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Tesla Will Sell 5 Models In 2016; Small SUV And Sports Car Added

 
4,122 views Sep 17, 2012
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Along with the news that Tesla expects to build 80 Model S electric cars this week, CEO Elon Musk also released a few more details of the company's plans for additional models in 2016.

Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] has already said that it will launch the Model X crossover within the next year or so.

That seven-seat crossover utility, complete with roof-hinged "falcon doors," is to be built on the same basic understructure as the Model S all-electric sport sedan.


Now, Musk told Wired last week, the company's third vehicle architecture--a smaller, less costly vehicle than those two models--will include not only a sedan, but also a smaller crossover and a sports car.

The sedan is expected to be roughly the size of a BMW 3-Series, so the crossover might logically be comparable to that company's X3 crossover utility vehicle.

And the sports car effectively replaces Tesla's very first car, the 2008-2011 Roadster electric two-seat convertible.

The previously announced entry-level sedan, to be a 2015 model, is targeted for a price before incentives of about $30,000.

That's little more than half the cost of the Model S, which starts at $57,400 but can approach a sticker of $100,000 if the largest battery pack, for the longest range, and other options are selected.

The sedan will actually be a five-door hatchback, as is the Model S, Musk told Wired.

He called it a "scaled-down Model S," saying it would be "20 to 25 percent smaller" than the current Tesla sedan.

For the moment, though, Tesla has to work through the challenges of scaling up production of the 2012 Model S, the first production car it's assembled itself, to volumes of 80 cars a day.

First things first ... though it's nice to have a sense of what Tesla would like to do over the next several years.

You can say one thing: Tesla and Musk don't lack for ambition.

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Comments (12)

  1. fb_1470388190 avatar David Laur Posted: 9/17/2012 9:35am PDT

    exciting announcements. with 21,500 miles and 2% degradation on my LEAF and a growing QC network, i might be driving it for a long time but still great to see some real competition in the affordable price range
     
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  2. fb_1001015277 avatar John Briggs Posted: 9/17/2012 10:13am PDT

    I am both impressed and wondering what they are smokin'
     
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  3. CDspeed avatar CDspeed . Posted: 9/17/2012 2:06pm PDT

    Mr. Musk has delivered on most of his promises so far, so I think the odds are in his favor.
     
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  4. Brian_Henderson avatar Brian Henderson Posted: 9/17/2012 10:24am PDT

    Besides these Tesla models, Tesla has a hand in designing/supplying subsystems for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV and the Mercedes-Benz 2013 Smart TwoFour Electric. Nice to see a growing number of EV choices destined to market.

    Indead, no lack of ambition at Tesla Motors.
     
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  5. Mark Stang avatar Mark Stang Posted: 9/19/2012 6:08am PDT

    Very true, Tesla is on the cutting edge of EV technology and Daimler Benz and Toyota know this that is why they are having Tesla design their electric drive trains. As battery prices go down thanks to increased competition among makers of EV battery packs and technology improves such as improvements in electric motor efficiency. I could see Tesla making their Blue star midsize sport sedan price come in just over $35,000 or so. Lets hope that Tesla can continue to raise the bar. I appreciate Tesla’s commitment to driving technology unlike the existing auto manufactures who have unimpressive EV offerings
     
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  6. fb_1559222512 avatar Xiaolong Li Posted: 9/17/2012 1:43pm PDT

    By 2016, My Volt will be mostly paid off and I can buy a smaller Tesla...
     
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  7. Mark Stang avatar Mark Stang Posted: 9/19/2012 6:27am PDT

    I am looking forward to the Blue Star sedan. The Model S is one nice car but unfortunately it’s a bit pricey at $77,500 for the least expensive 85KWhr version. Hopefully improvements in electric motor technology will allow for better driving range and reduce the overall costs to make the Blue Star affordable to the majority of car buyers. I hope Elon’s words come true that he wants to see affordable Ev’s as he recently said in an interview “He also elaborated on already-known plans for an 'entry' sedan in 2015, which should resemble a 20 to 25 percent smaller Model S and cost about $30,000 if all goes well. There's a wide gap between promises and reality in all those statements, but Musk has a reputation for largely delivering on target"
     
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  8. fb_1559222512 avatar Xiaolong Li Posted: 9/19/2012 1:40pm PDT

    I agree. It will be a big seller if they can keep the promise on price, range and performance...
     
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  9. sustainable2020 avatar Erik Roberts Posted: 9/20/2012 9:41am PDT

    Nice comments above but I think most of you are not looking at this statement with realistic eyes.

    I tell you first that I am a big Telsa fan and I want the 2014 Telsa S w/ 60KW battery pack. What a car and what a company! However, ask yourself who is Musk speaking to w/ this statement and why now.

    1) I suspect Musk is speaking primarily to his big investors as well as current and prospective Telsa stockholders. This kind of statement is exactly what those folks like to see so that not only do they have stake in a great company now but the rest of the decade looks bright too.

    2) Also it seems that Telsa realizes that the industry will enter the EV market w/ more force sooner than later. Higher mpg n emissions standards are coming!
     
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  10. sustainable2020 avatar Erik Roberts Posted: 9/20/2012 9:52am PDT

    3) 5 models being sold by Telsa by 2016 is just unrealistic and too ambitious.
    Telsa is having problems now building enough Models S vehicles to fill their current orders let alone those that will order the Model S in the next two years. Yes Telsa will get better n produce more then 80 a week but they need more time to be able to produce 5 different models w/ likely over 800 a week total vehicles produced.

    My guess is the amended 5 year reality will be something like this:

    2013 -- Model S is a hit and Telsa still has problems keeping up w/ orders...especially as they begin the lower cost battery production cycles.
     
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  11. sustainable2020 avatar Erik Roberts Posted: 9/20/2012 10:03am PDT

    2014 -- Telsa introduces the Model X early in the year to excellent reviews and tremendous demand. Telsa again trys to keep up w/ reservations/orders for this nothing like this on the planet vehicle.

    2015 -- Telsa finally introduces an EV for all with the small sedan/hatchback(mini S) to an even bigger consumer demand. Think of it! Right now in 2012 if Telsa dropped their 45KW battery pack in a smaller, lighter S sedan it would likely have a range of about 200 miles or so. I'm hoping for improvements of at least 20% in range by 2015.

    2016 -- A new roadster introduced by Telsa is a great success w/ performance even better then their first one and looks to match.

    --- No need for a small suv but if it does come it will be at least 2017
     
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  12. fb_840818781 avatar Peter Horsfield Posted: 9/20/2012 3:59pm PDT

    Elon Musk is an Extraordinary Man,

    He bought his first computer at age 10 and taught himself how to program and by the age of 12 he sold his first commercial software for about $500. So he was an entrepreneur from young.

    He is tackling climate change head on with his electric car company Tesla and he his continuing the financial support of space en devours with Space X.
    And he is only 41 years young and he continues to change the world in a positive way.

    Information with Inspiration
    http://www.isextraordinary.com/elon-musk
     
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