Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/16/t...el-iii-3-musk/

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

please post some content rather than just a link next time. thanks.

The smaller, cheaper Model III will be aimed against compact premium sedans like the BMW 3 Series and will be unveiled in 2016 before actually going on sale in 2017. According to Musk, the new vehicle will offer a 200-mile range and will carry a price tag of around $35,000.

Musk told Auto Express, Tesla was seriously planning to call it the Model E, until Ford disputed the name. "The new model is going to be called Model 3, we'll have three bars to represent it and it'll be S III X," he said.

Sadly, Musk didn't reveal any other technical details about the Model III. However, it's rumored to be about 20-percent smaller than the Model S. To save money, the platform reportedly uses a more steel-intensive construction than its big brother, and the battery packs are likely to come from the Tesla Gigafactory.

Musk also let slip one last detail while speaking to Auto Express. It turns out that the rumored update for the Roadster is entirely real and involves an upgraded battery pack available to existing owners to boost range from the current 245 miles to around 400 miles. He didn't say when the modification would be available, though.

NYKnick101

The 200 mile range is a bit disappointing but the 35k price tag is very tempting. I am already sold on a tesla but I want to wait out for a larger line of vehicles

doge

Good luck picking one up at 35k. Base Model S is 63k after local and federal incentives but the cheapest I've seen them go for is around 75k and thats for a used one...

A more affordable model will attract more people to the brand only making supply more scarce. Im going out on a limb that they'll be going for 45k-50k...

bagwell

wow

....why can't they put that in the Model III?

doge

You don't want your base car to be better than your flagship

stlgrym3

iTrader: (4)

i doubt it would be $35k by the time it releases, that'll be too good to be true. 3 years from now a V6 Camry gonna cost that much.

doge

A fully loaded v6 is nearly 35k already

JessePS

I am looking forward to seeing what it will look like. I am happy to hear that the roadster owners can change their battery pack. 200 miles isn't the greatest, but with Tesla building many Superchargers, it won't be that bad.

Plus if many car companies use Tesla's patents, who knows what we can have in store. What would be interesting is to see gas stations use Tesla's patent for the Supercharger and add in 1-2 spots to charge your car. They may want a premium but, more stations with charging stations the better.

darkdream

Elon said the battery extension for the roadster should be due by the end of the year in the recent shareholder's meeting.

darkdream

I will wait for the next sports car from Tesla comes out.

I8ABMR

if it looks like the model S it will sell like a ****. Considering the trendiness of he model S, Im sure this will be a smaller version.

dseag2

This really interested me until I looked at the pics of the Model S interior and was reminded of the big, ugly iPad slapped on the dash. That is one reason I wouldn't consider the Model S. Maybe they will have found a better solution by 2017.