Wish List: A "Little" Tesla

[F14Scott]

My wife has an M3 AWD. It's awesome. We love it. I'm ruined for ICE cars, and our next car (mine) will be electric. BUT, for a second car, we don't need something as big as the current Tesla lineup; seating for 5 plus a trunk and a sub trunk and a frunk is overkill for a second car in a two-car family.

I currently drive a Subaru BRZ. It is a two-door, 2+2 (although the rear seats are essentially unusable for all but little children or adults sitting sideways, but they do fold down giving nice access to the), hatchback with RWD, sporty looks, great handling, and a 200 HP buzzy little motor.

I wish Tesla would make my exact car in an electric version. Not everyone needs two rows of seating and three trunks. With a big first car, we would love to have a little weekend getaway car for two people and a couple of carry ons, with room for some junk bought at the destination in the hatch. And, as a commuter, such a car would kill it on efficiency. It would be great for a track day car. People who live in places with shared or small parking would prefer it. It would charge faster. It would be less expensive to purchase.

Anyone else wishing for a little Tesla?

 

[gilscales]

Anyone else wishing for a little Tesla?

 

[tomas]

My wife has an M3 AWD. It's awesome. We love it. I'm ruined for ICE cars, and our next car (mine) will be electric. BUT, for a second car, we don't need something as big as the current Tesla lineup; seating for 5 plus a trunk and a sub trunk and a frunk is overkill for a second car in a two-car family.

I currently drive a Subaru BRZ. It is a two-door, 2+2 (although the rear seats are essentially unusable for all but little children or adults sitting sideways, but they do fold down giving nice access to the), hatchback with RWD, sporty looks, great handling, and a 200 HP buzzy little motor.

I wish Tesla would make my exact car in an electric version. Not everyone needs two rows of seating and three trunks. With a big first car, we would love to have a little weekend getaway car for two people and a couple of carry ons, with room for some junk bought at the destination in the hatch. And, as a commuter, such a car would kill it on efficiency. It would be great for a track day car. People who live in places with shared or small parking would prefer it. It would charge faster. It would be less expensive to purchase.

Anyone else wishing for a little Tesla?

Personally, I agree with you, but since biggest market is US, and majority of US market values size (SUV, CUV, Pickup), it ain't going to happen unless US tastes change (haha) or Tesla has their target US share and needs to push for more market share in Europe and Asia where small cars are valued. Either way, a long time.... sorry.

 

[Rex Kramer]

I'd make the case that it would be even better if Subaru made an electric BRZ, but we probably have a long way to go either way.

 

[Dan203]

My wife would buy a Tesla in a heartbeat if they made a 2 seater convertible. Her last 3 cars have been two Miatas and an Audi TT. The Model 3 is way to big for her taste.

 

[Saghost]

The thing is, it's going to be hard to make this little Tesla cost significantly less to produce than the Model 3.

There's nothing you can eliminate from the base 3, and not much you can downsize - you could maybe drop the pack size by a third or so and accept a shorter range, but much more than that and you'll start limiting the power and regen output.

Less metal and fewer seats, but in trade for that you need a new set of designs and part numbers, so it'll take a fair amount of production to break even.

What I'd like to see them do is a four seat convertible on the 3 platform. It should be pretty easy to do, just a little sheet metal, a top, and a rear seat area (and maybe some structural reinforcement,) and like your smaller car, there's really nothing like it in the EV market so far.

 

[JulienW]

China Giga
Model Y
Pickup
Semi
Model S/X refresh
European Giga
Roadster

Tesla's plate is WAY OVER FULL as it is. NO CHANCE of any new car announcements for a few YEARS. I would LOVE a coupe or affordable roadster but.....Tesla needs to cover some of what is up next before doing to the long list.

 

[F14Scott]

I'd make the case that it would be even better if Subaru made an electric BRZ, but we probably have a long way to go either way.

*Somebody* needs to make this car. I'd love it if Subaru did, and they are partnered with Toyota on this car, which could even lead to a Lexus sister... I know sedans are fading, but I'm pretty sure a $30-45,000 electric little BRZ/Miata would fly off the shelves.

 

[XLR82XS]

My wife would buy a Tesla in a heartbeat if they made a 2 seater convertible. Her last 3 cars have been two Miatas and an Audi TT. The Model 3 is way to big for her taste.

2020 Roadster.

 

[F14Scott]

While the Roadster is, of course, a fascinating design exercise, I see it more as a personal Musk statement than a car that furthers the EV ecosphere. I wish they would make something little and fun for the masses, rather than something little and atomic for the .1%.

 

[Rex Kramer]

*Somebody* needs to make this car. I'd love it if Subaru did, and they are partnered with Toyota on this car, which could even lead to a Lexus sister... I know sedans are fading, but I'm pretty sure a $30-45,000 electric little BRZ/Miata would fly off the shelves.

