From Californians 03.26:

And on the 4th day, Tesla hath revealed the Model S.
And the world’s advocates of green hath rejoiced.
But the Fetishers of the Cult of Car Design had much to say,
Grabbing their styli and commenting on the form and the shape of the beast.

Okay, I took it too far, but you get the point.  Tesla last week revealed the Model S in all its laptop battery-electrified glory.  The vehicle has been haunting the minds of the auto world since it was initially mentioned last year, with slight reveals here and there about its design, manufacturing, and price ($60K, in case you’re wondering).

What we REALLY want to know is if the design & styling hold up.  We’ve brought a couple of our minds together to review and critique the Model S.  Does it stack up well against other alterna-fuel vehicles?  Read on to find out.

Overall Profile

Dali:  There are some nice things I like about the Model S.  The silhouette of the vehicle has the feel of an Aston Martin mating with a sedan.  Which, for all intents and purposes, serves it well here.  The clean, swooping roof line is a little soft for my tastes.  I would have liked to see more snap to it that better mimics the crisp lines of the doors.  The greenhouse appears to taper a little bit too much towards the rear in a straight on side view, and that soft upturn at the end doesn’t do anything for me.  The door cut lines are well-placed, resulting in the bodysides framing them quite well.  It’s not exciting, but it’s clean and modern.

Arvind (aka Ramkey):  Beautiful proportions outfit Tesla’s new entry into the sports sedan/electric vehicle market.  Clean, crisp lines with slender surfacing helps to showcase its simplicity in form and shape.  Tesla takes several design cues and themes from other successfully executed designs  from Audi,  Aston Martin, and even a touch of Lexus.  A gentle transition from the front end to the formed shoulders at the rear.  Crisp, chiseled sweep surfaced at the lower portion of the door.  However,  I would have eliminated the air vent detail on the side which is so overused in automobiles today.

Stance & Proportion

Arvind:  A strong stance yet looks quite nimble on all fours.  Surfaces in this view are fairly uniform with minimal surface breakup adding to its simplicity.  The front grill has just a hint of Aston Martin in it.  Angled front headlamps add to the aggressive look of the car.  Turbine blade like wheels add another aggressive component to the vehicle similar to what I would see on a Mercedes  McClaren.  The much needed relief below the front grill saves the Tesla from looking too heavy…..something the new Acura TL should have done on their new model.

Dali:  This is the view that the Model S wins at.  The stance is clearly defined, cat-like, muscular.  It reminds me of the new(er) Jaguars.  The surface is very pure and unbroken, unlike many other sporty-sedans that tend to add add add details where they are not necessarily needed.  The length of the hood allows us to appreciate the car’s ability to appear as if it is winding up and preparing to leap, reminding me of the wind-up toy robots I have… err, I meant had as a child.  The details (Saab-inspired turbine wheels, chrome trim outlining the DLO and grille) are not overdone.  In fact, this vehicle has a very “iPhone” feel to it: minimal, clean, nothing excitingly new, just well-executed.

Front

Dali: The first things I notice when looking at this view are the headlamps and grille.  The headlamps vaguely remind me of those of the new GM CUVs; mainly, they appear as more aggressive versions of the new Saturn VUE’s headlamps.  Their clean geometric lines provide a unique look at different viewing angles.  The second detail I notice is the grille.  It is reminiscent of what Maserati and Aston have done, but with a difference: the grille appears to be containing a layered epicenter.  The blacked-out hint of a front bumper, the horizontal venting, and the brand’s logo encircled by a wis p of chrome all create a hint of something emerging, something ready to be exposed.

Arvind:  Agressive headlamps coupled with a profound graphical breakup of positive and negative space from the windshield, grill, and lower relief.  Subtle surfacing details are key in being able to read these breakups clearly.  Well done.  The headlamps have touch of BMW and Volkswagen to it but can almost be seen as a more up to date and refined look to their influence.

Rear

Arvind:  My first thought when looking at the rear was Jaguar XK.  Very similar graphical breakup with the aluminum molding at the center.  However, I must admit that the surface detail outshines the Jag from the rear.  The integrated wing transitions gracefully through the shoulder area subtly emphasizing the form change along the center through the top of the tail lights. Hot stuff!

Dali:  I wholeheartedly agree about the Jag reference.  I think Tesla may be drawing a lot of inspiration from Ford’s (formerly) premiere brands.  I absolutely love the intersecting surfaces here, especially with the tail-lamps being outlined by the rear “haunch” surface as it comes around to the back.  I love the tension that the crossing chrome detail creates as it intersects the back.  Very clean and VERY sexy, although I hope that government standards don’t force some ungodly rear bumper action when this vehicle comes into production.

Overall

Arvind:  Tesla has done a fine job.  Worthy enough to be considered a strong competitor to the era of Hybrid/Electric sports sedans.  Interestingly enough, the Tesla borrows a lot of design elements from successful car designs from our German, British, and Japanese counterparts.  One would think that having being influenced by so many design cues, the reception would be somewhat negative.  Tesla may be viewed as being confused and befuddled, reaching for an identity.  However the overall execution of its design was done surprisingly well!  Somehow, with all the influences, Tesla managed to bring it all together to a uniform, harmonious form with top notch execution.  This is mainly due to the fact that these design cues are subtle in nature.  Proportionally, the design may remind you of another car, but when you analyze the details, the execution allows for  sufficient differences and merits complete ownership of their design.  Great job!  Now just start working on that price!

Dali: The Model S is a well-designed vehicle.  I prefer this car’s look over the Roadster, as the two share little in the way of company aesthetics. The vehicle is eye-catching, yet not over done.  This is the iPhone of cars: while it may not make you turn your head from a distance, taking this out of your pocket will say something about you, your driving habits, and your tastes.  Tesla managed to do what companies like Toyota and Honda haven’t: create a sexy electric car that fires on all cylinders, yet doesn’t fall into the cliche of what an alternafuel vehicle should be.

What are your opinions of the Tesla Model S?  Let us know by leaving your thoughts in our comments.