Apr 4, 2016
Joules Verne I do too.
It softens it a bit, while preserving the original intent.�
Apr 4, 2016
Cintoman I think the M3 prototype shown at the reveal looks amazing. Phenomenal job Tesla, and I wasn't expecting anything less than greatness. However, I did have a little concern with the front snubbed snout. Liking it even more, but kind of wish it was a little smoother. I'm not a big fan of the newer ICE cars that have these big gaping grilles and nothing for a bumper (think Audi, Lexus). With that said, I really really like Mihai75's modification in post #20. I think the continuation of the line underneath the headlights straight thru looks awesome.
Regarding the modified S....I think it looks amazing. But somehow it reminds me a little bit of the Dodge Intrepid.
Finally..regarding having to mount a license plate on the front end. I absolutely hate the idea of having to mount one on the front of cars. I think it totally ruins the front of these newer cars. My state (RI) is a 2-plate state, so I'm required by law to have one mounted. Luckily, when I bought my car from a dealership in California (which I believe is a 2-plate state also), when they delivered it to me in RI, surprisingly, they had never mounted the bracket onto the front bumper cover. The car came with the bracket in the truck, unopened, as well as the 2nd CA plate. So I've never mounted it. There was no way I"m going to be drilling 4-6 holes in my front bumper. Only issue I have is with our 2-year safety and emissions inspection, which requires the front plate to be "securely and permanently mounted". So no leaving it on top of your dash or using duct tape/velcro to fasten it to your bumper.
To get past this, I built my own license plate bracket. My car (2005 Mercedes C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan) has a small square pop-out cover for the tow hook to mount. So I mount my homemade bracket and screw into the same spot where the tow hook would get attached. It's mounted very securely (drove with it once from RI to FL). So I'll do this prior to inspection, drive it down, get it inspected, come home, remove the bracket, and I'm good for another 2 years. So far, in the 10 years I've had the car, I've never gotten pulled over.
So Mr. Musk...no matter what design you finalize for the front end of the Model 3, I'm sure it will look stunningly beautiful. And there is no way I'll be ruining it with a 12" x 6" piece of metal.
--Cintoman�
Apr 4, 2016
James Anders The Model 3 has a grille opening at the very bottom of the front. There needs to be some air flow there. Obviously, not as much as needed for a front-engined ICE car. And even with ICE cars much the air flow is from the bottom.
I can't imagine that front blunt section can do anything but hurt the Cd.
Sure the Model 3 doesn't need excessive drag force pushing it down but it also doesn't need useless frontal drag. This isn't anything new. We've seen similar discussions revolving around alternatives to the Cd killing rear view external mirrors.
If I get the time I will try to create a 3D model of the M3 from the photos - and then do some flow simulation studies of blunt nose versus more pointed nose. It would be a very rough estimate but I think it would show the difference.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-anders-6705a013�
Apr 4, 2016
1000Down I like both posts by S3XY and Mihai but I think Tesla will go with something similar to the Model X presented by S3XY. The nose of a car is an important part of branding a manufacturer. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Etc. all have created strong brand identity and every model has a theme that is present in the nose of every car. I think Tesla is searching for that Nose identity that will brand their cars. The Model S nose was put in place because consumers still needed their grill when the S was first released, but I think the Model X nose was their first attempt to create a nose piece that could be used throughout all their models. I think both the Model 3 and Model S move in that direction and it would look great on the 3.
I might be dead wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Tesla would stick with a blank nose simply from a branding stand point.�
Apr 4, 2016
James Anders I find it hard to believe that styling would trump "form follows function" in the mind of Elon Musk. Now, I'm not saying he would purposely make something goofy for some modest gain, but my guess he's one to optimize as many parameters as possible, including beauty.�
Apr 4, 2016
Maui Daryl Haha, Hawaii is a 2 plate state as well. I just mount mine with double stick tape for the inspection and then remove it after.�
Apr 4, 2016
neroden Drag is weirder than you think it is. That section is almost certainly good for the Cd.
-- Remember that the ideal shape for Cd looks roughly like a teardrop, or the Aptera.
-- Now, remember that there *will* be a flat, rectangular license plate at the front of the car, in the middle.
-- Then remember that the extended hood is being used for crash safety, so the hood has to be more horizontal than the windshield, so there's going to be an unpleasant obstruction in the airflow where the windshield wipers are
-- so you probably want to send the air to the sides of the car, not up...
As for the scofflaws who feel that license plate laws don't apply to them... well, if I encountered your car, I'd report you to the police. If I had a license plate number to report! It's amazing how some people think. If you don't want a license plate, keep your car off the public road and leave it at the track.�
Apr 4, 2016
1000Down I do not think that a Model X nose addition would sacrifice much function.
