Tesla to end Roadster production, Model S out next year, 2014 Model X to combine SUV and MPV qualities

Tesla to end Roadster production, Model S out next year, 2014 Model X to combine SUV and MPV qualities

A filing with the the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by public listed electric car maker Tesla has shed some light on future plans. There will be a prototype of a Model X crossover by the end of the year, and the company will end production of the Tesla Roadster in December this year, concentrating on a new platform series. Tesla has delivered 1,650 Roadsters to customers in over 31 countries to date.

According to Tesla, it is “designing the Model X to incorporate the functionality of a minivan with the consumer appeal of a sports-utility vehicle.” CEO Elon Musk has previously revealed in an interview that the Model X will debut in 2014.

When pitching to investors for its IPO last summer, Tesla said it wanted to build four derivatives from the Model S platform. First out will be a midsize sedan (the car pictured here, click here for gallery and video) followed by a convertible, a van and a crossover/SUV. From the latest plans, it looks like the latter two will be combined into one Model X.

Tesla to end Roadster production, Model S out next year, 2014 Model X to combine SUV and MPV qualities

As for the upcoming Model S sedan, customer deliveries are scheduled to start in mid-2012 and that there are several drivable prototypes already complete. Tesla is planning to make about 20,000 Model S per year, with prices ranging from $57,400-$77,400. As of end April 2011, the company has collected around 4,600 bookings with a minimum refundable payment of $5,000, the filing said.

“We anticipate that the initial units of the Model S will be introduced with a Signature Series, which will have range capability of 300 miles (480 km) and include certain colors and options, some of which may not be available in the general production of the Model S. We also plan to offer the capability to fast charge in as little as 45 minutes and the ability to rapidly swap out its battery pack at commercial charging stations,” it was revealed.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • cargregator on May 31, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    cool design and great technology.. we must waiting until 2014 LOL

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  • cargregator on May 31, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    cool design and great technology from Tesla.. car about what will become its biggest competitor? lets see it :D

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  • mansory on May 31, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    Model S sedan reminds me of Maserati GT

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  • Looks like the front of a Maserati GT paired with the back of a Jaguar XF.

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  • Ash Menon on May 31, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    That metal strip on the back looks like it fell down from the ducktail at the top.

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  • SoMeOnE on May 31, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    yep….it really looks like a combination of both cars..but bar the front the rest of the car including the proportions look a lot like the Jag

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  • Jimmy Dean on May 31, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    In my opinion, this is just like another GM EV1… An idea which is too ahead for its time. Early adopters will pay but the price is too high at the moment for most. There is no silver bullet in sustainable public transportation solution. More or less, it will be combination of many things: highly efficient, fast public transport (intercity maglev train), small commuter type electric vehicles with enough range for daily commute, plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle, biodiesel electric parallel hybrid electric vehicle, etc.

    In my opinion, the best interim solution now would be plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle with on-board battery pack capable of electric driving of around 100 km range. In addition, you’d have on-board generator for autonomous range similar or more than conventional vehicle. It’s possible to bring this type of vehicle into the market for around RM 100k. Definitely much cheaper than a Tesla.

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  • redboy on May 31, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    I will buy it with RM200K!…but…dream on for bolehland..

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  • rexis on Jun 01, 2011 at 12:17 am

    if only our roads are more friendly to bicycles…

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  • Carl Wong on Jun 01, 2011 at 1:24 am

    ELECTRIC POWER. These cars can beat/outrun the almost outdated or dead (if there’s no more petroleum) petroleum powered cars without an exhaust pipe and greenhouse emissions………!!!!!

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    • rexis on Jun 01, 2011 at 1:24 pm

      What would you use to generate all that power? Nuke? Each of them can easily suck 10 air-con worth of power… now imagine everybody got 10 aircon at home.

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  • kim lee on Jun 01, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    On 22 March 2010, Tesla ordered a minimum of 2,400 units chasis from Lotus until 31 December 2011.

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  • Carl Wong on Jun 02, 2011 at 12:13 am

    Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines.

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