It's also possible that competitors didn't really jump onto hybrids early on because they didn't want to due to the compromises that hybrids face like: trunk volume reduction, excess weight and its effects on handling, roadholding, and the extra costs involved.
Rather than hybrids, competitors probably focused on alternative technologies like: diesels and small capacity turbos.
These alternative technologies like diesels and small capacity turbos don't have fantastic economy, but they also don't suffer from trunk volume reductions, excess weight, its effects on handling/roadholding, and the significant extra costs involved in a gasoline-electric hybrid.

However, I have a feeling with emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel cell HFCV and battery powered electric vehicles BEV, the entire market will have to learn to accept cabin/trunk size reductions, extra weight concomitant with handling and roadholding reductions, and extra costs.

For example, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have the huge hydrogen gas tank beneath the rear seats, but the Mirai also has two batteries: one beneath the front seats, and the second behind the rear seats, giving the vehicle a total weight of over 1,800 kg [around 4,000 lbs], for modest acceleration of 0-60 MPH in 9.0 with a 700 km [around 450 mile] range.
Likewise, the Tesla Model S, the batteries under the floor compromise cabin height and volume, and the vehicle ends up weighing 2,200 kg [nearly 5,000 lbs]; with the Model S, range is compromised for acceleration.
Thus, both these new emerging technologies compromise cabin/trunk space, and added weight which will compromise the agility and the terminal grip, plus increase tire and brake pad wear.

On the other hand, conventional internal combustion engines ICE will go down in history as the lightweight handling & road holding champions, with less tire and brake pad wear, and with a greater cabin/trunk space combination not found in these new emerging technologies.
So we should all enjoy our space, handling, roadholding, and low tire & brake pad wear in our ICE's - while we can...
.

 

Scary that electric vehicles like the Model S will replace conventional ICE's just around the corner.

 

I saw the refreshed Model S the other day, in person I like it better than the pre-refresh car.

 

http://www.msn.com/en-au/money/compa...cid=spartanntp

 

The article is useless. Time and time again, it has been proven that not everyone cares about reliability as being the number one factor in buying a car.

 

Jill, it will be interesting to go back to this thread in four years time, and see if Tesla is still around, or if Tesla has been bought out by some other major car company, or if Tesla will give up on chassis development and restrict themselves to just batteries & drive train development only.

I'm willing to bet you $100 bucks that Tesla won't last, but I'm not willing to bet my life on that.
Will be interesting to see the outcome.
Experienced chassis developers versus Tesla - a young upstart in chassis development...

 

Tesla is not just any upstart, its a passion upstart that is backed by one of the richest people in the world. Its not something he's doing simply to try and make money, he wants to change the world. Tesla isn't going anywhere.

 

Let's wait & see how Tesla pans out as the major manufacturers release their EV's in the next several years....

 

Here's just the point...why are major manufacturers releasing EVs? Because of Tesla. Their success is Elon Musk's success.

 

Yes. I'm very grateful to Tesla for kick starting the electric vehicles market!
Myself, I'd rather an EV, than do 0-60 in 9 seconds in some hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with a 700 mile range.
Of course, hydrogen fuel cell will advance over time, but they still won't be the same as EV over the next 10 years.

However, as the major manufacturers release their EV competition, I wouldn't want to bet my life that Tesla will still exist in its current form.
I wouldn't be surprised if they become bought out, or restrict their business to drive train development & supply only...

 

Now, the refreshed nose has really grown on me, while the original nose looks old, bland, and messy...

 

There's a new one in my parking lot at work. At first I didn't even notice the difference (less obvious on the dark color), but I'm more aware now. I think it looks pretty good.

 

Looks great. No need to even mimic a grill anymore. Very unique to see Tesla design start to make inroads into the present and their future

 

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/09/a-d...el-s-into.html

 

for when you want a really quiet sendoff...