Tesla Model S gets a facelift for the 2016 model year

[captain cactus]

Source: https://www.teslamotors.com/models

 

Well, there isn't really much to quote. The front looks more like the Model X and Model 3 and it's lacking the plastic grille for improved aerodynamics. The rear of the car didn't get much of an update (if any, actually) yet somehow the side view is now a whole lot better with a more sloping nose. Interior wise the Model S is largely the same, with a few new dashboard inlays called Dark Ash Wood (replacing the solid piano black) and Figured Ash Wood which is more of a brown-ish wood. As for the technical things, the Model S gets the same HEPA Air Filter found in the Model X and full adaptive head lighting. You can order one yourself right now and get the facelifted version right away here (if you have the cash): https://www.teslamotors.com/models/design?redirect=no

 

Quote

Adaptive Lighting

Model S now features full LED adaptive headlamps. Besides enhancing the already great styling, they also boost safety: 14 three-position LED dynamic turning lights improve visibility at night, especially on winding roads.

 

HEPA Air Filter

Model S now features a Medical grade HEPA air filtration system, which removes at least 99.97% of particulate exhaust pollution and effectively all allergens, bacteria and other contaminants from cabin air.

Here, have some pictures (taken from the Tesla configurator website hence the lower resolution).

And for a brilliant high-res:

 

And a comparison of the old and new face:

I think it's an overall design improvement. The side view of the car looks a lot better with that continuous front bumper. Even though I didn't really like the front on the Model X with that Tesla logo poking into the front bumper it somehow fits on the Model S. Now it's waiting on the review videos showing this thing in more detail. I would've loved to see some other features "ported" over from both the Model X and 3 though, like some new wheels and the giant glass roof.

 

EDIT added more official press photos. Also, according to cnbc, the changes go into production today, so I guess anybody who ordered one earlier but did not have their car being produced yet will get the new look.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/12/teslas-model-s-getting-a-facelift.html

more edits: the Model X has also been updated with a slightly larger base battery of 75 kWh instead of the 70 kWh.

https://www.teslamotors.com/modelx/design

[Oshino Shinobu]

I still don't think it's an attractive car. It was boring before, but now it looks like they've stuck the nose of a sports car on the front of a Mazda 6. 

If they styled the rest of the car like the front, it could look good. 

[ZetZet]

6 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

I still don't think it's an attractive car. It was boring before, but now it looks like they've stuck the nose of a sports car on the front of a Mazda 6. 

If they styled the rest of the car like the front, it could look good. 

but mazda 6 is attractive... 

[Oshino Shinobu]

3 minutes ago, ZetZet said:

but mazda 6 is attractive... 

On its own, it looks okay. With a sporty front, it looks weird. 

 

From the back, it's still boring, which shouldn't be the case for such an expensive car. Tesla has a lot going for them, but the exterior styling is not a strong point IMO. 

Something like an Aston Martin Rapide S is how a 4 door high performance car should look. I actually like the new front of the Tesla S, but it looks out of place with the rest of the car. 

[ZetZet]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

On its own, it looks okay. With a sporty front, it looks weird. 

 

From the back, it's still boring, which shouldn't be the case for such an expensive car. Tesla has a lot going for them, but the exterior styling is not a strong point IMO. 

Well I personally like how it looks. 

[Swndlr]

Smexy

[Oshino Shinobu]

2 minutes ago, ZetZet said:

Well I personally like how it looks. 

If they change the back and middle of the car to fit in better with the front, it could look good. They should look at Aston Martin for some inspiration IMO (edited post above).

Or something like the Maserati Quattroporte. 

[Burusutazu]

Looks good, I wonder if I'll ever see the face lift on the road.

[ZetZet]

15 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

If they change the back and middle of the car to fit in better with the front, it could look good. They should look at Aston Martin for some inspiration IMO (edited post above).

Or something like the Maserati Quattroporte. 

I think it will always look at little out of place because Tesla doesn't want to trade space for looks.

[ivhyn]

This is more in line with the Model X front and kinda resembles the Model 3 look, I wish they went the other route however and gave the X and 3 a similar style to the S. The old front remembers me of the fierce animal that the Model S is, now it looks like an average sedan.

One can't argue about taste though.

[captain cactus]

1 hour ago, Burusutazu said:

Looks good, I wonder if I'll ever see the face lift on the road.

I just did a quick configuration, if you order now it'll arrive in June. So expect them on the road around then, unless orders before the official announcement by other people are somehow converted to the new car, then expect them earlier.

[captain cactus]

According to cnbc, the changes go into production today, so I guess anybody who ordered one earlier but did not have their car being produced yet will get the new look.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/12/teslas-model-s-getting-a-facelift.html

[Burusutazu]

30 minutes ago, lots of unexplainable lag said:

I just did a quick configuration, if you order now it'll arrive in June. So expect them on the road around then, unless orders before the official announcement by other people are somehow converted to the new car, then expect them earlier.

