autoevolution
 

Tesla Motors Plans to Release Model X SUV by 2013

There's no doubt about the fact that U.S. based Tesla Motors is currently in a partnership with Toyota to make a new electric version of the RAV4. However, Tesla plans to show it's own prototype of an SUV/Crossover electric car called Model X by the end of next year.

I’m hopeful we will unveil a prototype toward the end of next year. When it will go into production is harder to predict because we want to make sure the Model S production line is operating smoothly before we introduce another variant,” the company's CEO Elon Musk said in an interview. “But certainly within two… in less than two years when we start Model S production, we will have the Model X.”

According to Tesla executives, the Model X will be built on the same platform as the Model S so if all goes well and the Sedan is released in 2012, it is possible that we will see the Model X enter production in 2013 along with other models. There has been talk about a Tesla SUV/CUV since at least 2008.

When you consider the gas savings with an electric SUV, it is pretty substantial,” said Musk. “You are probably spending three times as much, four times as much, as you are with an efficient hybrid like the Prius.

The Model S will come with a more specialized battery pack than the one used in the Roadster. The Roadster's battery pack consists of conventional cylindrical Li-Ion batteries wrapped around a battery management system, Tesla's own creation.

The cells in the Model S battery pack will be somewhat different, according to Musk. Tesla is working with Panasonic on the internal electronics for the battery.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories