Tesla electric sedan to join updated Roadster
Following the enthusiastic response from its electric Roadster (pictured), Tesla Motors is working on a sedan. The new four-door model is tipped to share similar dimensions and performance with the BMW 5-Series, which, as the benchmark sports sedan, is a pretty ambitious target.
The Tesla sedan will have the electric motor and batteries up front, sending power down the rear wheels. Two powertrain options are expected to be on offer, the smaller featuring a range of 200 miles, and a more powerful version with a 300-mile range. Unlike the Roadster, with a Lotus-built aluminum structure, the sedan is expected to be made of steel. Tesla figures on building 10,000-20,000 sedans each year and will be sold globally.
Along with the sedan, the roadster will undergo an update by 2010, at which point the more powerful engine from the higher-end sedan will also likely be offered in the two-door, giving it some serious punch.
It's a pretty shrewd move on Tesla's part to have made the Roadster first, in the process garnering some excitement over a sportscar before branching out into more practical applications.
[Source: PistonHeads]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave 9:21AM (11/24/2006)
I can't wait to buy one, so long big oil!
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AMcA 10:15AM (11/24/2006)
Hate to be the pessimist here, but I'd say Tesla has just committed itself to getting WAY over-extended. The roadster was easy, given the Lotus chassis they had to work with. But this one, is is going to be a whole new car? If so, they're heading down a heck of a rough road.
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GrowUp 9:55AM (11/24/2006)
Yeah, and hello Big Power & Light. There are no perfect trade offs except in fairy tale land. We're merely hooking ourselves to a different set of shackles in the long run.
That said, though, Tesla is on a good roll. More power to 'em.
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AutoFan 10:14AM (11/24/2006)
Is this stuff more than vaporware at this point? I mean, has Tesla loaned one of their cars to a magazine for a week to see how it performs?
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Gil 10:38AM (11/24/2006)
Higher end? Doesn't the roadster cost something like 100k? That means the price of the sedan will be over 200k.
I don't know how much of a market we have for family sedans there.
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Damion 10:39AM (11/24/2006)
Seeing what they have done with the Tesla roadster I am guessing they will just buy 10000-20000 vehicles from some manufacture (maybe even BMW) and rework them some and sell them as Tesla's. BMW already does this with there 6 series, Volga being the most recent.
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Andrew 11:51AM (11/24/2006)
read the link before price speculations go crazy...
"The company reckoned that new battery technology means it will be able to sell two versions of the car in the UK. The £30,000 entry-level car will offer similar output to the 185kW Roadster with a 200 mile range, while the £40,000 luxury variant gets more powerful batteries and a 300 mile range between charging stops."
Thats 57,000 and 77,000.
Im sold. Put me down for a 57k 200 miles sedan...
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Steven T. 11:55AM (11/24/2006)
It's too bad that Tesla's sedan will apparently be so conventional (steel body, front engine, rear drive). This flushes down the toilet major opportunities for weight savings and a distinctive look.
Doesn't Telsa realize that if they are hanging their hat entirely on electric power that they could very easily be routed by the majors? But if they bring other innovations to the table, they just might have a chance at long-term survival?
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Fabulo 2:03PM (11/24/2006)
I hope Tesla Vehicles a very long and prosperous life. I also hope some competition comes along, and more interest from the public, in a broader market as well (that's the promise of the 4 door sedan, the roadster being a small niche)
So one day I can too afford an electric car that I can use to commute every day and use the second gas powered car for longer trips. I love electric only cars.
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H. 4:12PM (11/24/2006)
There is indeed competition, just look at AC Propulsion and their eBox. It's a Scion xB converted to electric drive.
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John B 4:59PM (11/24/2006)
"Tesla figures on building 10,000-20,000 sedans each year and will be sold globally."
That's a serious capital requirement, I hope they can do it. BTW - does anyone here know what - if any - proprietary technology Tesla motors has patented?
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Michael Hollander 3:04PM (11/27/2006)
Thanks for your article, though we can't comment on its accuracy. Tesla Motors has stated that there will be follow-on vehicles beyond the roadster (10 of which have been built - and no, Tesla Motors haven't given any magazine a "week" with the vehicle). By using electricity generated from solar panels, Tesla Motors roadster may be energy neutral. No final decisions have been made on which vehicles will be built, nor on their configuration. Building vehicles is not an instantaneous process, even when some off-the-shelf parts are used. For more information, please visit http://www.teslamotors.com .
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Barney 7:06PM (11/25/2006)
I would like to know the cost of replacing the batteries. I don't buy a vehicle for a short few years. I know electricity is expensive in Canada and assume it's very cheap elsewhere. Most of the electrical power is provided by Hydro power where I live but not everywhere can it be. Perhaps brown-outs are a thing of the past and pollution from power plants have been curtailed. Then again, I guess most people don't care about pollution if it isn't happening in their back yard.
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GOT 1:58AM (11/25/2006)
Perhaps they should start with a 2+2, coupe befor they build a sedan...?
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John B 10:09AM (11/25/2006)
12. Barney
Re: "I know electricity is expensive in Canada and assume it's very cheap elsewhere."
I can't speak for any other location but electricity in Ontario is presently around 6 or 6 1/2 cents per KWhr.
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Benja B 3:03PM (11/25/2006)
Hey,
On 9 bucks an hour and SERIOUS SCRIMPING I've just about one more year left of payments on my Honda Insight. ((No tv, jaccuzzi, movies, but an Insight)) Personally, I'm thinking of saving now for my solar panels and wind machine so I can power my next car. Michigan has an abundance of both!
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Andy 4:45PM (11/25/2006)
It's better to fuel domestic Big Power tycoons than Middle Eastern oil sheiks. I look forward to seeing Tesla Motors help push the EV forward. I'd love to buy a Tesla if I had the money.
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Jeffrey 9:27PM (11/25/2006)
So long Big Oil, so long, your new boss is Power & Light. Haha. How many more attempts will "Big Oil" make to kill electric propulsion before they realize they're going nowhere? You guys just can't do it. Bye the way, in case you guys didn't already notice, I work "for" the Electrical Industry. Big Oil will soon be answering to us. LOL!!!
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 11:51PM (11/25/2006)
Don't lie, Jeffrey. Your the homeless dancing guy who lives in the trash can by the McDonald's.
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Tom 1:04AM (11/26/2006)
Regarding elect. power for the Tesla-it can be powered from a 10' square solar panel-that's all. Nanosolar Co. is coming out with sheet solar "cells", at 1/10 current solar cell cost, in 2007. Batteries should be improved when car comes out-via the likes of Altairnano & Polyplus companies.All this will make for a whole new ballgame-in a whole new stadium in the next 3-5 years! -and THIS is GOOD!!
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