If Tesla leaves that nose blank, it is an invitation for many owners to add their own faux grille or whatever they think looks good. Remember that neighbor that painted their house pink? I think it is important that Tesla take control of their image and not leave it to the random tastes of the masses.�
Apr 4, 2016
Dag Johansen I want NO GRILLE. This ain't no stinkin' ICE car. Don't waste a penny on useless ornamental garbage that just creates drag.�
Apr 5, 2016
Chrisuk83 If they add a fake grille, might as well ago fake tailpipes too
�
Apr 5, 2016
eisbock Looks awesome, but doesn't look very "Tesla".�
Apr 5, 2016
eisbock This is a really good point. I also think Tesla purposefully went extra bold to see how people would react to such a design. They knew their car was going to be a seller, so they wanted to see how much they could get away with and gauge audience perception on a design that was likely as far as they'd go into weirdmobile territory.
It may change, but I'm not thinking by much.
There it is. Nailed it. Was trying to put it into words!�
Apr 5, 2016
eisbock If you do end up tackling the 3D model, be sure to post it here. I would be very interested in trying my hand at my ideal front end, as well as playing around with slapping license plates on there. My issue now with the plate photoshops floating around is the perspective and lighting is off, even if only a little bit and it's hard to truly picture how it looks from all angles.�
Apr 5, 2016
voyager Let's hear it for Kermit...
Closed front:![[?IMG]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/de/61/63/de61630908cc34f94949e3f17942f0ed.jpg)
Opening in the front:![[?IMG]](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyMuWqsTlK5Ds6LufvMcDLQHF1W-Re8cmqdbLXXborbqlmPdKw)
�
Apr 5, 2016
skilly This is EXACTLY what they need to do...at the very least. The current style looks like they gave up, or like a kit car that someone decided to not install a front grill for - and instead of cutting out the front, they just left it. With all of the other really great styling they couldn't get to an agreement in something like these pics?? Too bad.�
Apr 5, 2016
SteveG3 Yes, I think you are right, testing boundaries being another reason for this prank. I say prank, as I think it's very possible that not only did Elon never intend the homicidal robo-alien front end design to actually be produced for all the reasons we've discussed, but that he also did not pick "April Fool's Day" for the reveal by accident to play a little joke on the whole world. Remember, he mentioned it being April Fool's day somewhere in the world right before showing the car. What's more, Tesla showing the bland de-contented control system rather than the "spaceship" one Elon is obviously excited about would be consistent with employing some deception to try to temper Model 3 cannibalization of S and X near term.�
Apr 5, 2016
arjay I vote for no "make believe grille", so let's move on to solving the sculpture. The front end has always been an important aspect of an automobile's design statement and It is important to get it right. The as presented nose is certainly lacking in flair, especially compared with the rest of the design. Recent renders showing an integrated continuous line will be the answer if the line will reads gracefully at all angles of view. I think all that is needed is "tweaking" not major surgery. Although I don't know what that lump is hiding under there.�
Apr 5, 2016
Chrisuk83 ![[?IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vIL8aSvTgTCYVS6aNzRh_L3eI1EPtH7-9Gmqb5nHZQqolknUDarKBKIutOYM5WdVfthS_csLo1qk4e1G2rVljAPg=s0-d)
really like this ALOT�
Apr 6, 2016
I debug 
�
Apr 6, 2016
Chrisuk83 
Fixed it�
Apr 6, 2016
James Anders Neroden,
I'm an engineer. I have done air flow simulation studies. Drag is straightforward. Complex airflow can be weird, but that flat blunt nose is fairly simple and predictable.
Now remember there will *not* always be a flat, rectangular license plate in the front of the car. 19 states (and hopefully more soon) do not require front plates. No reason at all to burden a sizable percentage of cars with more drag.
Your comments on the extended hood and crash safety, etc, don't really apply to the blunt or more rounded front choice. Putting a large flat surface on the front of the car, in hopes that drag will be reduced by sending the air around the sides is not viable. If you wanted to divert air to the sides, it still could be done with a more rounded front and be done so more cleanly. Any air directly hitting the blunt surface (which by the way, is nearly perpendicular to the direction of travel) will just stall, create turbulence and eventually go somewhere in an uncontrolled direction. The best way to indeed coax the air around the sides would be to have a rounded front that coerced the air in a certain direction.
Respectfully,
Jim Anders
PS: Anyone can experience the effect of a blunt surface on drag by simply holding out your hand through the car window when driving. Rotate your hand at various angles and feel the difference.�
Apr 6, 2016
James Anders The make believe grilles are mostly humorous. I don't think anyone seriously wants a fake grille. The main issue is the shape of the front and whether it should be more rounded or blunt.
-J�
Apr 6, 2016
arjay Primarily it needs to be artful and graceful.�
Apr 6, 2016
neroden I haven't actually seen the car in person, but from the photos and videos, it appears that the front *is* curved to push the air to the sides. There's a fairly small flattened section in the middle, about right to fit either a US or Euro plate.
