As we ran in Tesla Model S: the first 2,500 km Bashny.Net

Today, as for the "back" at our Tesla two and a half thousand kilometers, it's time for a detailed review!

54 photos, a couple of videos and text.





Doors and locks, layout

The theater, as you know, begins with a hanger, and familiarity with the Model S - c door handle. If you come to the car with the key in your pocket, it handles effectively go out of the door, and then, while driving or some time later, the same way you done effectively inside. If you pull the handle operates the electromechanical lock and the door opens. To close the car, just leave him with a key in his pocket.



Apart from some futuristic process of penetration into salon, this design handles can significantly reduce the drag coefficient. This is extremely important when driving at high speed electric.



If the theory of complete automation of the opening and closing the car looks good, in practice there are nuances. It should go near the car, the doors are opened. When you delete a key takes several tens of seconds before the machine is closed. You can convert the entire system in semi-automatic mode (when in order to moved the handle, you need to touch them) and use the button on the key to close. This is inconvenient, especially when the key is in the bag. Conventional keyless access much easier, since there is always the possibility guaranteed to lock the car by pressing a button on the handle, which is sorely missed Model S.



If you ever leave his hand on the door handle at a time when it is retracted into the door - nothing bad will happen. When the system "feels" the obstacle, the handle just "hangs" on a relatively weak spring. On the other hand, in winter operation a powerful mechanism that is able to push even frozen handle will be very helpful.



Another bad point is the lack of door closers and electromechanical lock design. If you close the door with sufficient force to the "first click", then immediately open it outside to shut completely fail. You have to wait a moment until the opening mechanism is activated again. As a result, it should be noted that the handles look cool, you can get used to them, but a common type system Keyless Go is much nicer and more convenient.



Now about the cabin layout. Since the battery is placed in the bottom of the body and engine - between the rear wheels, the vehicle huge amount of space. Rear trunk besides sheer size has an additional section in the floor, which can be equipped with two optional child seat. This additional notch was made possible because the Model S is not the gas tank, and release the muffler. Power tailgate works with the key fob, and with the buttons on the doors and the center of the screen, which is very convenient.



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The front luggage compartment, which Tesla called frunk (from the front trunk), is very pleased with its extra volume. To open it, or with a key, or from the central screen in the cabin. But with the closure is not so simple. To get started you just need to lower the hood is not slamming, and then, resting his two hands in the cutting edge, with the power to press. It should be noted that a similar scheme in the Porsche 911 in a much more pleasant enough one hand and a light touch. In winter, when the machine is dirty, always use the front luggage compartment is uncomfortable.



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Chrome bezel side window was installed is not quite straight. I had to glue it



Sam interior is very minimalistic, nothing more. Designers have tried to get rid of all unnecessary elements, such as switches, buttons, knobs above the doorway, and so on. D. It turned out pretty good, but there is one complaint - the lack of storage space for all the little things. For example, the door is not the usual pockets, and in the center armrest is not the usual box for details. As a result, there are only the glove compartment, small open shelf under the center screen completely open section on the floor between the front seats. Lack of transmission and driveline enables the flat floor in the legs as the front passengers and rear. Thus, a central place in the back seat is full, the legs do not interfere.



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The key to the Model S to the form of the car itself. Despite the minimalist look, glossy plastic hidden under three buttons. If you double-click on the "feeds", opens the trunk, on the "roof" - the door. The front part of the key, respectively, is responsible for frunk. To close enough single clicking on the relevant button. The key is very small, which makes it possible not to feel it, for example, in the front pocket of his jeans.



Dynamics and control

Without a doubt, the most interesting thing in the Model S - this is how the car rides. But first, it needs to be somehow "make". Usual start button there: to turn on the machine, you need to touch the foot to the brake pedal. On the dashboard of a car picture speedometer is replaced, and all you can go. The nice thing is that once you open the car or even just approach it as immediately starts heating system or air conditioning. When it's cold outside, warm air begins to warm the driver before he "including the engine." Of course, you can turn on the heating, or heating the cabin before you leave the office or at home - through the app on your mobile phone or computer.



The steering wheel, the selector "gearbox", "turn signals" and other controls borrowed from the previous generation Mercedes. Deal with them, there is no difficulty. Unless the switch is turning at position 8 hours rather than in the usual vehicles for other 10 hours. Push the brake biasing the selector down and drove off. By default, the machine begins to move after pressing the gas pedal, but for those who are accustomed to "automatic", you can turn on when the forward movement begins when the brake is released.



On low speed Tesla rolls soundlessly as if muffled car. The gas pedal is easy to vary the movement: for example, it is possible to maneuver a very, very low speed. In the parking lot, and supermarkets in the courtyards, pedestrians walking back to the car, do not notice it, so when driving at low speeds, particular attention must be paid to safety.



The car has no cameras around, and the rear camera has no markings (may appear in the new firmware). If you add the curly side in the rearview mirror and a lot of size, the park in tight urban environments need to get used to.



But when you leave the road and hit the pedal at least half, once it becomes clear: this is it - the future of road transport. Even reseeding with a very powerful machine (in my case it is 557 liters. With. And 760 Nm), the acceleration of Model S is not comparable to anything else. The main advantage of the electric motor - is the immediate reaction to the gas pedal, which immediately applies to the rear wheels of maximum torque from zero rpm. In real life, this is a direct bond with the car. If in case you are driving with the engine supply "of coal into the furnace of a steam locomotive", the electric car you drive directly to the acceleration vector.

Active cycling Tesla resembles a roller coaster or a spaceship from "Star Wars." Overtaking, rebuild, and just start with a traffic light come easily, naturally, and with plenty of power. Always know exactly that by pressing a pedal car and instantly easy to accelerate without delay on the gear shift or a set engine speed.



Especially good advantage Model S noticeable during quiet movement and the need to accelerate, for example, to 30-60 km / h. There are no buttons Sport, «sport" mode transmission, and so on. D. Yes, and no transmission, too - the engine is connected directly to the wheels via a simple gear. Traditional car first "think", then "jump" into two transmission down, then toss in the "furnace" fuel, the engine will pick up sufficient momentum and you feel the acceleration, heard the noise from the engine compartment and exhaust system. In this case, the acceleration will happen instantly, smoothly and in silence, only the passengers feel their soft and strong pushes in the chair.



If drown pedal all the way to the yellow arrow pointer power jumped to the area of ​​320 kW, first shlifanut asphalt rear wheels, then a little Vilnet feed, and then be followed by an overload, like a roller coaster. Four and a half seconds of rapid acceleration, and the speed is already displayed in three-digit format.



By the way, our Tesla has managed to participate in a local competition in drag racing in the 402 meters, which was ranked first in the class of rear-wheel drive.



As an active riding effect on battery power? The biggest advantage of electric vehicle - is the ability of the motor as a generator. When you release the accelerator pedal fully, the Model S is able to slow down the engine and return the energy back into the battery. This allows the use of conventional brakes is extremely rare and ride "one pedal." Apart from the fact that after a sharp acceleration, you can most of the energy consumed to send back to the battery, brake discs and pads wear is minimal.



The second important advantage of Model S, in addition to the acceleration - a record low center of gravity. The battery is located in the floor within the database, and the engine - between the rear wheels. Along with an all-aluminum body that gives a record low center of gravity, which is even below the axle, which is impossible for conventional vehicles. Low center of gravity and distributed on the basis of weight means the minimum pitch and roll, better handling in turns. The only drawback - the weight of it himself: as the battery has a record capacity of 85 kWh, the machine weighs more than two tons.

Armchairs, even in version Performance, unfortunately, do not have sufficient lateral support. American influence is felt with an emphasis on comfort and the need to move more "broad" of passengers, of which there are quite a few in North America.



The company Tesla has done a tremendous job over the most important functions of the car - the movement, leaving behind conventional cars with internal combustion engines. However, it should be noted that other manufacturers of electric cars are still on the way to catch up with even medium-performance gasoline cars. As a result of their development have a limited reserve, sluggish and dull dynamics of "ecological" design. In such a conception of an uncertain future.

Soft

If you look at your phone or tablet, you will not be difficult to notice that the physical buttons on them there. Why did they have to be in the car, especially the rather expensive? Based on this observation, the developers Model S replaced the traditional arrows and buttons on the more appropriate in this age of LCD screens. The role of the dashboard is performing 12, 3 "screen with a resolution of 1280 × 480.

