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stanger_missle
stanger_missle GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/22/19 10:24 a.m.

Chupathingy. I like that. It's got a nice ring to it.

Dave M
Dave M HalfDork
11/22/19 10:26 a.m.
infinitenexus said:
Kreb said:

Looks aside, my company has a fleet of 3/4 ton trucks and vans that average less than 100 miles/day typically. I'm spending around $100k/yr to fuel them. If electric replacements could be bought for less than $50k each, and they prove reliable, it's a no-brainer to convert to electric for me.

With the money saved from fueling costs, you could install a huge solar panel array and make charging them cost next to nothing as well!

Except the trucks are in use when it's sunny out!

In all seriousness, whichever OEM makes a normal pickup and van EV will make a killing. I'd think the fuel economy and maintenance savings would make up for much of the battery pack cost. I guess Amazon is doing this with Rivian, right?

java230
java230 UberDork
11/22/19 10:28 a.m.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Very true, but IIRC the TFL truck gus could only get like 100 miles out of their X towing a not that large trailer. That's 1/3 the range. Add in longer change times rather than fill ups, and a EV truck for towing doesn't make much sense.

 

And dont take that as Anti EV at all, I love the Bollinger design, my wife hates it... Looking forward to seeing the Rivian design coem to life. The Tesla, its just too much ugly for me at the moment.

JoeyM
JoeyM Mod Squad
11/22/19 10:31 a.m.
triumph7 said:

The designers of the Pontiac Aztec are relieved this morning by the fact that they are no longer responsible for the ugliest vehicle ever made.

This is Say what Worthy

Brett_Murphy
Brett_Murphy GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
11/22/19 10:34 a.m.
Ashyukun (Robert)
Ashyukun (Robert) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/22/19 10:34 a.m.

It's definitely... interesting. Was not expecting that at all. If only they'd put the gull-wing (or whatever they called them) doors from the X I'd have a real version of a DeLorean truck.

Going with the Stainless panels is an interesting idea. From my experience with the DMC's (much older alloy, it should be noted) they are generally easy to keep mostly clean, but impossible to keep free of smudging and handprints- but that's something you generally only worry about at car shows and completely not care about if you're using it remotely like a truck. Damage to the body might be an issue though as was pointed out that you'd likely need to just replace a whole panel vs. being able to repair it. 

Though I imagine she'd not like the styling of it, something like this would be GREAT for the Dancer as the base model isn't that much more in the end than what her 2019 Colorado cost and we'd likely make up the extra cost in fuel savings fairly quickly. Would need the AWD version though for the cabin climb...

nderwater
nderwater UltimaDork
11/22/19 10:38 a.m.

I agree that the styling is 100% love-it-or-hate-it.  But pair the mad science-fiction styling with supercar acceleration, seating for six, rugged utility, huge towing capacity, and no tailpipe emissions? What a game changer.

NickD
NickD PowerDork
11/22/19 10:45 a.m.

Will it have a mode where you can put the front axle motor in reverse and the rear axle motor in forward and do spinny 4-wheel burnouts?

Fueled by Caffeine
Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
11/22/19 10:50 a.m.
nderwater said:

I agree that the styling is 100% love-it-or-hate-it.  But pair the mad science-fiction styling with supercar acceleration, seating for six, rugged utility, huge towing capacity, and no tailpipe emissions? What a game changer.

you're right if they can deliver on the specs.. it's a game changer..  the packaging needs help.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/22/19 10:55 a.m.
java230 said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Very true, but IIRC the TFL truck gus could only get like 100 miles out of their X towing a not that large trailer. That's 1/3 the range. Add in longer change times rather than fill ups, and a EV truck for towing doesn't make much sense.

 

And dont take that as Anti EV at all, I love the Bollinger design, my wife hates it... Looking forward to seeing the Rivian design coem to life. The Tesla, its just too much ugly for me at the moment.