In an alternate timeline, Toyota converted the Scion brand into their "all-electric" marque as part of the 2016 restructure and electric FR-S production models are just now hitting the road.

 

[F14Scott]

There's nothing you can eliminate from the base 3, and not much you can downsize - you could maybe drop the pack size by a third or so and accept a shorter range, but much more than that and you'll start limiting the power and regen output.

Less metal and fewer seats, but in trade for that you need a new set of designs and part numbers, so it'll take a fair amount of production to break even.

With a big M3 in the garage, I wouldn't fear a 250 mile runabout, since I'd have a large road-tripper handy if necessary. And if the smaller size of everything reduced the price of a base M3 by, say, 15%, then you've got price parity with the Miata and BRZ. Who would by an ICE BRZ if they could get a Tesla one for about the same money?

I like your convertible idea.

 

[Saghost]

In an alternate timeline, Toyota converted the Scion brand into their "all-electric" marque as part of the 2016 restructure and electric FR-S production models are just now hitting the road.

That's actually not a horrible idea for them today. There's probably a lot of overlap between the Scion target market and EV buyers anyway, and it'd give them the separation legacy makers seem to be needing.

 

[brobinson]

While the Roadster is, of course, a fascinating design exercise, I see it more as a personal Musk statement than a car that furthers the EV ecosphere. I wish they would make something little and fun for the masses, rather than something little and atomic for the .1%.

The model 3 is still barely the EV for the masses. I'm sure more models will come as tesla matures as a manufacturer.

 

[Dan203]

The thing is, it's going to be hard to make this little Tesla cost significantly less to produce than the Model 3.

There's nothing you can eliminate from the base 3, and not much you can downsize - you could maybe drop the pack size by a third or so and accept a shorter range, but much more than that and you'll start limiting the power and regen output.

Less metal and fewer seats, but in trade for that you need a new set of designs and part numbers, so it'll take a fair amount of production to break even.

What I'd like to see them do is a four seat convertible on the 3 platform. It should be pretty easy to do, just a little sheet metal, a top, and a rear seat area (and maybe some structural reinforcement,) and like your smaller car, there's really nothing like it in the EV market so far.

No everyone is looking for cheaper. My wife paid $50k for her two seater Audi TT. Main reason she went with the Audi instead of another Miata is because she wanted AWD. When she had the Miata we had to have another car (Subaru) that she'd drive when it snowed. With the Audi she has two in one. Although she says she still prefers the smaller size of the Miata.

Point is just because it's small doesn’t mean it has to be cheap. It could compete with the TT, Z4 and Cayman.

 

[Dan203]

While the Roadster is, of course, a fascinating design exercise, I see it more as a personal Musk statement than a car that furthers the EV ecosphere. I wish they would make something little and fun for the masses, rather than something little and atomic for the .1%.

Yeah $250k is ridiculous. There are only so many people in the world that can afford a car that expensive.

But there are a LOT more that can afford a car in the $50k-$60k range. It doesn't need to be a $30k eco box to sell in quantity.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Tesla having a hard enough time right now without making a specialist car.

I have accepted that Tesla isn't going to make the car I want (a maneuverable, practical compact hatchback with normal wheels and tires and moderate performance), so instead I've redirected my wishes to Tesla not hemorrhaging money, and making their customer service not suck.

 

[Rojer Lockless]

As a former FR-S owner, the car is an under-powered turd that should have come from the factory with 50 more hp and a sport option with 300hp.

Sigh, I wish Tesla made a convertible that was affordable that could be supercharged.

 

[F14Scott]

No everyone is looking for cheaper. My wife paid $50k for her two seater Audi TT. Main reason she went with the Audi instead of another Miata is because she wanted AWD. When she had the Miata we had to have another car (Subaru) that she'd drive when it snowed. With the Audi she has two in one. Although she says she still prefers the smaller size of the Miata.

Point is just because it's small doesn’t mean it has to be cheap. It could compete with the TT, Z4 and Cayman.

Agreed. Before we got the Tesla and my mind wandered to electric, I pined for a Lexus BRZ, with a better interior, 300hp motor, and all the rest unchanged for about $40-50,000. With three sisters (Subaru, Toyota, and Lexus) the manufacturer covers all the bases, from the young person who wants a starter sports car to the comfortable middle-ager (me) who wants something small, luxurious, and fun but maybe doesn't want a $75,000+ car.

 

[F14Scott]

Tesla having a hard enough time right now without making a specialist car.

I have accepted that Tesla isn't going to make the car I want (a maneuverable, practical compact hatchback with normal wheels and tires and moderate performance), so instead I've redirected my wishes to Tesla not hemorrhaging money, and making their customer service not suck.

As a former GTI owner, I would also love to see an electric hot hatch, which is pretty close to what the BRZ is, except with 2 doors, not really rear seats, and not really a hot motor.