What was this car I saw today? tasco or Tesco? By the Milford proving grounds

This morning, I was getting coffee near the Milford proving grounds, and saw a test car with a M plate on it. It had no manufacturers insignia, just what I thought was a model name. It was either Tasco or Tesco, I believe.

It was nothing special, just a basic commuter 4 door car. It had a laptop mounted in the passenger seat. Besides that and the M plate, it looked like it could already be in production. There was no masking or camo. It looked similar to somethng like a run of the mill, Accord, Camry, Malibu, etc.

So, what was it and who makes it? Maybe its a Middle East or Opel model or something for GM?

No one has any idea? Shoot, I should have taken photos. I had my cell with me too.

Tesco is grocery store chain in England, beyond that, you got me??

Tasco sells fishing tackle. :D

:shrug:

Was it a Tesla?

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Was it a Tesla?

http://www.teslamotors.com/


he said 4 door car

he said 4 door car

Tesla is supposed to be working on a 4 door.

OTOH, it may have been a joke the engineers were playing. Engineers can have a weird sense of humor. :)

Another 4 door car = :tired:

Another 4 door car = :tired:

trust me 4 doors bring us 2 doors ;)

Tesla is working on TWO 4 door models I believe. The 'white star' and the 'blue star'. White star I think is going to be the more premium model, and the blue star is the lower priced model. Tesla white star development is in Rochester Hills, MI, so it could be possible that he saw a Tesla.

Was it a Tesla?

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Looked awesome until I saw this:

The 2008 Tesla Roadster currently has a base price of $98,000

Why do you charge the Out of Service Area Fee?
To ensure we can deliver superior customer service, Tesla Motors charges an $8,000 service fee to customers who live more than 100 miles from one of our initial key markets in metropolitan San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami. The surcharge covers dispatching a technician to an owner’s home or transporting the Tesla Roadster to the nearest Tesla Store when service is necessary during the warranty period.

sounds like partnering with a major company would of been better...

trust me 4 doors bring us 2 doors ;)

That would be nice...

Tesla's four-door isn't even in development yet. Sales of the roadster will finance the whitestar, and they have yet to fulfill their orders on them.

It would be nice if GM just....'adopted' Tesla.:p. They've got incredible battery tech, and GM can only improve upon it, I'd think.

And despite the price...ever since I saw that Roadster 3 years ago - I never cease to drool over it.:lol:

It would be nice if GM just....'adopted' Tesla.:p. They've got incredible battery tech, and GM can only improve upon it, I'd think.

And despite the price...ever since I saw that Roadster 3 years ago - I never cease to drool over it.:lol:

How incredible is it if they've yet to put one Tesla paid roadster on the roads, and they were supposed to have gone sale by Q4 2007?

the price..and people dont beleive an electric supercar can be done..

How incredible is it if they've yet to put one Tesla paid roadster on the roads, and they were supposed to have gone sale by Q4 2007?Excellent point that many have missed. I'll bet there are plenty out there that paid major $ on a deposit that aren't happy with what they've been hearing from Tesla.

It makes you think what did Ian Wright know when he left the company early on? Perhaps that bad decisions were about to be made?

How incredible is it if they've yet to put one Tesla paid roadster on the roads, and they were supposed to have gone sale by Q4 2007?

They still have 2 weeks until Q1 2008 :D

How far behind is the car?

It would be nice if GM just....'adopted' Tesla.:p. They've got incredible battery tech, and GM can only improve upon it, I'd think.


Their "incredible battery tech" is a bunch of 18650-sized lithium-ion cells (the same as used in laptops) strung together with enough electronics to hopefully keep them from self-destructing. We'll see how it works. The A123 lithium-nanophosphate tech that GM is using for the Volt is much more promising, but still unproven and a bit scary.

Methinks that the Telsa guys came into the project with the Silicon Valley attitude that Detroit engineers are a bunch of idiot hicks, and are now finding out that building a car ain't so easy.

Excellent point that many have missed. I'll bet there are plenty out there that paid major $ on a deposit that aren't happy with what they've been hearing from Tesla.

It makes you think what did Ian Wright know when he left the company early on? Perhaps that bad decisions were about to be made?

They not only paid a deposit, I believe Tesla made them PAY for the car up front!

They still have 2 weeks until Q1 2008 :D

How far behind is the car?

Don't know how far behind they are...but the problem is the transmission. The electric motors are putting out so much torque, they're eating the trans for lunch.

4 door commuter + Laptop = COP!

Don't know how far behind they are...but the problem is the transmission. The electric motors are putting out so much torque, they're eating the trans for lunch.
Autoblog ran a story about them possibly producing them with temp. transmissions.. They would barely last an oil change.

Theres my not so funny joke for the day.

Don't know how far behind they are...but the problem is the transmission. The electric motors are putting out so much torque, they're eating the trans for lunch.

Yep - they're still shopping for a transmission. I don't buy the line about electric motors building too much torque, though - it's a light car, and the motors provide very smooth power compared to that of an IC engine. Frankly, I think it's a matter of "gross minimalization" (to use a term from my boss) - assuming that something's easy because it looks simple and has been done before.

The sad part is they are still taking $5000 deposits to be on the waiting list for the 2008s... I guess they figure some buyers will cancel their orders and wait for the 2009s.

Tesla is working on TWO 4 door models I believe. The 'white star' and the 'blue star'. White star I think is going to be the more premium model, and the blue star is the lower priced model. Tesla white star development is in Rochester Hills, MI, so it could be possible that he saw a Tesla.

I believe that these are on indefinite hold with the recent ousting of Mark Eberhard (co-founder) from Tesla. I think they'll be concentrating on actually delivering the roadster before adding additional models.