I agree, it’s not going to be the choice for cross-country blasts. I said it didn’t match my use case, which legitimately is almost exclusively cross-country towing. I have the logs :)

I do think that this affects a minority of actual truck use. Not imaginary truck use, but people who do actually regularly tow inter-state. But it’s going to be the refrain for why buddy can’t own this truck, and it’s not really a legit complaint for a large portion of the population. 

infinitenexus
infinitenexus Reader
11/22/19 10:55 a.m.

I see this as actually being a solid work truck - depending on the bed size and how intrusive the high sides are.  Elon boasting about the truck literally being bulletproof shows that it's tough, and if you accidentally smack it with a 2X4 you won't have to worry about scrapes and dents nearly as much.  Many work trucks are (in my experience and to my knowledge) not driven a ton of miles per day but are often loaded up with lots of gear in the back - of which this can carry 3,500lbs - and multiple people - and this looks to seat 5.  Add in massive fuel savings and basically zero maintenance and this looks like it would be an excellent work truck, although if it can't fit a 4X8 sheet of plywood in the bed that's something to consider.

Kreb
Kreb GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/22/19 10:56 a.m.

you're right if they can deliver on the specs.. it's a game changer..  the packaging needs help.

Here's a thought: Rivian's making them nervous, so they threw out something that A - is easily produced in prototype form, and B - is so outrageous that it can't help but get people talking.

Fueled by Caffeine
Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
11/22/19 11:01 a.m.
infinitenexus said:

I see this as actually being a solid work truck - depending on the bed size and how intrusive the high sides are.  Elon boasting about the truck literally being bulletproof shows that it's tough, and if you accidentally smack it with a 2X4 you won't have to worry about scrapes and dents nearly as much.  Many work trucks are (in my experience and to my knowledge) not driven a ton of miles per day but are often loaded up with lots of gear in the back - of which this can carry 3,500lbs - and multiple people - and this looks to seat 5.  Add in massive fuel savings and basically zero maintenance and this looks like it would be an excellent work truck, although if it can't fit a 4X8 sheet of plywood in the bed that's something to consider.

the renderings show it barely fitting a quad in the bed..  

Harvey
Harvey GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/22/19 11:06 a.m.

I think the polarizing appearance is a draw. Most people don't tow or haul huge things with their truck, just like most people don't go off roading in their SUV. People just buy trucks and suvs because they like them and they have some practicality for the occasional piece of furniture you pick up or that extra long piece of wood you need for some home project. The real downside to trucks and SUVs is that most of them are gas guzzlers and this fixes that problem. 

I can't say that I like the looks and I definitely had the same initial reaction to it that a lot of people did, "Holy 80s Sci Fi Batman!," but the more I look at it the more I think it won't matter overall. The performance, the price, it will have a market.

 

ebelements said:

I'm sure whatever actually gets built won't look quite like the demo car as it looks to be missing things like, oh you know, bumpers/mirrors/DOT approved lighting.  But hey, even if it's 2/3ds as stupid it'll still scratch that itch.

I see bumpers.

D2W
D2W HalfDork
11/22/19 11:07 a.m.

I liked the speculative renders at the beginning of this thread.

This? Not a chance:(

ebelements
ebelements Reader
11/22/19 11:10 a.m.
Harvey said:

I see bumpers.

You're right, that's my bad. In the photos I saw initially it didn't look like it had much of anything there. Let's swap out "bumpers for "steering wheel." Better?

STM317
STM317 UltraDork
11/22/19 11:17 a.m.

I'm trying to figure out who the target customer is. This is going to involve some generalizations, so stop reading now if you're easily offended by such things.

Based on responses here, the design seems to be most popular with men between 35-50 because it reminds them of their childhood. That's a good market demographic for truck buyers. 

But TRUCK GUYS seem to be pretty loyal to their brand, and they really don't seem interested in Tesla's or EVs in general. Combine those facts with the polarizing design and unibody construction, and I'm not sure they're going to get many REAL TRUCK MEN to convert.