Most of the dopey alternative proposals have made it more curved *vertically*, which is no good, it's not gonna happen, it will be bad for Cd. Making it more curved horizontally works up to a point -- sure, go ahead and do that -- but that point is where you reach the spot where the plate is mounted, which needs to be flat.
And there will be fewer and fewer states allowing you to go without a front plate as time goes on. Automated enforcement cameras like front plates.�
Apr 7, 2016
TWOutlander I agree with that and will make a suggestion
I really like the design of the Model 3, but the front looks unfinished (the lights are nice though). It looks better with the suggestions of making it look more like a Porsche, but that is a Porsche look. Tesla should use the opportunity to make something different.
I think Tesla could use a T shaped front, first because of its name and logo. Second, Im not a aerodynamics expert, but to me a T shape should have a better Cd, flowing the air to the sides. I have no photoshop skills to make a T shaped Model 3, but i have found a image that can help show it (its too "sporty" in this concept car, but you can get the idea):
This is a bigger change, so what you guys think? Too fancy? I am so curious to see how the Model 3 would look with something similar�
![[?IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_up2NMXptUM-xi1zj4S307IOwdyUMLoUTGbUbAzJeIuj_30Rzsp3Ra-zDXLk4mKz0XT1nvjcWwXs34iChGID93zi36__1lm5R7nJH6xnmxA-DYlPU0qWMeePW8dTLfyY1gGuDhq=s0-d)
Apr 7, 2016
voyager Have you any idea how this front end will deal with drag?..
![[?IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sC1SximP2xbJFTK9xL7hbaSpzHx_7Drfmrpq7vRZVZ8USUD5jd-yRh2Lyz-uhwsOaOTeatPbH6xk87Ei4DeULQuQ=s0-d)
�
Apr 7, 2016
RayLast It looks nice (and awesome Photoshop) but I feel it loses the "Tesla" look. The pointed front looks too much like a 2005 Corvette IMO.�
Apr 7, 2016
cmathews Here's my take. No faux grill and lower the hood between the fenders.
�
Apr 7, 2016
James Anders I think the headlights look more like a 2016 Corvette. But the Corvette has a much more angled prow. Looking down from the top the Corvette would have a pronounced v-shape to the front. That's not necessary here with Model 3, IMO.�
Apr 7, 2016
eye.surgeon If you miss having a grille why not really get back to basics...
![[?IMG]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a2/99/55/a299552bbc9411a3a2f7c547a2dbb391.jpg)
It makes about as much sense as a fake grille.�
Apr 8, 2016
Topher That's just a smirk...
Thank you kindly.�
Apr 8, 2016
Nigel Tufnel The front end keeps it from being a beautiful piece of art IMO but I'm getting one since there's so much I expect to love about the model 3. I don't need a front-end redesign to appreciate the car. Please recognize that "please recognize" is condescending.�
Apr 13, 2016
InsanityFW I'm assuming that is is the design Tesla will use based on the refresh S and Model X noses, so you nailed it.�
Apr 13, 2016
InsanityFW I'll take the "snub-nose" over the current whale-shark design craziness�
Apr 13, 2016
arjay No grille please!�
Apr 13, 2016
James Anders I haven't read anyone pushing for a grille on the front of the Model 3.
The only issue is the shape of the center blunt area which seems out of place. It's that large vertical expanse that looks odd. On the X and now the S, that vertical blunt surface doesn't seem as pronounced. Of those two, the S looks better because the front isn't as tall as the X.
Fixing the face of the Tesla Model 3�
Apr 13, 2016
linkster No doubt, the folks over at Lexus have lost their minds!�
Apr 13, 2016
Fred Thompson I like this slight modification of the front bumper. I do not like the grill on the new model S because it looks like it would be easy to damage the grill with a slight blow to the front bumper. I would like to see Tesla come up with a design for a front license plate bracket that will complement the front bumper for those states that require a front license plate. Maybe they could have a bracket that folds up and matches the bumper color and material. Make it so you can take the bracket off without holes remaining in the bumper when the front plate is no longer needed.�
Apr 14, 2016
arjay Just to be clear...I include the mustache in the grille category. Unneeded.�
Apr 14, 2016
GBleck Has anyone thought about the front end from a sensor integration standpoint? Could be designed for through hull ultrasonic or radar sensor use. Also the crease height may be for safety and frunk size optimization reasons.�
Apr 22, 2016
WATTS-UP I'm glad that I have an "S", would not buy the X or 3. Tesla when from a classic design to a cut off nose.�
Apr 22, 2016
S3XY Classic = ICE�
Apr 23, 2016
Joules Verne I've been critical of the Model 3 nose in this thread and others.
I take it all back.
It grew on me.
Rock on!
