Tesla BlueStar

[Wolfgang]

"Blue Star" from 2012 for less than 30,000

Schriebers Stromkasten, Teil 40 — AUTO BILD 22/2009

Electric A-Class for 21.500 Euro

autobild.de exclusively learnt of the deal, now there are more details on the upcoming Mercedes A-Class by Tesla.

The third electric car by Tesla after the Roadster and Model S is based on the current Mercedes A-Class. The Californians have been supplying the batteries for the electric version of the test smart.

When in 2011, the new A-Class arrrives, Tesla builds the batteries into the double bottom of the current model.

Above that comes a new form designed by Tesla's chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, a shape of a new e-city car. The model, which internally has the working title "Blue Star", is expected in 2012 for less than $30,000 (currently about 21.500 Euro) on the market.

"Long-term we need to have mass-market electric cars in the program," says a Tesla spokeswoman.


AutoBild, google translated

 

[Wolfgang]

^^^

BTW, Autobild didn't report this correctly. The Tesla BlueStar is expected in around 5 years. The electric A-Class starts production in October 2010.

electric A-Class:
http://www.germancarforum.com/class-b-class/25151-daimler-board-member-electric-mercedes-b-class-coming-2010-a.html

Tesla BlueStar info:
http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/09/teslas-elon-musk-on-a-sub-30000-electric-car

 

[Wolfgang]

Here's an update on BlueStar, the afforable Tesla being mentioned as the third model. Could it be the mentioned utility? Time will tell.

Tesla powers up with more products

By GREG MIGLIORE, AUTOWEEK

Yes, there will be more cars from Tesla. And different kinds, too. Tesla chairman Elon Musk reiterated his company's ambitious plans for growth on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit, and the Roadster is just the beginning.

The Model S is due in 2012, and Musk says the company is narrowly focused on getting that sedan to the market on time. The car will start for less than half the price of the Roadster and is expected to sticker for about $50,000, including a federal tax credit.

About the same time the four-door arrives, the first generation of the Roadster will cease production after the 2012. A year or two later, a successor will launch, Musk said.

More Tesla products are expected to follow, including a crossover. Look for new arrivals of vehicles in 2013 and 2014, “which is a rapid pace,” Musk said

Four-wheel drive will also be a characteristic of future Teslas, he said.

The Model S will have a range of 300 miles, five-star safety[/URL] ratings and the ability to swap out the battery in a minute. It will also feature an advanced 17-inch touch screen in the interior, and a large amount of storage space, Musk said.

Affordability is expected to increase with each new product, and by the time the third one arrives, it's expected to be attainable for mainstream customers, in contrast to the expensive, performance-oriented Roadster. About 1,200 units of the two-door are on the road today in almost 25 countries.

Musk was in town to accept the automotive executive of the year award at the Detroit Athletic Club, a stone landmark where car execs have met for decades to wheel and deal. On a bright blue day with the General Motors tower gleaming in the background, the 38-year-old native of South Africa said the transition to electric car was the most significant development for automaking since Henry Ford introduced mass production on the assembly line.

“It's the biggest change in the car business since the moving production line,” Musk said. Interestingly, he said he expects Tesla's most significant impact to be supplying its fresh technology to other companies, rather than through its own products. Tesla has a deal with German giant Daimler and will supply batteries and chargers for the next electric Smart car. Tesla also will supply electric technology for the Mercedes A-class, which is sold in Europe.

Daimler owns about eight percent of Tesla. The California company also has a deal with commercial-vehicle maker Freightliner.

“The smallest effect Tesla will make will be the cars we make ourselves,” Musk said. “The biggest effect will be the cars they [other companies] make.”

Real people really drive Teslas

As Musk was answering questions from the press--as if on cue--a Detroit-area Tesla customer drove up in a shiny black Tesla Roadster Sport. Brian West, who owns a company involved with the MyFord Touch technology, says he uses the Tesla as his daily driver. He's had it for a few months and recharges at work.

Clad in a blue pinstriped suit, West said he doesn't take a very businesslike approach to driving his Tesla. “It's hard to drive conservatively . . . every time you get into it, you want to go,” he said.

He celebrated Earth Day by blitzing around southeast Michigan, making stops in Ann Arbor, Detroit and Flint. When he ran low on juice, he recharged at an entertainment complex between a giant squirrel and the put-put course.

Read more: Tesla powers up with more products

 

[Wolfgang]

A BlueStar update.

Meanwhile, Tesla's lineup looks set to see the inclusion of a new smaller model within four years. Tesla head of design Franz von Holzhausen told Drive to expect something smaller for the new model, which is aimed to be priced at US $30,000 when it launches in 2017.

"It'll be smaller than the Model S," says von Holzhausen. "Given the price point and the segment sizes, it's pretty easy to see that it could be a [rival to the] BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, VW Jetta type vehicle. "It will have range performance and affordability," he says, stating that the $30K mark is what he sees as "the break-in point".

"We see that's where we can really move the needle and bring all this excitement to the average customer," he says. When asked about what sort of battery range that car could potentially have, von Holzhausen says he expects the small model to have big battery life. http://www.bigrigs.com.au/news/motoring-stars-shine-detroit-motor-show/1720793/


Von Holzhausen also admitted that the new model will boast more distinctive styling than the relatively conventional Model S. “We will become more experimental as we develop as a brand,” he said. “Our cars need to have some personality.”
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla’s-electric-3-series-rival-‘-sale-2015’

 

[Wolfgang]

An update.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/musk-sticking-to-plan-for-affordable-tesla-model/

 

[Wolfgang]

Is GM working on a BlueStar competitor?


GM Designing 200-Mile Electric Car Cheaper Than Tesla
WARREN, Mich. (AP) — A top General Motors Co. executive says company engineers are working on an electric car that can go 200 miles (320 kilometers) per charge and cost around $30,000.

Vice President of Global Product Development Doug Parks wouldn't say when or if such a car will be built. But he says automakers are racing to develop batteries that will go that far at a lower cost.

http://www.pddnet.com/news/2013/09/gm-designing-200-mile-electric-car-cheaper-tesla

 

[LaArtist]

Um what Benz is this?

http://www.germancarforum.com/community/attachments/mercedes-concept-style-coupe-csl-3-jpg.15465/

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Used the Concept Style Coupe for illustration since Tesla seems to be interested in more distinctive styling.

http://www.benzinsider.com/2012/05/video-the-concept-style-coupe/

 

[Wolfgang]

Entry-level Tesla will be called the Model E - report
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113102464975/entry-level-tesla-will-be-called-the-model-e---report

 

[Wolfgang]

Gen 3 to have a "practical range"?

Jerome Guillen, Tesla Motors Inc. head of global sales, wouldn’t say Tuesday what the range of the company’s planned lower-cost electric vehicle, dubbed the “Gen 3,” would be, but his answer indicated that it’s not likely to meet the same range expectation seen in the luxury Model S sedan.

“It will have a practical range,” he demurred, when asked by International Business Times during a question-and-answer session at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, saying customers would be satisfied with what the company has planned for a $40,000 electric car, due out in 2017.

http://www.ibtimes.com/detroit-auto-show-2014-40000-model-e-tesla-motors-tsla-will-have-practical-range-says-companys-head