http://www.autoweek.com/article/car-...ghting-model-3
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Tesla has a new vehicle in the pipeline, slated to go on sale at some point after the Model X crossover. On Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that the Model 3 -- we've also seen it stylized as Model III -- will be a relatively affordable, sporty midsize sedan. AutoExpress claims a 2017 sale date, which would follow a debut likely sometime in 2016. We dont know what the Model 3 will look like, but a scaled-down version of the Model S is probably the safest bet (were definitely willing to be surprised, though). Price gets scaled down, too, to a more manageable $35,000, according to Automotive News. Musk says it will hit about 200 miles on a charge (no word on whether larger battery packs will be optional) and that itll have a footprint similar to that of the old sport/luxury benchmark, the BMW 3-series. Fittingly, given its name -- is that really the best you could come up with, Elon? -- its also expected to compete with the Bavarian sedan. If it does as good a job challenging 3-series as the Model S did with, say, the 5-series -- and it can do so for that proposed $35K sticker -- Tesla could well have a large-scale hit on its hands. Itll almost certainly be better than the Bimmer in the quarter mile, at least. Tesla Model S walks 2005 Dodge Viper at the drag strip: Controversial run leaves us with plenty to ponderGREEN CARS Tesla Model S walks 2005 Dodge Viper at the drag strip: Controversial run leaves us with plenty to ponderFighting through a field jam-packed with electrified contenders such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the Tesla Model S has just earned the title of fastest production EV through the quarter-... That will be a huge deal for Tesla, as well as for electric vehicles in general. Along with that all-electric crossover, a successful, affordable sedan will be crucial if Tesla wants to start selling in volume. Recall that, for all the excitement and buzz (backed by solid product, to be sure), the fledgling automaker has moved probably well under 50,000 cars since its founding over a decade ago. Widespread electric-car adoption is something of a chicken-and-egg scenario; it doesnt make sense to buy an electric car unless theres infrastructure, and it doesnt make sense to build infrastructure unless a lot of people with electric cars demand it. The skillful execution of the Model 3 could play a big role in tipping that balance in favor of EVs -- perhaps a bigger role than free and open patents ever could. We'll probably have to wait until 2017 to find out. |