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Tesla Supercar On The Cards

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has hinted at plans to add a flagship electric supercar to the brand’s expanding line-up. The ambitious Musk, who is also the founder of space company Space X, revealed his hopes through a web-chat on enthusias

Malcolm Flynn

01:3604 September 2012

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Tesla Supercar On The Cards

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has hinted at plans to add a flagship electric supercar to the brand’s expanding line-up.

The ambitious Musk, who is also the founder of space company Space X, revealed his hopes through a web-chat on enthusiast site Jalopnik.

"We will do an electric supercar at some point. It was going to happen right after the Model X, but it is more important to the world that we do a more affordable electric car", Musk said.

Musk's comments come after the carmaker ceased production of its original Roadster model in January, to focus on the new Model S electric sedan, which launched internationally in June.

The Model S-based Model X electric SUV is expected to hit showrooms in early 2014, meaning a supercar flagship is some time off, with Musk estimating a launch date “in four to five years”.

Previous reports have suggested that Tesla is also working on a sub-Model S competitor for the BMW 3 Series for a 2015 launch, with murmurs also circulating about a possible future entry into the huge US pickup market.

In the meantime, a Tesla electric supercar will be beaten to market by several other electric or electric-hybrid supercars from more established manufacturers.

Audi and BMW will unveil their electric R8 e-tron and petrol-electric i8 green speedsters in the next year, with production versions of the petrol-electric Porsche 918 and pure-electric Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell also due in 2013.