Silicon Valley-based automaker Tesla Motors is planning a four-door sedan aimed at the BMW 5-Series, according to a published report. Like the now-famous Tesla Roadster, the sedan will be entirely electric and rear-wheel-drive, Tesla VP Mike Harrigan told the U.K.’s Autocar in a new interview.
While the Roadster is based on the Lotus Elise sports car, the four-door model is unlikely to be based on an aluminum platform from the British sports car maker. Instead, the car will feature lightweight steel construction.
A base model will offer around 250 horsepower and a range of 200 miles, while a more expensive variant will 300 mile range and greater output. The report also indicates there will be a high-performance version of the Roadster offered some time after the base model launches. (Of course, even the basic two-seater will hit 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, which should be quick enough for most folks.)
11/23, 10:50 AM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
AND………………..spare parts are available at Radio Shack!
11/23, 10:59 AM
posted by:
Jimbo - G Mill$
lol @ ricardo.
11/23, 11:31 AM
posted by:
A4
cooler than driving a hybrid at least
11/23, 12:12 PM
posted by:
CAPTAIN AMERICA
this is great, now if the large automakers could make their own versions at affordable prices we could end the senseless blowing up of our kids in Iraq.
11/23, 12:28 PM
posted by:
MyGodBeatsYourGod
Are we entering a new Volt Age?
Drinking early on Thanksgiving morning!!!!
11/23, 1:00 PM
posted by:
F451
A “leisure class” automobile who’s future stands a snowball’s chance in hell unless it can appeal to the masses. Appeal being price-point, and let’s just say it’s ten of thousands dollar off that mark at this time.
11/23, 2:39 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
“The Masses” cannot afford a vehicle like this at current time. Hope they build it.
11/23, 6:31 PM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Okay gents, I like to crack a lot of jokes here and I hate hybrids and don’t get the extreme fascination with diesels (although I don’t mind them). I might also have a problem with pure electric cars given the recharge time, but when I think about it I rarely drive more than 300 miles at a crack anyway. Still….
.
This Tesla group is at least creating an exciting electric car (not an soccer-mom abortion like the Prius) that can perform, and though I do not intend to drop 80k to 100k on it, that is in the ballpark of many who either have higher means or a high tolerance for debt. Cars aren’t worth that kind of money to me. But if you click and read the link below, it says “Two more models are already planned by Tesla, a sporty 4-door sedan which cost 1/2 the price of the roadster and a third car, which is cheaper.” That means if this sportscar is about 100k, the 5-series competitor will be about 50k, and the other car less (say 35k-ish). THAT IS WITHIN REACH of many, and if they stick to the performance intentions you damn well better believe Tesla will be on my car-shopping list sometime soon. Tesla may be just the kick in the ass the car industry needs, because the geezers and stoic’s at Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford/BMW/Merc/VW aren’t producing **** that is truly exciting. Go Tesla!
.
.
http://www.revmods.com/138/tesla-roadster/
11/23, 7:51 PM
posted by:
nowei
Tesla’s not the only company doing this, either.
As I understand, there are a lot of people involved in motorsport who are very interested in working with various alternative ways of powering vehicles because traditional internal combustion vehicles have just become so routine that they don’t offer as much of a challenge anymore.
/no
11/24, 1:53 AM
posted by:
dean_smits
I wonder if the sedan will offer a roof-top solar panel array for charging the batteries during the daytime.
11/24, 5:40 AM
posted by:
Noah
here today, gone tomorrow. to little, to late, to much
11/24, 7:17 AM
posted by:
megator
I doubt that there will be solar panels on the roof. For them to be even slightly effective they would alreay cost bout 50000$. Also they would only work in really sunny places like california or australia.
11/24, 9:41 AM
posted by:
British_Rover
A base 5 series already starts at over 44,000 dollars so 50,000 grand for an all electric competitior is not outrageous to me at all.
11/24, 9:34 PM
posted by:
Steve
I heard about this months ago. How is it just now on LLN?
11/25, 8:11 PM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
Why do people continue to waste time with the electric car? Too expensive! Too short a range! And you have to have someplace to plug it in!!!! Forget about it!!!!!!
11/28, 5:36 AM
posted by:
jas173
It seems crazy to me how many people write off electric/hydrogen cars with the reasoning that they are too expensive, refuelling stations are too far apart, range etc etc. Do you ever stop to wonder what it was like when the car first came out? Do you think people went all over the country building gas stations for something which only came out a few months before hand? No, there was great scepticism, as they waited to see how it would go. when it was apparent that they were viable, then gas stations started sprouting up. the same will happen for electric/hydrogen cars.
Also, a lot of people on this site, and many other car forums, have TERRIBLE spelling, the worst being writing ‘to’ instead of ‘too’, eg Noah above. and people wonder why americans are considered idiots
01/22, 11:01 AM
posted by:
XeroBlue
Americans ARE idiots, and i am one of them so i should know! In any case anyone telling you this product or idea of a 300+ mile all electric car w/ a 3 hour recharge time BTW is a dumb idea should be clubbed over the head and left for dead. When the sedan comes to market and if it really is priced at that 50k mark, all i can say is remember the PS3 and Wii?