Tesla Model Y

[RedDevil]

I believe Tesla uses regular diffs and the brakes to control rotation speed of all wheels independently.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Well I watched the entire Y release party even though very little was about the Y. Was that guy up front Musk? I would say he is way to creepy to be a pitch man. Anyway, I don't see how the Y is an SUV. It is clearly a crossover. The X which is supposed to be the crossover seems more like an SUV but I'd like to see how any of them line up off road compared to say a Rav4 or the new Forester. Maybe they compare better to an Audi Q7 or a M class Benz but they do pretty well off road. Not that off road is what buyers are looking for, but what separates the SUVs from the crossovers. The Y seems more like a Lincoln MKT.

The Model is what the Model 3 should have been from the start. Tesla somehow managed to changed every external panel slightly but without adding extra utility to the vehicle. It still has limited ground clearance, an almost useless hatch, and limited options to carry things on a roof rack. The Model Y is a hatchback car not a CUV.

CleanTechnica is estimating 5-6 inches of ground clearance for the Model Y. My 2009 Prius had 5.6 inches and scraped on parking lot speed bumps with 4 people in the car.

[redpoint5]

People don't need the utility, they "need" the image. CUVs are an image, not a practical solution to a problem.

If people need extra ground clearance, Tesla has the X.

I find the Prius to be a good height. I doubt people will be scraping their Y while on normal roads.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

People don't need the utility, they "need" the image. CUVs are an image, not a practical solution to a problem.

If people need extra ground clearance, Tesla has the X.

I find the Prius to be a good height. I doubt people will be scraping their Y while on normal roads.

You can have both image and utility. The Toyota RAV4 manages to be the most fuel efficient gas CUV in the USA at 39 mpg combined. (Also the best selling CUV / SUV in the USA)

EDIT: To be classified as a light truck a vehicle needs 20 cm of ground clearance. (7.87 inches)

[redpoint5]

In the case of EVs, squeezing out range for every kWh is extremely important. Since range can only be added by increasing battery size (expense), or optimizing aerodynamic shape (practically free), there is huge incentive to optimize the aero shape at the expense of things like ground clearance and utility.

My guess is that Tesla did a great amount of research and tweaking of the design to balance the need for utility, range, and aesthetics and ended up with the Y. In my view, the 3 looks very sharp and is quite efficiently designed. Small tweaks to it seems the right move to me for the Y. For the 2 days a year people need to haul a bigscreen TV or furniture, they can borrow someone else's vehicle.

I don't know what the roof rack options will be, but they are to be avoided anyhow. Hitch mounting is best for many reasons.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I think the relative lack of fires in EVs speaks for itself. This gif speaks for the Model S.

But the Model S had to get a recall because of poor protection and according to this, the Model 3 seems built possibly weaker. Maybe not as they dont seem to talk about the underside skid plate specs.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/insidee...-so-light/amp/

[redpoint5]

I'll have to dig into it more sometime. Munro said just the opposite of the Model 3, that the pack itself provided huge strength and rigidity to the car, so much so that he can't understand why the frame was built so strong. Apparently Munro felt the cost could have been reduced to have the battery pack provide the structural rigidity.

At any rate, I haven't heard of road debris causing fires yet on the 3. The S had the shielding installed after a couple of fires causes by punctures to the undercarriage, one of which was caused by a high speed chase and crash.

Most of the risk is borne by the insurance company and Tesla if there is an unreasonable fire danger.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

In the case of EVs, squeezing out range for every kWh is extremely important. Since range can only be added by increasing battery size (expense), or optimizing aerodynamic shape (practically free), there is huge incentive to optimize the aero shape at the expense of things like ground clearance and utility.

Current generation EVs have all the range they need. 200 miles is plenty. That is 2 1/2 times the range of the EV I drive every day. There is little reason to compromise practical every day utility to eek out another 10% range that will hardly ever be used.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My guess is that Tesla did a great amount of research and tweaking of the design to balance the need for utility, range, and aesthetics and ended up with the Y. In my view, the 3 looks very sharp and is quite efficiently designed. Small tweaks to it seems the right move to me for the Y. For the 2 days a year people need to haul a bigscreen TV or furniture, they can borrow someone else's vehicle.

The Model 3 and Model Y occupy the same space. Tesla should have used the billions they spent on the Model Y to expand into a new category.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I don't know what the roof rack options will be, but they are to be avoided anyhow. Hitch mounting is best for many reasons.

You cant put a kayak, canoe, surfboard, ski box or sheets of plywood / drywall on a hitch mount. You cant carry siding on a hitch mount.

Yes, bikes can go on a hitch mount but they are a huge pain compared to roof mounting. I had to go to a hitch mount with the Prius and you have to take the bikes off to open the hatch. With a fastback hatch like the Model Y (or my Prius) you also cant stand up bikes in the back of the vehicle like in a wagon or squared off hatch.

My Prii were WAY less useful than my Jetta Wagons.

[NeilBlanchard]

Model 3 drivetrain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eQ7nN_Lwo

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by JSH

You can have both image and utility. The Toyota RAV4 manages to be the most fuel efficient gas CUV in the USA at 39 mpg combined. (Also the best selling CUV / SUV in the USA)

EDIT: To be classified as a light truck a vehicle needs 20 cm of ground clearance. (7.87 inches)

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...V4&srchtyp=ymm

Is there some other RAV4 model not listed here? I'm not seeing anything close to 39 mpg combined.