Thanks to the success they had with the Model S, X and more recently 3, Elon Musk and its company seem to be interested in other types of vehicles. For starters, not that long ago Elon confirmed that he is thinking about a truck as well as a minivan. The latter is expected to debut in the future, most likely with the 2019 Tesla Minivan concept. Even though nothing is confirmed at this point, the minivan would allow Tesla to get an even larger share of the market for themselves.
The minivan would be the fifth model to join Tesla’s range of cars alongside the current S, 3, X and the future Y which is expected to be a smaller version of the X.
The chassis – predictions
The minivan is expected to use the same platform as the Model X but for it, this might get slightly longer and wider. Elon hinted that the extra space would allow people to be more comfortable, and it will enable them to squeeze one or two more additional seats. The result should be a fully electric minivan with seven or eight seats which will make it a really attractive option for families that want to be a part of the future. The release date for the production model is currently unknown.
However, considering how things are going, it is safe to assume that the car will arrive after 2024, roughly at the same time with their upcoming truck. The price is unknown but considering it will be based on the Model X, expect well over $60,000 and closer to $75,000. This would make it the most expensive minivan out there, but it will also be the only electric one on the market.
Source: topspeed.com
2019 Tesla Minivan design – rendering
At this time it still is early to say how the finished version of the 2019 Tesla Minivan is going to look. There have been a few artist’s renderings out there, and all of them point in the same direction. It seems that the minivan could use the design cues found on the Model X on a slightly wider body which would make for a really interesting car to look at. The production version will come with its unique features which might also be seen on the finished Model 3 car. Unlike the Model X, the minivan is expected to feature rear sliding doors in order to give the people on the third-row easier access towards their seats.
Refined interior
Here, the future minivan is very likely going to feature the same interior as its siblings. This might change until 2019, but the result should be quite similar. We expect a large touch-screen on the center console as well as a very minimalistic design. The build quality and the materials used for its cabin will be improved over what is currently available. Also, despite having only slightly more seats than the Model X, the 2019 Tesla Minivan is expected to provide more storage space and a more comfortable ride for all of its passengers.
Source: topspeed.com
What will power it?
While many people suggested that rear wheel drive would be enough, the fact that it will be based on the Model X confirms us that it will be all-wheel drive as standard. Also, because this is a minivan, a high-performance version is highly unlikely. Despite that, the base model is still expected to offer two electric motors that will each offer more than 250 horsepower. The 0 to 60 MPH time might actually be limited in order to provide the best possible experience out there. The top speed is also unlikely to be higher than 120 MPH. In any case, we should see at least two battery options for the minivan.
The base model might receive an 85 to 90 kWh unit while a top end version could receive as much as 100 kWh. Even the basic model should still be able to go around 250 miles on a single charge which is more than enough for most people. On top of that, Tesla’s SuperCharging will be available across the range which will make the minivan that much more desirable. A rear wheel drive-only model might come at a later date which could improve the fuel efficiency by quite a bit. Also, a larger-than 100 kWh battery is a real possibility as well.
Source: topspeed.com
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