08 June 2015

What's Next for Tesla?

Tesla has 3 cars in the product pipe, a new battery for home use and a gigafactory under construction.  They plan to be a BIG car company and do some other things too.

The three cars that are already in production:

The roadster: two seater, two door, convertable Wheelbase = 93", Length = 155", Width =  73", Track = 59", Curb Weight 2723 lbs. No longer manufactured.
The Model S: 5 seat 4 door sports sedan, Wheelbase 116.5", Length 196", Width 86", Track 67", Curb Weight 4647 lbs.
The Model X:  7 seat 5 door station wagon/sports utility vehicle. First delivery in 2016.  It looks like a taller version of the model S.  I bet it uses the same chassis.  the BMW X5 that it will compete with has slightly smaller chassis dimensions than the model S.
The Model 3: Smaller and half the price of the model S, but it's promised to have similar range and will be "less adventurous".  My guess it will closer to the market niche of the Camry or Leaf.  No real announcements will be made until at least 2016 but tesla employees seem to be very excited.

Tesla has also suggested that there may be a revival of the roadster.  My guess is that this will use the same chassis as the model 3 with body styling reminiscent of the roadster.  there's lots of precedent for this sort of thing: think Honda Civic and CRX.

So what else can be built on these two chassis?
A van: ford's E series van is 217x80" with a 138x70" wheelbase.  less than 2 feet longer, and about the same width than the model S.   There's no engine in a tesla so the cab could be quite a bit farther forward.  This would be very practical as a delivery van, a work van for an electrician or plumber, etc, a family hauler,  a class B motorhome
A truck: The ford ranger is 189-206 inches long by 70 inches wide: narrower and about the same length as a model S.  the ford 150 is about as wide and 2-4 feet longer, so I'm thinking somewhere between.   The major changes required would be an elevated, long travel suspension for rougher terrain, and towing.  they already have the beginnings of the truck suspension with the air suspension, although it needs to be higher than that.
A family sedan/taxicab: the model X still has a very "fastback" roofline.  by extending the high roofline even farther back, this would make it more suitable for carrying grownups in the back.

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