�
Apr 23, 2016
WATTS-UP Like the Mod 3 less after that picture.�
Apr 23, 2016
arjay I'm liking the front even better from these new pics. However, since since we are waiting with idle hands and all...how about James Anders or whoever try their hand at an as-is front minus the hard creases under the headlights to emphasize the creased statement of the flat nose? This thought brought to you from the Devil's workshop.�
Apr 25, 2016
myke3000
O.k. - here are a whole host of new pics - would love you photoshop experts who did this new front end to work your magic on any one of these:
Exclusive: Tesla Model 3 Photo Shoot at the Gigafactory�
Apr 25, 2016
arjay Yes please, photo numbers 1 and 4 with the crease under the headlight removed. Thanks in advance.�
May 1, 2016
luvnMyTS While the Model S is a low volume car "relatively", there are just a few companies that have invested into making body kits and modified pieces, knowing that only a very, very small percentage of the 100,000 or so Model S owners will be willing to change anything. As such, the development costs aren't worth it. Saleen went bankrupt for a reason. A few make side skirts and spoilers, but I think there's only two companies that offer an all new nose for the Model S.
However, with the Model 3, it will clearly be a high volume car, likely appealing to a much younger demographic that's more than willing to modify their cars. As such, you can rest assured, there will be MANY vendors out there that will offer mods for the Model 3, the nose being one of them. One of the largest complaints about the Model 3 design as no doubt been about the nose. Almost every article written comments on it being controversial and it is. And it won't be to everyone's liking. The other complaint being the lack of a gauge panel. If Tesla really does start producing 300,000 or more of these cars per year, there will be a long list of modifications made available in a short period of time. I'd be there are many companies already working on the design of those pieces now.�
May 1, 2016
WATTS-UP Problem with the 3 nose cone is that it�s made in one piece. Just the cost of tooling to reproduce the front bumper / nose cone will stop after market modification. Then add to that all the sensors that are now part of the nose cone making changes more difficult.�
May 1, 2016
el crucero I agree but that hasn't stopped the aftermarket from creating new noses for the Prius with all the sensors (including radar cruise control, headlight washers, and towing tie downs). The after market will be alive and well with the T3. Figure around $800 to $1000+ (materials only) for a different aftermarket nose on the T3.�
May 1, 2016
WATTS-UP @el crucero
I�m working on a modification to the model �S� nose cone, the die to thermo form the new cone is $5,000.00 that�s before you add in material, labor etc. Still have to design all the clips so that it can be attached to the front of the car. If I went the injection molding route the die would be in the neighborhood of $30,000.00.
If you manage to sell a couple of hundred nose cones a year your going to lose your shirt if you sell them for $2,500.00 each. People buying the �3� will spring for 2,500.00 to get supercharging, maybe $250.00 for a lighted �T�, Some may spend a $1,000.00 for a lighted appliqu�, but almost no one will spend 10% of the cost of the car for a different nose cone.�
May 3, 2016
el crucero You are probably correct in the cost of creating the tooling for a custom front fascia, it ain't cheap! But with an initial run of 400,000 T3's to a younger segment of the market there will be considerable demand for a modified nose on the T3, not so with the model S and X. I speak from experience with my Prius. There several companies in California that have experience with creating new modifications (noses, ground effects, rear ends, etc.) for several different makes of cars. The nose on the Prius is large, around 6 feet long (wide), and one piece. Custom noses attach with the original clips. As I said, a new custom nose for the Prius runs about $600 to $1000+ depending n the quality of the materials and the extent of the tooling required.
I guarantee that there will be a demand for modified noses on the T3 and there will be a number to choose from. You can bet that there are at least of couple of these companies following this Forum right now and watching the "free" Photoshopped nose ideas by some very talented designers who are members here. I could be one of them!�
May 3, 2016
WATTS-UP I just don�t see the cost of a redesigned nose cone for the S X or 3 costing only $600.00 to $1,000.00. If your taking the old off and just adding something like paint or a chrome strip, OK, $600.00 may even be high. Redesigning the look of the front of either Tesla is going to cost $3000.00 plus and six month to achieve, unless you own a thermo-molding company.�
May 3, 2016
Dan Detweiler If you're going to put a grill on it...then put a GRILL on it!
�
May 3, 2016
el crucero They have done it on a Prius for that price range and have sold enough to make a profit. Yes, the initial cost of tooling is going to be expensive, but if they sell a redesigned nose to say 5% of the T3 population (20,000 cars) they will make a profit at a price point of less than $1,000 (not including install labor). Here is just one examle of a FOUR piece custom kit for a Prius: Toyota Prius Duraflex TK-R Body Kit - 4 Piece - 109396 I am not talking about a one off for an individual car.�
May 3, 2016
EXOTIC1 In my opinion the m3 front prototype looks better than the MS or X from the front view.�
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