knows how to trill when needed.
From Tesla's "Rodeo Drive" in Texas (photo: manufacturer's website)
Not many know this, but somewhere when the young Tesla started rolling out the idea of making a saloon car, the first experiments towards the future Model S were done using the Mercedes CLS for camouflage, the car that Elon Musk saw as the best expression of a sports saloon car.
The car itself was emptied of the propulsion systems and battery packs and electric motors were planted in it in order to test the initial feasibility of the idea.
More than ten years later and for a moment it seemed that history was repeating itself, when "spy photos" began to appear on various websites showing what is supposed to be a Tesla Model 2 under camouflage.
This is a model that has been on the table for several years and is critical for Tesla if it wants to capture a truly significant market share in the car market: Model 3 is too expensive for that.
The prototype is remarkably similar to the Mazda CX-30.
Is it Mazda hosting Tesla's drivetrain this time?
Model 3 and Model Y, when will the little sister arrive? (Photo: Manufacturer's website)
In the photos, which apparently originate from China, a car can be seen with a paint scheme of the experimental cars designed to blur the contours of the car, with the lighting units identified with Tesla attached to its front and back, as well as wheel covers and an opaque nose like the one that characterizes the manufacturer's cars.
In some of the photos you can also see Calipari red brakes with the inscription Tesla on them.
The reason for speculation that this is the same compact Model 2 arises in light of its dimensions alongside people in some of the photos that show it is a car smaller than the Y and taller than the 3.
However, a closer examination of the photos reveals that most likely this is some kind of deception, or a hoax at best and the car that is really under this camouflage is actually a Mazda CX-30.
Because while front and rear lighting units can be added to the car without a problem, some of the other components are a completely different story.
The side windows, the rear bumper, even the door handles are suspiciously similar to Mazda's and not at all reminiscent of Tesla's.
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In cooperation with the Tamir Recycling Corporation
When will it go into production? (Photo: Manufacturer's website)
And now to the question of motive.
Apparently, if Tesla wanted to hide its activities, the last thing it would do is to release a "disguised" car that so prominently bears the distinct identification marks of the manufacturer and also with an explicit inscription on the red caliper.
So to think that this is really an official test car is not something that sounds very likely.
On the other hand, you also have to remember the issue of timing.
On March 1-2, Tesla will hold its "Investors' Day", one of the opportunities that Elon Musk uses to present plans or at least ideas for plans and other insights regarding the future of the manufacturer to the company's investors.
Shows that in the past led to recruitments that enabled the company's continued activity and those that are still required as the manufacturer has ambitions to grow and expand production.
At this year's meeting, the manufacturer is also expected to reveal a new platform, the one that will carry its future cars, and this could be the moment to introduce the cheap Tesla.
A year ago, Musk denied that a new, cheaper model was under development.
"We currently have no plans for a cheaper Tesla model and we are not working on a $25,000 car. There may be such a car in the future, but right now we are focused on trying to make the best use of the chip pool we have. It would not be right to present a new car right now." .
Two years earlier, Musk actually said that Tesla was working on such a model.
I wonder which Musk we will meet next month.
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