of us actually like the non-binary torque of an ICE. Electric cars also completely ignore one of the senses. Scratch that, two of the senses.
I should have not implied no one will continue to make ICEs. I just suspect almost of them will drop out (and my “bad habit” comment implies rapid but rapid to me is over 5-10 years from when the first ring killer appears). In the high end I guess you cater to what people want and some people will continue to want what an ICE provides.
Let’s see where the market is in the early 20s. I admit it is speculation on my part but I have noticed guys like Leno seem to be just as into EV as ICE high performance cars. Time will only tell…
I think some aspects of ICE like non-binary torque can be simulated in an EV. Engine roar and rattle probably won’t transfer over as they will be “fake”. I cannot remember the guy but someone is converting ICEs to EVs but the transmission is still there?
Some people still race steam cars. Steamers are functionally obsolete despite that.
People will take internal combustion cars to a track to race them and then haul them home on a trailer pulled by an EV. ICs will gas up at the track because gasoline isn’t available anywhere else.
Have you ever thought why you might like the non-binary torque and sound (?) of performance engines?
Might it be about speed and power?
Might it be a learned love?
If we reach a point at which the fastest and most powerful vehicles one can drive are EVs don’t you suspect those who love speed and power would adjust their sensory preferences?
The only thing that makes high performance ICEs “faster for longer” than EVs is battery capacity. As battery capacity increases so that we can pack more energy into the same size/weight package EVs will accelerate faster, drive as fast or faster, and do so for just as long. They’ll turn in better 0-60 and quarter mile times and outperform on any sort of a curved track.
And speed junkies will learn to love the hummmm…….
While I agree with the direction of your point here, Bob, one of the great pleasures of my life thus far was the sound of 30+ V-12 Formula 1 cars all together revving for the drop of the green flag. That sound I will never forget.
Yes, we make the necessary adjustments in life, but even some of the more decadent pleasures we hold dearly in memory.
At the same time, I must confess to just last week confessing to my wife that with my deposit now awaiting our Model 3, I am finally ready to sell the Porsche Turbo S that has sat patiently awaiting a rebuild for far too long.
We all do adjust, and yes, adjustments are often concessions.
Two of the senses? I count three:
1) Horrible smells
2) Unneeded vibrations
3) Noise
I never acquired the proper appreciation for ICE cars but maybe someday…
Oh I loved “Grand Prix”. Time period was when the Ferraris used V12’s and they produced positively symphonic sounds. Great movie all round.
But i wouldn’t want to drive one more than an hour. I love my silence – why I sail and use an electric outboard.
I think there’ll be a cult following for a hundred years if we don’t do ourselves in. People still keep horses, go to dude ranches, and race them.
You want something noisy, smelly, with a bizarre torque curve, and really really fast? Get a rocket car. Why would you want an ICE?
You mean they don’t blow in your eardrums and they don’t stink? I’m sure Musk can engineer that in if there’s much demand for it.
BM, I dare you to tape this comment onto your refrigerator.
See how long it lasts.
In this topic:
A TON of non-car people.
Plebs.
“Some of us actually like the non-binary torque of an ICE. ”
Some people liked the clip-clop of a team of horses pulling their wagon.
We aren’t driving with horses today. What we drive will evolve further.
People hire horse carriages for special occasions like weddings. They attend horse races, both trotting or pacing harness races and galloping mounted races. They go to parades to watch the Budweiser Clydesdales.
People will race IC cars, antique or custom-built, long after they would never dream of driving one on the street.
Porsche (via Audi) already knows how to build EVs that perform on the Nürnburgring without overheating.
They are not too keen to compete with the Model S anyways or they would have done an BEV Panamera a long time ago.
That car exists anyways and has a top speed over 300kmh. Wasn’t done by Porsche though but by Kreisel who have the superior cooling system in their packs. They are also known for the best fast charging performance.
If you have the money and want that car you can get it today.
