Tesla’s next-generation small electric car one step closer

Tesla has reiterated plans for a smaller, next-generation vehicle that will cost half as much to build as a Model 3 sedan. But photos of its design – and updated details of prices and arrival dates – are yet to be revealed.

US electric-car giant Tesla has reiterated plans for a smaller mass-produced car than today’s Model 3 and Model Y – which will cost half as much to build – at an event in the US this morning, Australian time.

However, contrary to expectations from investors, Tesla did not share any new details on what the car would look like, how much it would cost, or when it is due in showrooms.

“I’d love to show you what I mean, and unveil the next-generation car, but you’re going to have to trust me on that until a later date,” Tesla design boss Franz von Holzhausen told investors and media today.

“I promise, we will always be delivering exciting, compelling and desirable vehicles, as we always have.”

Digital artist Avarvarii has imagined what a small Tesla – suspected to be named the Model 2 – could look like (top and throughout).

Underpinned by Tesla’s “generation three platform”, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously said the new vehicle will be smaller than the current Toyota Camry-sized Model 3.

The company said in 2020 it aimed to introduce a vehicle priced from $US25,000 ($AU37,000) in “three years from now” – but the company is yet to confirm if it remains on track for this figure with its next-generation vehicle.

If this price remains on track, it would make the new car significantly cheaper than today’s mid-size Tesla Model 3 sedan, which is priced from $US42,990 ($AU61,500) in the US, or $64,300 plus on-road costs in Australia.

It’s unclear when the new model will be unveiled, however the wording of today’s announcement suggests it is multiple years away from showrooms.

Tesla claims the next-generation car will cost half as much to build as the Model 3, by rethinking the way it is built to reduce complexity and the number of steps needed.

Rather than assembling the body of a car first – and inserting the interior and batteries further down the production line – Tesla says sections of the vehicle (the sides, front, rear and interior) will be put together as complete assemblies first, before bringing them together to finish the vehicle.

Tesla says its next-generation car will debut a new electric motor with no rare-earth metals, and will use 100 per cent Tesla-designed electrical controllers.

Plans shown to investors today show Tesla is planning two more models to complement its current line-up – set to expand imminently with the Semi heavy truck, and Cybertruck pick-up.

The presentation slide shown on stage includes what appears to be a smaller, cheaper car – a type of vehicle Tesla expects 700 million examples of to be sold globally once all new vehicles are electric.

It is unclear how many examples of Tesla’s small car the company aims to sell, however CEO Elon Musk has previously predicted it would outsell all other Tesla cars combined.

The new vehicle is may employ the company’s in-house-designed ‘4680’ battery technology, which were claimed in 2020 to deliver five times the energy and six times the power of previous battery cells, while being 14 per cent cheaper.

Above and top: What the new small car could look like, imagined by @avarvarii.

The 4680 cells – named for their dimensions (46mm diameter, 80mm tall) – are likely to be fitted to the vehicle in a ‘structural pack’, which is claimed to save weight and cost.

Whereas in most electric cars the battery cells are assembled into modules – which are then bundled into a pack mounted to the vehicle’s chassis, – the structural pack design skips the modules, instead using the battery in the core structure of the car.

Alongside details of the next-generation vehicle, Tesla has detailed the company’s new-model plans and future technologies for the next decade and beyond. Stay tuned to Drive for an in-depth report on these announcements shortly.

The post Tesla’s next-generation small electric car one step closer appeared first on Drive.

Komentar

Posting Komentar

Postingan populer dari blog ini

Teacher accused of using rented Toyota Supra for land-speed record attempt

Gambar
A high-school teacher in the US could be more than $6000 out of pocket if he is found to have violated the terms of use of a rented Toyota Supra driven to a top speed record. A US high school teacher is facing legal action – and $US4000 ($AU6000) in costs – after being accused of renting a turbocharged Toyota Supra performance coupe from a car-sharing service and used the vehicle in a racing competition without the owner’s knowledge. The high-school teacher from Indiana – and his team of female mechanic students – were on their way to compete in the 2023 U.S. Mile land-speed trials in Texas last month. The girls and their teacher had built a high-performance Chevrolet S10 pick-up for the ‘Texas Mile’ – a competition which sees vehicles try to achieve the highest possible speed from a standing start within one-mile (1.6km) on a runway. However, the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 ute suffered a mechanical failure on the way to the event. Due to the hard work put in to make the 1800km j
Baca selengkapnya

‘Smells Like WD-40’ – lubricant spray now a fragrance

Gambar
The smell of WD-40 – the multi-purpose lubricant spray used by mechanics and home handymen – is now available as a fragrance. Those who like to tinker with older cars will no doubt be familiar with the lubricating spray WD-40 – the penetrating oil that helps helps loosen, degrease, and protect nuts and bolts. The product is so versatile it’s become the stuff of legend, but it’s the smell of WD-40 that is arguably its most memorable feature – so much so, people on the internet have pretended to turn it into a perfume for years. Now, a very real cologne has been launched, called Smells Like WD-40. The Eau De Parfum is made by New York art collective MSCHF, who are known for creating spoof products designed to point out the absurdity of a particularly industry – in this case, the multi-billion-dollar world of luxury fragrances. According to Business Insider, MSCHF used to run non-traditional advertising campaigns for brands, but stopped in late 2019 to focus on its own projec
Baca selengkapnya

2023 LDV T60 Max price and specs: Prices up by more than $4000

Gambar
The LDV T60 has been hit with its second major price rise in 12 months to account for new equipment – but the ute still lacks key advanced safety tech. 2023 LDV T60 Max pricing and specifications New equipment for Pro and Luxe grades Only top 10 dual-cab ute without auto emergency braking Priced from $38,990 drive-away for ABN holders 2023 LDV T60 Max Luxe The updated 2023 LDV T60 Max has arrived in Australia with a $4000 price rise and some equipment upgrades – but it still lacks advanced safety technology which is standard in its rivals. LDV Australia has announced the T60 Max 4×4 ute has undergone a handful of tweaks for 2023 after its major facelift (and $5000 price hike) last year – resulting in a price increase of $4000 across the range for buyers with an ABN. But Australia’s ninth best-selling ute continues to forgo advanced safety tech such as forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking – making the T60 the the only du
Baca selengkapnya