Those hoping that the unveiling of the Tesla Model Y, the final piece to complete the Californian EV maker’s ‘S3XY’ product strategy, will follow closely after the market launch of the more affordable Model 3 sedan may be disappointed.
A tweet sent out by CEO Elon Musk suggest that Tesla’s fourth (but technically fifth) model, purported to be an compact SUV, will be at least “a few years” away. In the same smartphone session, Musk also confirmed that the Model 3 will not be offered with all-wheel drive (dual motors) at launch.
Development and production plans for the Model 3 are ramping up month by month to meet the late 2017, early 2018 expected customer delivery window. Presuming its successful launch, only then will Tesla have the time and resources to focus on a new model - the Model Y - which is expected to be based on the same platform and share quite a bit of componentry and technology.
The Model Y has so far also been rather shrouded in mystery, with only scant details available even as the eventual appearance of the car itself seems like an inevitability. Like the larger Model X, the Y will supposedly have the Falcon Wing rear doors, which despite looking very impressive, remains a matter of debate as to whether it serves its practical purpose better than a more traditional hinged mechanism.
The final specification, interior features, and powertrain details of the Model 3 will likely be carried over wholesale to the Model Y, so we’ll be keenly watching how Tesla manages expectation with performance, range, and price.
