Having just launched their mid-sized Model S sedan, Tesla have now announced plans for a smaller, more compact electric vehicle, which will compete against the German establishment.

Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, announced that the compact sedan will be the Silicon Valley-based manufacturer’s entry-level car, designed to allow a more affordable entry point into the Tesla brand, as well as boost volume sales. “The third model will continue to drive down the price point as fast as possible”, said von Holzhausen, who indicated a price tag potentially in the region of US$30 000 (the Model S current starts at US$57 400).

Planned for introduction in 2015, the smaller electric sedan will have a more daring design than the current Model S, with von Holzhausen saying, “We will become more experimental as we develop as a brand, our cars need to have some personality.”

von Holzhausen, 44 years old from Connecticut and former designer at Mazda, also hinted at the flexibility of Tesla’s platform saying, “There will be a time and place for us to develop something around a pick-up. That’s a market for which the torque of an electric motor would be ideally suited.”

While the sub-Model S sedan is reportedly set for a 2015 debut, it remains to be seen if or when Tesla will branch out into the pickup segment.

California-based EV manufacturer Tesla Motors, has unveiled a revised version of its Roaster.

The Roadster 2.5 demonstrates that Tesla will give its range of vehicles a family resemblance. The new front fascia with diffusing vents is similar to the svelte Model S sedan, and Tesla says the new rear diffuser also points to the brand’s future design language.

The choice of silver or black directional forged alloys completes a relatively minor facelift to the exterior.

Inside, Tesla has worked on the seats to make them more comfortable with larger supportive bolsters and a new lumbar support system, while cabin noise has also been reduced. An optional 7-inch touchscreen display – including navigation and reversing camera – is also now available.

Performance is unchanged, meaning the AC induction motor and single-speed gearbox are still responsible for delivering up to 215 kW, with almost all of the 400 N.m of torque available from 0 r/min. The sprint from 0 – 100 km/h is completed in a supercar rivaling 3.7 seconds.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, said the revisions to the Roadster were a direct result of customer feedback from more than 1 200 owners, from around 23 countries, who have cumulatively driven more than eight million kilometres. “Although development of the Model S is our main focus, this shows that we still care a great deal about improving the Tesla Roadster,” Musk said. “Where feasible, we will also offer existing customers the ability to purchase the upgrades now available in version 2.5.”

The launch of the Roadster 2.5 coincided with the opening of two new Tesla dealerships in Newport Beach, California, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Adapted from CarAdvice

According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla Motors is planning to raise as much as US$100 Million in capital through the aide of public investors. While the entire auto industry is facing difficult times, Tesla hopes that they will be able to supplement the $465 Million loan from the federal government and claim a lasting stake in the new car market by increasing the public’s awareness about their intent to mass produce electric vehicles for a wide range of consumers.

The California based manufacturer is currently offering a lineup of only two cars, with the $100 000 Tesla Roadster leading the charge and the $60 000 Model S sedan following closely behind. By opening themselves up to public investors with an IPO, the electric car manufacturer is adding another element of uncertainty to their plans in an already unstable new car market. However, Telsa co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk, is no stranger to taking chances.

For example, when he decided to head in a different direction than the competition at Fisker Automotive by opening up a network of owned and operated freestanding dealerships, which gave him more control over the sales and service of his new products. Despite the expansion costs, moving from their California outlets to a host of major US cities and beyond, hasn’t taken a toll on the electric car builder so far.

However, new has recently surfaced that Tesla Motors plans to cease production of their flagship Roadster until 2013. This means the 2012 four door Model S will be left as the sole product to get the automaker through their period of public investment. It is believed that the decision was made due to the fact that Lotus are preparing for the next generation Elise, the vehicle upon which the Tesla Roadster is based, leaving the American manufacturer with a bit of downtime before they come back with an all new Roadster for 2013.

Adapted from TopSpeed