Tesla CEO Elon Musk never seems to run out of big aims and bold claims. This time, the South African billionaire revealed on an hourlong podcast that the pricing for the Tesla pick-up truck will begin at under US$50,000 (RM208k), and that it will outperform the industry’s best-selling vehicle, the Ford F series.
“It’s going to look pretty sci-fi,” Musk said of the truck. “That means it’s not going to be for everyone. It’s going to be on a truck that’s more capable than other trucks. The goal is to be a better truck than an F-150 in terms of truck-like functionality, and be a better sports car than a standard [Porsche] 911.”
Yep, that’s right. A full-electric pick-up truck that will be a better sports car than the standard 911. Musk added: “It’s kind of like a ‘Blade Runner’ truck. That’s the idea. It’s not going to be for everyone. When we unveil this thing, there’ll be some people who are like, ‘Oh, that doesn’t look like a truck; I don’t want to buy it.’ It’s like when they came out with automobiles, people were like, ‘Oh, I like a horse and carriage.’ Sure, OK, you can stick with your horse and carriage, but you’re going to get an automobile later. You just don’t know it.”
Musk was commenting on the “Ride the Lightning” podcast hosted by Ryan McCaffery, a Tesla Model 3 owner. The interview touched on several topics, including Musk’s desire to build the Model Y crossover at the company’s Fremont plant in California, as well as Tesla’s push towards full autonomous driving.
It’s not clear when Tesla would start building the pick-up, but last year Musk said that Tesla may unveil the model this summer (June to September), Automotive News reports. As for the technical details, Musk said on Twitter that the pick-up will get dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard, including a suspension that adjusts dynamically for load and “crazy torque.” The pick-up will also feature power outlets for heavy-duty, 240-volt power tools, and boast a driving range of up to 805 km or more.
He also took to Twitter to announce that the pick-up would have a 300,000-pound (136,078 kg) towing capacity, although how Tesla plans to achieve that is anyone’s guess at the moment. While Musk has struggled to deliver an entry-level version of the Model 3 sedan, he said that, ideally, the pick-up’s starting price will come in under US$50,000 (RM208k).
Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles offer entry-level pickups that start around US$30,000 (RM125k), although customers often opt for more expensive models, with the average transaction prices for large pick-ups going well into the high US$40,000s (RM167k to RM200k).
“It’s got to be something that’s affordable,” Musk said. “Now, there will be versions of the car that will be more expensive, but you’ve got to be able to get a really great truck for US$49,000 (RM204k) or less.”
Source: Read Full Article