I don't mean it in that way. Living in a rural area means not many people buy Tesla's. There is only one Tesla owner in about 40 miles that I know of, and I have only seen that car twice in 5 years.

[captain cactus]

1 minute ago, Burusutazu said:

I don't mean it in that way. Living in a rural area means not many people buy Tesla's. There is only one Tesla owner in about 40 miles that I know of, and I have only seen that car twice in 5 years.

These are pretty much city cars since that's where the charging stations are. Wait until the Model 3 arrives and you'll have a much higher chance of seeing one.

[Deil Grist]

1 hour ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

If they change the back and middle of the car to fit in better with the front, it could look good. They should look at Aston Martin for some inspiration IMO (edited post above).

Or something like the Maserati Quattroporte. 

So if you want them to change the back, middle, and front of the car, then you basically want a different car altogether. 

[s3ns3]

35 minutes ago, Deil Grist said:

So if you want them to change the back, middle, and front of the car, then you basically want a different car altogether. 

i dont think so. i think he means that the back should be in line with the front. now that he pointed it out,it does look weird. 

a way cheaper audi looks better

[captain cactus]

Update: the Model X now comes with a slightly larger 75 kWh battery instead of the 70 kWh for the entry-level car.

https://www.teslamotors.com/modelx/design

[MEC-777]

I like it. It is what it needs to be and nothing more. And in that sense; it looks great, IMO. 

 

For those who might say something like "doesn't look right - it should have a front grill" I say; it's a damn electric car! It doesn't need a grill and thus, shouldn't have a "fake" one. Get with the times!  

 

I think it's beautiful.

[dalekphalm]

19 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

I like it. It is what it needs to be and nothing more. And in that sense; it looks great, IMO. 

 

For those who might say something like "doesn't look right - it should have a front grill" I say; it's a damn electric car! It doesn't need a grill and thus, shouldn't have a "fake" one. Get with the times!  

 

I think it's beautiful.

In fact, adding the front grill makes the car less aerodynamic, and that decreases performance efficiency and speed. They'd be making the car "slower" just to satisfy people who probably won't be satisfied without an ICE anyway...

 

I like it.

[Real_PhillBert]

48 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

I like it. It is what it needs to be and nothing more. And in that sense; it looks great, IMO. 

 

For those who might say something like "doesn't look right - it should have a front grill" I say; it's a damn electric car! It doesn't need a grill and thus, shouldn't have a "fake" one. Get with the times!  

 

I think it's beautiful.

Are you sure about that? More than a few electric cars have front mount radiators for cooling the battery packs and motor controllers, I'm not sure if Tesla does or not though.

 

 

 

EDIT: After a bit of digging, yes the Tesla S does indeed have liquid cooled battery packs and a front mount radiator:

 

 

 

 

[captain cactus]

18 minutes ago, Real_PhillBert said:

Are you sure about that? More than a few electric cars have front mount radiators for cooling the battery packs and motor controllers, I'm not sure if Tesla does or not though.

 

 

 

EDIT: After a bit of digging, yes the Tesla S does indeed have liquid cooled battery packs and a front mount radiator:

 

 

 

 

If you look at the press photo with the new red Model S you'll see a big intake at the front of the car. Behind that is a clearly visible radiator, both for the battery and the AC.

[Real_PhillBert]

1 minute ago, lots of unexplainable lag said:

If you look at the press photo with the new red Model S you'll see a big intake at the front of the car. Behind that is a clearly visible radiator, both for the battery and the AC.

I saw that but wasnt sure it wasnt the AC condenser, didnt want to make assumptions

[captain cactus]

1 minute ago, Real_PhillBert said:

I saw that but wasnt sure it wasnt the AC condenser, didnt want to make assumptions

Well obviously it won't be in the same cooling loop but the AC condenser is either directly behind the front air scoop or in one of the side intakes.

[Real_PhillBert]

1 minute ago, lots of unexplainable lag said:

Well obviously it won't be in the same cooling loop but the AC condenser is either directly behind the front air scoop or in one of the side intakes.

I dont think you understood... 

 

The existence of a heat exchanger in the photo does not necessarily mean the batteries/motor controller are liquid cooled, it could have well been an AC condenser. That is why I did not take the pic alone as proof that the car does indeed have a radiator. 

[Agent181]

5 hours ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

On its own, it looks okay. With a sporty front, it looks weird. 

 

From the back, it's still boring, which shouldn't be the case for such an expensive car. Tesla has a lot going for them, but the exterior styling is not a strong point IMO. 

Something like an Aston Martin Rapide S is how a 4 door high performance car should look. I actually like the new front of the Tesla S, but it looks out of place with the rest of the car. 

the tesla looks better than the Rapide S... if the front grill was a lot more similar to the vantage then yes