Fortune mag profiles Tesla Motors, leaks a Model S sedan hint
In case you haven't been paying close attention, things at Tesla Motors have been in a bit of an upheaval of sorts as of late. We've been following the story of the Silicon Valley startup since its inception and have seen the roller coaster ride make its various ups and downs along the way. From the first set of specifications and images of the electric Roadster though the initial round of funding provided by Elon Musk and the subsequent removal of Martin Eberhard, a company founder who has still not gotten his own Roadster, there has been a sense that Tesla may have gotten in a bit over its head, a bit too soon. Now that vehicles are (very slowly) rolling out the doors, it's a good time to sit back and reflect on what it took to get the Roadster to this point, and that is exactly what Fortune magazine has done. Click here for their entire article.
A few juicy details were mentioned in the article, especially related to the upcoming Model S. As you may be aware, the new mid-size sedan is now expected to be built in California, but the most interesting tidbit from the article is that the new model may in fact be a hatchback. Score one for practicality, and consider us even more interested in seeing the new model in the flesh.
[Source: Fortune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
srue 7:01PM (7/10/2008)
I really hope it is a hatchback. That's a requirement for my next car. I would love to see hatchbacks as a trend in midsized, fuel-efficient vehicles.
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OhmExcited 7:07PM (7/10/2008)
Musk has kept silent until now about what happened. "I was too busy trying to fix the fucking mess he left. I haven't had time to tell my story," he says.
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Musk, true to form, strikes again. Who will be nuts enough to invest in this company when they IPO?
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Anthony 7:53PM (7/10/2008)
Well, aren't they using a dodge charger as the mule? I suppose that makes a lot of sense. I figured it was because they needed a place to put the batteries (in the back). Perhaps not...
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Chris M 9:31PM (7/10/2008)
It was a Dodge Magnum, sort of like a station wagon / SUV cross. Drivetrain mules are usually chosen to be similar in size and weight to the planned future vehicle, but otherwise bear little resemblence.
Noah 2:10AM (7/11/2008)
Hatchback could be like the 350Z, looks like a coupe, but entire rear glass raises up.
I think more research should be done to replace the glass with a lighter plastic. I think current plastic windows are prone to scratching and a couple of other things, but it could be easily rectified, methinks. Could save, depending on the car, a hundred pounds I bet.
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Doug 2:41AM (7/11/2008)
Video associated with the Fortune article:
http://money.cnn.com/video/ft/#/video/fortune/2008/07/09/fortune.tesla.071008.fortune
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