So perhaps they're shooting for non- truck people? But then why give it so much capability and a body that's so tough? Non-truck people  don't need to tow 14k, and are fine with a regular body construction. If that's your target customer, then why spend the money on those attributes instead of something like more range, or a more luxurious interior?

Ahhh, so maybe it's a work truck targeted at fleets? Fleets will want dealer support for reduced downtime. And they prefer established brands/models with reputations they're comfortable with. They can't afford to have a vehicle out of commission for any significant length of time. Bed size looks to be pretty small too? So the fleet angle seems more and more unlikely.

 

So who is this thing for? With competitors coming to market around the same time from Ford, Rivian, and GM what makes this thing more appealing to a cross shopper than a more traditional truck?

Tony Sestito
Tony Sestito PowerDork
11/22/19 11:26 a.m.
Patrick said:

I think they got the windshield from tango & cash

They need to make a sequel to Tango & Cash now!!! Upgrade the minigun to LASERS!!!

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/22/19 11:39 a.m.
STM317 said:

I'm trying to figure out who the target customer is. This is going to involve some generalizations, so stop reading now if you're easily offended by such things.

Based on responses here, the design seems to be most popular with men between 35-50 because it reminds them of their childhood. That's a good market demographic for truck buyers. 

But TRUCK GUYS seem to be pretty loyal to their brand, and they really don't seem interested in Tesla's or EVs in general. Combine those facts with the polarizing design and unibody construction, and I'm not sure they're going to get many REAL TRUCK MEN to convert.

So perhaps they're shooting for non- truck people? But then why give it so much capability and a body that's so tough? Non-truck people  don't need to tow 14k, and are fine with a regular body construction. If that's your target customer, then why spend the money on those attributes instead of something like more range, or a more luxurious interior?

Ahhh, so maybe it's a work truck targeted at fleets? Fleets will want dealer support for reduced downtime. And they prefer established brands/models with reputations they're comfortable with. They can't afford to have a vehicle out of commission for any significant length of time. Bed size looks to be pretty small too? So the fleet angle seems more and more unlikely.

 

So who is this thing for? With competitors coming to market around the same time from Ford, Rivian, and GM what makes this thing more appealing to a cross shopper than a more traditional truck?

I want one.  I drive a 2015 Silverado everyday.

 

I only.tow my 2400# rx7 on an open trailer about 3 or 4 times a year.

 

This thing would be perfect.

 

Step 1, change those hideous wheels to something with some color.  

 

Step 2, embarrass every car I see on the road from stoplight to stoplight.

 

 

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt PowerDork
11/22/19 11:51 a.m.
Fueled by Caffeine said:

the renderings show it barely fitting a quad in the bed..  

Interestingly, the reveal also demonstrated loading a Tesla quad into the truck, but zero information on the quad itself, other than that they had one able to roll up a ramp under its own power.

Duke
Duke MegaDork
11/22/19 12:24 p.m.

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia Dork
11/22/19 12:29 p.m.

Mattel designed this !

Harvey
Harvey GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/22/19 1:06 p.m.
ebelements said:
Harvey said:

I see bumpers.

You're right, that's my bad. In the photos I saw initially it didn't look like it had much of anything there. Let's swap out "bumpers for "steering wheel." Better?

Well, they have that Knight Rider wheel in there and I wouldn't put it past them to throw it out there with that, but you're right about the side mirrors, those are nowhere to be found.

 

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia Dork
11/22/19 1:15 p.m.

Side mirrors  are old ideas ,  cameras and touch screens are the future......

will a 4x8 sheet a plywood  fit in the back ?

mtn
mtn MegaDork
11/22/19 1:18 p.m.

I see nothing about this truck that I like, except for the inherent electric vehicle stuff and.... This tailgate: 

 

Obviously production vs the prototype, so lets wait to see what the production version looks like, but the biggest negatives to me are the high bedsides, which would be really annoying, and the looks are just UGLY. Yeah, they're cool, but I wouldn't want to own it. 

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