Tesla Week: Roadster Test Drives, Model 3 Dual-Motor AWD And Performance

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Roadster's minimalist interior.

Tesla is getting ready to deliver the dual-motor Model 3 while Elon Musk chats up Roadster test drives.

[For the week ending May 13, 2018]

Roadster test drives: responding to a question on Twitter, Musk said that test drives for the Roadster may be possible next year.

Towards end of next year. Btw, planning to launch Tesla in Turkey later this year. Love your country & will be there in person for the launch.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2018

A quick Roadster refresher:

• 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 250 mph top speed
• Three electric motors, one in front and two in the rear
• Wheel Torque 10,000 Nm (explained here)
• 200 kWh battery, delivering a range of 621 miles on one charge
• Price starting at $200,000, $50,000 deposit

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Model 3.

Tesla Model 3 dual-motor AWD and performance: 

Tesla will enable orders end of next week for dual motor AWD & performance. Starting production of those in July. Air suspension prob next year.

--Elon Musk, Twitter, May 11, 2018

Note that the performance version is also AWD.

And about the air suspension coming "probably" next year: [that] "will come as a surprise to many since air suspension has been standard on Tesla’s performance vehicles for a while now," wrote Electrek.

The above follows a statement in Tesla'a First Quarter 2018 Update. "We continue to target Model 3 production of approximately 5,000 per week in about two months...After achieving a production rate of 5,000 per week, we will begin offering new options such as all-wheel-drive and the base model with a standard-sized battery pack."

Owner Reviews of the Model 3: Most owner reviews (that I've seen) of the Model 3 continue to be positive -- and that's even when the owners are fully aware of problems with early builds of the Model 3.

For example, this YouTube video review (May 9, 2018) below is very upbeat, though he does address issues at the 9:35 mark.

Don't be a bonehead: In a research note entitled "Don’t Be a 'Bonehead'" analysts at Nomura Instinet said that "Tesla is one of the most shorted stocks in the US stock market" but then went on to say that "we believe that over the next 3-6 months the narrative on the company will shift from insolvency risk and cash burn to market opportunity and growth." The analysts proceed to "lay out the path to an approx. $100 billion valuation ($500 stock price) within two years." Now that's bullish.

Model 3 road presence/ubiquity:  I live in Los Angeles and have noticed a spike in Model 3s in only the past several weeks. In short, they're everywhere now and are no longer rarer than hen's teeth. The smaller size and the fact that almost all have new "Zero Emissions" plates makes them easy to spot. Pulling out my community today (Saturday), I was behind a new Model 3. That was a first. When a Model 3 finds its way into my small community that means penetration has spiked.

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Read Again https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2018/05/13/tesla-week-roadster-test-drives-model-3-dual-motor-awd-and-performance/

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