TESLA

Model 2 may hit the market soon

For some years now, there has been speculation that Tesla will dare to develop an entirely new model in order to compete, among others, with the Volkswagen ID.3, Opel Astra-e and even the Peugeot e-308. A model that will play the important role of access to the line both for its exterior dimensions and its price.

Years passed and even today these reports that circulate on the web have not materialized into anything tangible. However, it is well known that Tesla is working behind the scenes on what we can define as the definitive project of the American company to give a new impulse to the massification of the electric vehicle after the commercial success of the Tesla Model 3 across the planet.

This new model, whose name has not yet been confirmed, became popularly known as "the $25,000 Tesla". This is one of the defining keys of the project. At the time, Elon Musk himself pointed out that it is one of the established goals. Design an electric whose output price is fixed at $25,000 and which, therefore, can rival the most affordable compact electric cars on the market.

At the time, the Volkswagen e-Golf was used as a reference, however, it has been a long time since the iconic Volkswagen compact lost its all-electric version to make way for the Volkswagen ID.3 that can be found in dealerships. The Tesla Model 2 will be the American manufacturer's answer. A name that, as we pointed out before, is not yet official. It is also speculated that in the end it might be named Tesla Model C or Tesla Model Q.

Regardless of what name the company uses in the end, it will be Tesla's first hatchback. Today the line is composed exclusively of sedans and crossovers. It will also become the cheapest Tesla on the market.

It will display a design that is quickly recognizable as it will be influenced by the rest of the models in the line. Now, although it is a hatchback, it will have a worked aerodynamics, which is crucial as it is an electric vehicle. The recreations that appear in the images allow a glimpse of how the Model 2 design could be.

In the bowels of the vehicle will be the real heart of Tesla's first compact. It will use new batteries that are characterized by being more powerful, safer and cheaper. They will be approximately 35% smaller than conventional batteries and will be able to store and release more electrical energy while reducing the risk of overheating.

Tesla's new batteries will also be key to increasing autonomy per kWh. Taking the Tesla Model 3 in its standard range version as a reference, although the future compact will have a battery with half the capacity, its new design will allow it to offer a range of approximately 260 kilometers.

Taking into account the figures that move the electric compact segment, we should expect that the minimum objective for this model is to have 300 km per charge. The battery pack will be used as part of the vehicle's structure, which will translate into a reduction in weight, another crucial factor that allows for an increase in the level of energy efficiency.

Tesla will equip the new Model 2 with advanced autonomous driving technology. It is another of the pillars on which this model will stand to differentiate itself from its more direct rivals. Even Musk himself opened the door at the time so that he could have full autonomous driving capacity, discussing whether or not the market would want a car with a steering wheel and pedals.

The brand is still working full steam ahead on improving its package of driving assistance systems. This is one of the crucial technologies for the future of the automobile industry. Having the electric compact with the highest level of autonomous driving available on the market is a matter to be taken into account.

As for the fact that Tesla was slow in deciding to release a single, there are several issues we should consider. When the brand started, it did it as a niche company. The Tesla Roadster was the first model commercialized and it progressively expanded its product offer with models that increasingly pointed to categories where the bulk of license plates are concentrated.

Once the Tesla Gigafactory in Germany is at full swing, the company can boast of being a truly global car manufacturer. With production costs adjusted as much as possible, the brand will be able to venture into the ambitious mission of selling affordable electric vehicles without generating losses. Now, before that we should be very clear that there is still a lot of time to see the hypothetical Model 2 circulate along the roads.

As for its arrival on the market, the latest information marks 2023 as the launch year of the Tesla compact. A date that makes a lot of sense if we consider that it will be in this year that the brand will start production of the new Tesla Roadster. Therefore, you can concentrate on such an important project.

Autonews