Back in January, the Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that we can expect a Tesla truck to come in the next few years and as he explained, “It’s sort of a logical thing for us to do in the future.” Nothing has been official yet, and we don’t have the faintest idea of how the Tesla pickup could look like, but we can try to guess some of the truck features based on the previous knowledge of cars and Tesla electric vehicles especially.
Tesla Motors is currently focused on their Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV/crossover, but after they are done with the development and production starts, their focus can switch to the pickup truck while successfully selling Model 3. This market is becoming more and more popular, year in year out, and it would be a great thing if we could see the first electric model offered to the segment. There is no doubt that the carmaker would face so many challenges and issues, so let’s see what to expect from the Tesla Pickup.
The Exterior
The first thing which is logical is that the pickup would be based on the Model X – the largest Tesla SUV at the moment. Although the Model X would serve as an inspiration, the new truck would be completely authentic, and its stance would be tall, ready to finish any job. The company would try to insert the bed that would look good and be practical as well. The lower fascia would be rugged, and the fenders would be prominent – the details that define the real truck.
US carmaker would have to get rid of the Falcon Wing doors because they are not functional on the pickup as they are on the Model X SUV. The Tesla Pickup should strive to already tested and proven mechanics as it would be used in harsh conditions and traditional doors would allow the C-Pillar to connect with the bed more naturally. There is no doubt that they would insert their signature door handles, but we could also expect the chrome trim around the windows.
The tires choice could be something we have never seen before in Tesla’s lineup, whereas the wheel might remain similar as the one on the Model X. Also, in order to protect the car paint from mud and rocks, the lower part of the truck would be covered in black trim. The bed is an unknown terrain for us, but for Tesla Motors too, so we forecast that the Honda Ridgeline’s bed might serve as an inspiration to a new vehicle. Of course, the pickup would adapt and change Honda’s bed as much as possible and give it a distinctive look.
Interior
Just like the exterior, the interior of the Tesla pickup would be based on the existing Model X, with some inevitable modifications. What we can conclude based on some previous vehicles is that the new truck would feature a minimalistic design with sporty bucket seats and a large touchscreen in the middle. However, the owner of this vehicle would need to have the ability to fold the last row of seats flat for extra space in the cab.
2020 Tesla Pickup Engine
The customers would have the choice between several powertrain options, and once again we will take a look at the Model X. This SUV is available with the 60D, 70D, 75D, 90D, P90D, and P100D, but if the work mule ever comes to production it wouldn’t include the 60D variant.
The first option that would be offered in the pickup is the 70D or even 75D. In the Model X, these offers 220 and 237 miles of range with similar acceleration results, from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds, which is not a bad result for an electric SUV. The powertrain produces 328 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque.
The 90D variant is good for a total of 259 miles per charge, and it is also much faster. With this powertrain, it takes the Model X only 4.8 seconds to go from standstill to 60 mph, and the complete output is 417 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque.
The P90D version is exceptionally powerful, and its drivetrain produces 532 hp and 713 lb-ft of torque when the Ludicrous mode is on. The top speed of the Model X is 155 mph whereas it goes from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds, which is a result of some of the sports cars. AWD would be standard for the Tesla Pickup, and it would definitely be interesting to see the electric truck on slippery roads.
Tesla Pickup Truck Price
There is a dilemma when it comes to price. Well, we actually don’t know how the pickup is going to look if it goes into production in the first place. The company may decide to produce a luxury version, which would raise the price of the vehicle, but we know that it would be more expensive than Model 3, for example. We believe that the starting price of the Tesla Pickup would be around $50,000. It is still early, so we need to wait for some concrete information. An official confirmation of the vehicle would do for now.