I wonder what the drawbacks are. If it were already perfect they’d be packaging it up.
Cost – $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Almost 300.000€ including a brand new Panamera S.
I wasn’t far out then 😉
Porsche wouldn’t have to buy the Panamera 4S retail (135k€), pay for the whole ICE drive train, buy other parts,…
They could do it for half the money or less.
Who? Kreisel? They do battery packs and only convert some cars.
Agreed it’ll be a big milestone, but what makes you think it’ll be pioneered by Porsche? VAG’s been selling full EVs for around three years. Tesla’s been doing it for nearly three times as long, and leads the market for battery density, cost and power (both charging and discharging). Despite the EV industry already containing very big players, the innovation’s continually come from Tesla and Panasonic.
I’ll be very surprised if 2020’s Ludicrous/Plaid doesn’t have an improved cooling system, particularly given that they’re apparently working on a new Roadster for around that time.
Tesla is cost conscious. Porsche is performance conscious. So Porsche might put 600 HP motors on every wheel, for instance. Build some inconvenient death trap that weighs about the same as the motors, batteries, and human piloting the thing and market it as a “sports car”. Could you imagine a BEV that did not overheat, and as you went faster it continuously pulls with as much G as the tires can handle? Perhaps up to some speed that is insane. BEV technology should be able to do far more than any ICE vehicle.
ICE to BEVs are like mechanical calculators to electronic calculators.
If they could do the Nurburgring in 6 minutes, they’d have the lap record by 48 seconds. I think you mean 8 minutes.
I think with a battery operated vehicle with no overheating they could have the best lap time. With instant acceleration, no overheating, and a motor large enough to max out the tires regardless the speed why couldn’t a Porsche have the best times?
Well the lap record holder has Aero. Road cars dont have Aero.
Aero? Link please.
https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/
I watched the video. Quite impressive. I expect Porsche will have some aero on their cars if it is needed to beat the competition. Something real cute that gets out of the way in economy mode and kicks in big when in “plaid Nürburgring” mode.
Ivor true aero is on race cars, which is what juxx is saying. While porsche will most likely have an extending rear wing, it will not replace full on aero. And therefore will never be able to corner as quickly as an identical car with a full Aero package, which equals faster in the straights and faster lap times. At some point battery tech will advance enough but I think currently it’d be the battery weight holding that record from being achieved. Plus a serious set of huevos like that fastest lap driver. Watch for the several corrections as the ass end slides out, one of which @120. That car is a bare bones, open cockpit racer. Only one place to drive such vehicles, and by the looks of that video should probably have a trauma unit following behind. She’s squirrelly!
The first EV in the list is the electric SLS under 8min.
The gas SLS is 12 sec faster (and half the price) still.
And a Subaru STI does it faster than the electric SLS, for 1/20 the price. The electric sls has tons more torque yet is slower around, clearly battery limited. Whether by weight or energy density. I didn’t say it wasn’t possible to go fast; only that the lap record is in no danger at this very moment.
Sounds like an interesting engineering exercise.
The majority of Tesla’s sales come from the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. Whether it is needed or not it makes people buy.
Ivor, I personally believe most people would not give a s&^% about 0-60 (or 0-100kph in the rest of the world). Yes, they may boast about it to a few people some times, and even show off to a few, but I’d bet most owners rarely go into ballistic launch mode just because they can. But would it influence their buying decision? I doubt it, because they don’t have anyone to cross shop against, comparing apples for apples (EV vs EV 0-100k). *IF* there was a viable competitor that could match or exceed the acceleration, then, maybe it might make some small influence on the buying decision.
I would assume there are are many other variables that would make someone choose a Tesla first, well before 0-100. No pollution would probably rate very high. Superchargers, recharging from home, never visiting petrol/gas stations, and many others…
Personally, I have just sold my Mercedes, and I’m waiting on the model Y. If it does 0-100k in 6 to 8 seconds, that’s just fine with me. I don’t ‘need’ or want Insane, Ludicrous, or whatever the next ‘mode’ is. I’d rather have a nicer interior with things like door pockets, overhead grab handles, and real exterior door handles that don’t need a battery to open them. Oh and ‘normal’ rear doors, which really should be #1.
