Tesla Model S 2.0: we have imagined the next electric sedan. A new Roadster.

Appearing in 2012, the Tesla Model S is the weight of the years. While the next generation has not yet been evoked by Elon Musk, we let ourselves be tempted by the call of the graphic palette, to imagine the lines of the much-awaited Tesla Model S 2.0.

After a timid debut with the first generation Tesla Roadster, the Palo Alto firm launched the Model S in 2012. The appearance of the Californian sedan created a veritable tidal wave in the electric car segment, which at the time had few proposals. Tall, elegant and packed with new technologies and equipment, the Tesla Model S set a milestone in the segment.

A benchmark since 2012

At its release date, the Model S offered three different versions with a range of up to 480 km. Even better, it promised to eliminate the fear of running out of fuel with a dedicated Supercharger network. The Renault ZOE and the Franco-Japanese trio (iMiev, iOn and C-Zero) were not fighting in the same yard, the Fluence ZE falsely made people laugh with its 185 km range and the Nissan Leaf, the most convincing proposal at the time, did not stand up to comparison. Only the Fisker Karma could stand up to the Model S, but the presence of fossil fuels in its midst and commercial setbacks did not allow it to achieve its goals.

While the Tesla Model S has evolved over the years, with regular software updates or even deeper redesigns (with the appearance of new batteries in 2015 and a restyling in 2016), the sedan is still the reference to beat, no matter what the critics say. But the competition is starting to get tougher, and even though it hasn’t aged a bit, the Model S’s technological lead is shrinking.

Everything comes to those who know how to wait

The time of renewal has therefore come for the Tesla Model S, whose technical base will not be able to compete with the competition for very long. Within the brand, it has already been cannibalized by the Tesla Model 3. However, Elon Musk has not yet expressed an opinion on the next flagship of the brand and no information has been communicated on a potential release date. This is undoubtedly one of the consequences of the billionaire’s haste, which has overloaded the manufacturer’s agenda for the coming years: with the Model Y going into production around the globe and the expected arrival of the Semi, Cybertruck and Roadster, the Model S 2.0 would not see the light of day until 2023 or later.

But it’s not so much the brand’s agenda that would push back the arrival of the second generation of Model S, as the alignment of the technological planets at Deer Creek Road. For it is from this date that the first real applications of the new batteries will see the light of day. These same revolutionary batteries, announced on Battery Day, could power the next Tesla Model S. A technical choice that is highly necessary for the renewal of the sedan, which would allow it to shine as brightly as in 2012.

A style inspired by the Tesla Roadster

To really stand out, the Tesla Model S 2.0 will have to bet on its style, which we imagine today with great anticipation. Unsurprisingly, the electric sedan would follow the trend set by Tesla’s styling department by adopting sharper lines, including elements of the new Tesla Roadster’s styling language. In particular, it would be noticeable at the front without a grille, with a piercing look and a plunging hood.

The roundness of the fenders would also give way to protruding edges simulating between the body folds channels designed to promote airflow. To limit drag and aerodynamic noise, the traditional rearview mirrors could disappear in favor of a camera system. Their position would be reminiscent of the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept units, but could also vaguely evoke the wings of the Lotus Esprit by James Bond, dear to Elon Musk.

The function dictating the shape, the stern of the next Tesla Model S would be more bouncy than the pointed bow suggests. A choice that would improve the habitability of the large sedan, which would further increase the trunk volume and accommodate the two rear seats back to the road. The Tesla Roadster’s heritage would still be present with 3D LED strip lighting.

A swivel screen and a fixed hub steering wheel

The cabin would adopt a much more sensitive evolution than its exterior plastic. For while the bodywork of the current Tesla Model S has nothing to be ashamed of, the interior of the sedan is the main witness of the past years, with traditional style and dated perceived quality, despite the brand’s efforts in this area. Unlike its competitors (Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air or Audi e-Tron GT), the Model S 2.0 would choose a purer interior. The whole package could take up the interior atmosphere of the Tesla Model 3, with a dashboard that’s free of clutter and only features a central touch screen.

But while competitors are launching into the arms race with increasingly larger digital installations (remember that the Lucid Air takes a 34-inch 5K screen), Tesla would clamp itself to a 20-inch slab to accommodate a swivel system like on the BYD Tang. Tesla could be inspired by Chinese manufacturers, themselves inspired by Tesla on many occasions? In any case, it would be a first for the Californian brand, which would allow to satisfy all needs, with in particular a landscape position in order to take advantage of video applications or Internet navigation.

Despite the presence of an advanced autonomous driving system, the steering wheel won’t disappear from the passenger compartment. All shapes are anticipated, but it is expected to retain a traditional round shape with a LED ribbon on the hoop: illuminated in different colors, it could warn the driver about driving, with a red light in case of incidents or a green light to indicate that the lane is clear or that autonomous driving is operational. A fixed hub could also make its appearance by integrating a second 6-inch screen to project the vehicle’s instrumentation or settings. A stylistic choice that evokes that of the Maserati Boomerang, an automotive design masterpiece whose wedge style partly dictated the lines of the Cybertruck.

A battery of 120 kWh minimum for a range of 900 km.

As mentioned above, the Tesla Model S 2.0 will inaugurate the brand’s latest technologies, particularly in the mechanical field. It will benefit from the new 4680 Roadrunner battery cells, which are more efficient and whose integration into the overall structure of the car will save weight. Capacity has not yet been anticipated, but the Model S should undoubtedly put superlatives at the center of its specifications. It should therefore be able to claim a capacity greater than or equal to 120 kWh. This, based on a theoretical rule of three, would correspond to that of the Tesla Model S Plaid and would result in an autonomy approaching 900 km! Fast charging will still be entrusted to the brand’s Superchargers, but the sedan could digest a power of 350 kW sent by the V4 Superchargers.

The Model S 2.0 would also take the three engines from its sporty sister. A mechanical architecture that would then be the standard in the upper echelons of electric cars, such as the Audi e-Tron GT or the Lucid Air. The final technical specifications are still a long way off, but the sedan should bring its plumage closer to its row: the 1,000 hp mark would be very easily passed by Tesla’s next sedan.

Contrary to the psychic lights, we don’t pretend to hold the truth by taking out our crystal ball in the shape of a graphic palette. While we have relied on official statements to lift the veil on the technical part, the shape of the Tesla Model S 2.0 is not set in stone. All the speculations are therefore in nature, including ours now. And you, how do you imagine the next Tesla Model S?

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