The screen may change its purpose depending on what vehicle is occupied. When charging is displayed information about the strength of the current, voltage and remaining time during a stop - power reserve and charge the battery. When the machine is in motion, you can see the current speed (as the arrow and number) and the power that is fed to the engine, or back into the battery. I must say that the information content of the panel and color coding are great. The side areas can display a graph of energy consumption, odometer, the name of the playing audio track, map navigation and telephone menu. Cruising can be displayed in the "ideal" and the actual kilometers, which is very close to reality.



But the most interesting - is the central 17 "multi-touch screen with a resolution of 1080 × 1920. It is divided into three zones: the upper menu programs, the central part, which displays one or two applications and the lower block with climate control, volume control button and call button control panel and settings. Since the blocks are always in place, and the controls are large, you can work with the panel even while driving. This screen is fundamentally different from anything you've seen before in other cars, so you can compare it only with great iPad. The only thing that is uncomfortable - this volume control from a central screen, but in this case comes to the rescue wheel on the left side of the steering wheel.



It is worth noting a few points related to the operation of this system in Belarus. The first thing to do - is to ensure car parking. In the European Union and North America, a free internet in the car, including roaming. In Europe, you can use the Internet, from Portugal to Estonia. Change the SIM-card is very difficult (it is on board with the reverse side of the center of the screen), you just need to disassemble polmashiny.



But, fortunately, there is a possibility to connect Model S to Wi-Fi. You can make any distribution of the Internet from the phone, or install a portable hotspot. The second option is preferable, since it will be able to use mobile app for the car. There is good news: if you connect a point on the charging to the USB port, it will be charged if the machine is connected to the charger cable, and if you also disable the vehicle "sleep mode", the power from the USB-ports will always be. "Hibernate" saves quite a bit of energy, so they may well be sacrificed for the sake of permanent and fast remote access.



In the context of Minsk and velcom network is a definite problem with the work of the wireless access point in the 3G-network. Firstly, in the motion transfer between base stations it occurs not entirely smooth, but rather, in most cases does not occur at all. Communication is lost for a while, and then restored. Secondly, there is a periodic break Wi-Fi-connection. While it is unclear whether this is due to interference on the frequencies Wi-Fi or car yourself disconnects when there is no Internet.



Navigation system uses Navigon for paving the route and display the 3D-map fragment on the instrument panel, and Google Maps to display the full card on the central screen. It's a great combination, because Google Maps allows you to get a very detailed map, traffic information and searching, including in Belarus, but navigation will be available only on the main roads. Routing via Navigon will work without the Internet, since the system has offline card. Google Maps in such circumstances will not work. While in route traffic is not counted, but the firmware version 6.0 promises to add not only traffic jams, but the air temperature, wind direction, terrain. Then it will be with great precision to plan routes and obtain an estimate of the energy cost of the trip.



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The system is supported by Russian font in the browser on the map, online radio no problems. But at the moment there is support for the Russian language and Cyrillic keyboard interface. This support will be on the stage, the start of sales in Russia, which has not been determined.

In addition to the traditional radio system has support for both the satellite radio, which we did not work, and Internet radio TuneIn. If you're tired of the Belarusian air with music of questionable quality, you can adjust almost any radio station in the world. If a station gives the song title, the Model S immediately loads the album artwork. Also present service Rdio, something resembling Feature Spotifu. The car does not know how to play music when you connect your iPhone via a cable, but it can make it through Bluetooth.

The browser lets you view sites right on the big screen. Supports flash and video there is no way, however, and Russian keyboard. It supports multi-touch gestures, but the speed and smoothness of the scroll is still very far from what is now on the modern tablets. However, with each update the panel software will run faster and there is support for additional functions.

The company has plans to release a SDK to app store for cars. In this case, it will be possible to expand the capabilities of the machine is boundless.



Software updates and remote service

Perhaps the most interesting point related to the possession of Model S, - is a firmware update of the car. In traditional machines after the purchase you are left with the same set of features, just like in prehistoric mobile phone with buttons. The Tesla uses the same approach as in modern devices: the company provides continuous updates that expand and improve functionality.



































































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