Oh really? I stand corrected! lol.
One have to understand that the guy is pissed off for not having a competing product right now 🙂
That’s the difference between “will be a game changer” and being already a game changer that pushes the competitors to react.
I agree. Sounds like Porsche is “running scared”. Not to mention it being a sad case of sour grapes. Who knows how far technologically Tesla will have become by the time Mission E hits the market. With all the criticism Tesla endures from the detractors, it is still are the ONLY company that will be capable of building compelling EVs, in several categories, on global scale, for many years to come. Everyone else is playing catch up.
Not to mention the fact of which company would you want to buy an EV from? The one that is building them only because they need to, don’t really want to, don’t really know how to yet? Or from the one that is proud to make EVs and nothing else, makes them now, and makes them well?
On the other hand, I would like to know if there is a comparison of similar ICE and EVs with respect to speed vs fuel/energy consumption differential. We all know the faster we drive, the less range we get in either type of car. I am just wondering what the actual world numbers would be for, say Tesla S vs similarly configured Masarati Ghibli. 🙂 Or, say Honda Fit vs Nissan Leaf. I would like to know the MPG vs eMPGs variances from hyper-mile to lead-foot driving/racing.
I know that my EV can get 5x the mileage if I hyper-mile vs lead-foot. The same was true for the last corvette that I drove.
Tesla sells more cars than Porsche! And Tesla is just starting.
Except they don’t. In 2015, Porsche sold > 225K cars. Tesla sold 50,580.
http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/05/tesla-surpasses-50000-sales-in-2015/
http://press.porsche.com/news/release.php?id=972
“Two launches saps the whole battery.” Welcome to the modern world people, where it is acceptable to hold positions of power and lie.
Naw, this has been going on since we started keeping track of history. Now it is coming to an end because of the internet.
I admire your optimism Ivor.
History is so full of lies. Even recent history. I don’t think it can get any worse than the past. Especially now that it is so much easier to fact check.
Actually, this guy’s comments are pretty funny. “Yeah, this big fat 4 door 7 passenger family sedan can spank our sports cars, but it can only do it twice in a row. This new sportscar we’re bringing out in four years will be way better.”
I did not think about this that way until you mentioned it. Sad that a sports car cannot keep up with a large sedan.
lol. THAT should have been my intro….
Why are your comments blue and you have a “Featured by CleanTechnica” cup?
I believe Zach has the ability to do that to comments he really likes.
Cool feature. I’d like to setup disqus and play with it. See what all it can do.
I have no idea. I certainly don’t feel featured.
Zach sometimes singles out a comment he thinks worthy of more attention.
If I was a part of the Volkswagen Group, however far removed from the diesel shenanigans at VW, I’d probably hold off on using words like “facade” when referring to other companies. At least for a while.
Tesla should sue him for slander.
Somebody should tell Porsche it is not a good idea criticizing the competition without a production car or at a minimum, a viable production-ready alternative.
On the other hand, Tesla has a lot to celebrate here. Major supercar brands are starting to talk about Tesla and it is clear from some of these immature comments that they feel there existence is threatened.
The truth has always been that 90% or more of Porsche buyers never take their supercars to the track. Most people got them as they could be driven hard on common roads and also show off their straight line performance. Well guess what, now this new kid on the block can do faster straight line performance with the whole family seated comfortably and is smoother and cleaner. Suddenly everyone else has to make up a phrase or two to justify their existence.
Partly, I think there are just a limited number of people who have the money for supercars, and some of them would rather buy a Tesla (which by supercar standards is just plain cheap). So Tesla is cutting into their market.
