Big advantage off of the line, but the M5 was catching it on the top end. Just a matter of time/distance and the M5 would be ahead.

JR

Uhm, no. The Tesla is quicker off the line. (and only "2 out of 3 times") "Faster" certainly goes to the BMW.

In terms of relevancy, just how often would you carry a speed contest beyond 110 mph?

Eric, for the first time that I can remember, you're not talking like a car guy! :eek:

every time?

I took a trip across FL last weekend to go to a PCA club race at Daytona with my 10 year old son. While driving, my son says "Dad, what's that? I thought it was a new Maybach or perhaps prototype big Hyundai. It was the Tesla picture here and it buzzed by us at 80-85 mph. Looked nice coming and going.

What's the deal with these auto guys filming themselves from two cameras and only looking into one? It is irritating to me - is it supposed to be cool or give you the perspective of an onlooker to the show?

I am curious why the M5 is catching up? From a physics point of view. Does it have more power but only in a certain power band which it stays on longer at higher speeds?

As always, thanks for posting - great thread Eric!

G

Not very often, mainly because I don't make a habit of racing people on the street. But there was this one idiot in a modified Ford Lightning that was pestering me one day in Texas, out in the boonies. After 10 minutes of him riding my ass and trying to goad me into a race, I got fed up and decided to put a little daylight between us. I was in an RS6 and he eventually got the idea that he wasn't faster. We were well north of 100 when he finally gave up.

JR

In the real world in many parts of the US and all of Canada it's nice to have heat and a good defroster for a few months of the year also, in this technology what range would a battery have at minus 20, supplying heat, defrost and light to the car? Will they end up with a gas heater like the old beetle? LOL I wish them luck but I don't see electric cars replacing oil powered cars any time soon. Cheers

Yep. The Tesla has all of it's torque down low. (electric motor) It leaps off the line and then seeks to hold that advantage. The BMW guys question the launch of the M5. As the vid narrator says, the Tesla beat the M5 2 out of 3 times. ...which obviously means it doesn't always beat the M5 off the line with enough lead . . .which means that pulling from say, 40 to 80 the BMW will always take the Tesla.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AOdsTuaJEfc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S - Automobile Magazine

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What happens when the car is partially submerged in saltwater?

I wonder if these things will be valuable collectors' items in 10-15 years, when Tesla is gone, or will they be something no one will really want.

burns

What happens when any car is partially submerged in saltwater?

salvage

What's your point?

Tesla has stated that the battery is completely sealed. Think they tested the thing up to the windows.

A regular car battery will discharge in saltwater. But it does not have the equal of multiple gallons of gasoline in energy contained in batteries of these electric cars. I expect that the speed of discharge is the issue!

The electrodes are not sealed. It is shorting the terminals out that is the issue.

Jalopnik.com Updates: More Than A Dozen Fisker Karma Hybrids Caught Fire And Exploded In New Jersey Port After Sandy

Ah didn't consider the salinity and the electrodes, good point. I suppose it will then start to generate hydrogen. :)