Nother CarGuy

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the selection of Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build and operate a multi-billion dollar rapid transit link between O’Hare International Airport and the city’s downtown. The company plans to transport passengers between O’Hare and Block 37 in the Loop in approximately 12 minutes each way — typically a 40 minute trip via the city’s Blue Line — by utilizing electric vehicles that run through new twin underground tunnels. The project will be funded entirely by the company with no taxpayer subsidy. But whether or not he‘ll need to sell more flamethrowers to raise the funds isn‘t clear: under the deal, Musk would front the construction costs and then pocket all the revenue from the system’s transit fees and any money generated by advertisements, including in-car shopping sales. In other words, Musk intends to fund a massive infrastructure project in part with money from people buying stuff like headphones during a 12-minute trip (most likely using ...

Technical specifications for the dual-motor Tesla Model 3 derivatives have been announced by Elon Musk on Twitter . Tesla will produce two all-wheel drive Model 3s, one focused on range and the other optimized for power. The first of these two will use the same 258 HP and 317 lb-ft rear wheel motor as the regular Model 3 and also utilize a second electric motor driving the front axle. Tesla hasn’t published a combined horsepower figure, but says this Model 3 variant will reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, a healthy 1.1 seconds quicker than the rear-wheel drive version, and will top out at 140 mph (225 km/h). As for the performance-focused dual-motor Model 3, it will be capable of launching from a standstill to 60 mph in a rapid 3.5 seconds and max out at 155 mph (250 km/h). According to Musk, the performance dual-motor Model 3 will be priced around $78,000, including all options, wheels and paint but without the optional Autopilot semi-autonomous driving aid. Musk adds ...

Little is known about Tesla’s Model Y electric crossover vehicle, but in an earnings call Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk gave us a few tantalizing new details. The Model Y, an all-electric compact SUV, is expected to start production in 2020, but could hit the assembly line as soon as late 2019, Musk said. And contrary to previous assumptions, the Model Y will be built on a “completely different” platform from the upcoming mass-market Model 3. Musk said he also plans to ditch the 12-volt battery architecture used in Tesla’s other vehicles, which could dramatically reduce the length of electric wiring needed and simplify the production process. Less wiring means more automation in the production process, and Musk has said he plans to introduce more robots into Tesla’s production line. The Model Y will be the linchpin to Tesla’s goal of delivering 1 million cars by 2020. The company just announced that it shipped a record number of cars in the first three months of 2017. Musk has be...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken to Twitter to announce plans to introduce the company's first semi-truck in September. Musk is keeping details under wraps but he hinted the semi-truck is "seriously next level" and the team responsible for developing it has done an "amazing job." That's not much to go on but the executive has previously said the Tesla Semi will "deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate." Tesla wouldn't become the first company to develop an electric semi as BMW uses a truck built by Dutch manufacturer Terberg to deliver parts to the company's plant in Munich, Germany. Nikola Motor also claimed to have been developing an electric semi but eventually decided to go with a hydrogen powertrain instead. Getting back to the Tesla news, Musk said the company is still working on a pickup truck and it will be unveiled within 18 to 24 months. The ...