My guess, part of the Tesla mystique, is the scarcity, a Tesla owner is really high class, as the number of Tesla’s on the road increasing, it will no longer be a mark of extreme status, the existing supercar brands (which cost several times a much), will continue to be ultimate status symbols, where high cost is a feature not a bug.
Check the definition of SuperCar… Porsche don’t actually make one (yet).
I’m deply impressed : they will be able to release in the future an electric car that is better than one in production. Noble price next….
“Porsche. There IS a substitute”.
This is an excerpt from the upcoming issue of Car and Driver. I will forward the entire transcript to Zachary.
Porsche Project Manager – Yeah, man, that Tesla S, it is bullshit man, it doesn’t even really work. If you try to go fast, you have to tow it to an electrical outlet.
Car and Driver – Really?
Porsche PM – Yeah. Yeah, Porsche is really gonna make a REAL car. Like, um, a fast muscle car. I know we have not done anything yet, but man, it is going to be excellent.
Car and Driver – You mean coming out later this year?
Porsche PM – No. Like……. later. Maybe five years or so. We are going to RULE. Porsche is so amazing.
Car and Driver – But that is really a long time from now. What battery technology breakthroughs do you have, or do you anticipate, that will allow you to…
Poesche PM – I bet that it will be featured in the 2022 Bond movie,”400 million PPM Are Not Enough”. They are talking about bringing back Sean Connery. Can you just see him driving his Porsche Super Car, catching up with the bad guy, who will be driving a lame-ass Tesla, and knocking both of them off a cliff in Switzerland, but Sean Connery has a PARACHUTE BUILT INTO HIS TUXEDO, and the Porsche is so amazing that it doesn’t even get dented in the 3,000 foot drop.
Car and Driver – …..er……..
Porsche PM – Yes, that Tesla is pile of crap. Just wait till our fast EV comes out. It’s gonna be awesome….
Thanks for the good laugh.
When automobiles first came out, there were some that missed the sound of horses hooves.
And the second sense. The smell.
The grapes are sour at Porsche…
Tesla has figured out how to do incredible acceleration over a short period of time, but it hasn’t figured out how to cool its AC induction motor so it can sustain high rpm over a long period of time. Tesla isn’t a good high speed car. If Porsche can figure out how to design a better cooling system for an AC induction motor (which is the best type of EV motor for high performance) so it can sustain high rpm and handle high speeds, then I say more power to them. I hope Porsche is working on it, because it means that one more segment of the car market will go electric. However, I suspect that kind of advanced cooling can’t be done economically or Tesla would have already done it. It is probably a good thing for Porsche that it is hard to cool an AC induction motor at high rpm, because it leaves them a market niche, where they can survive as an overpriced performance carmaker.
Telsa in on the right track with their Supercharger network!!! NO one will come close to them as to how fast Telsa has become a Supercar in such a short period of time. Porsche has been around for decades and I haven’t seen any Innovations from them!!!! That guy/his comments is full of SH*(*&(!!!
Looks like Tesla has “649 Supercharger stations with 3,906 Superchargers”.
At $20k per charge bay that’s $78 million. Not a huge amount of money for a major car company. The CEO at Ford received about $19 million in 2015. Ford spent $2.56 billion on advertising in 2013.
If they wanted to a major car manufacturer could catch up with Tesla in a couple of years.
I’m not saying that they will or want to catch up. Still a lot of foot-dragging going on. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the rapid charging issue will play out.
Germany is investing 300mio in charging infrastructure right now. That’s part of the new insensitive programme. More money to follow when needed. There have to be more German EVs available before…
Judging by the response to this, e-motive power is terrific. Of course, e-racers will soon ‘improve the breed’. Meanwhile, all we need to solve the endurance issue is a second fully charged Tesla to jump into when required.
One rejoinder to the smug supercar brigade is their reputation for spending more time in the garage than on the road. But their owners have already implemented the second car solution ages ago, haven’t they?