Poll: Slate's second model - what do you think it will be?

[Letas]

Sure, fine. Put a computer in the driver’s seat lol.

Required some small modifications for the self driving tech, but I’m sure most will hardly notice

 

[atx_ev]

I think the very next thing they will do is extend the cab to have the same second row of seats as the current SUV, but extend the bed.

keep the wheelbase the same
The seats already fit so it would just be a bed extension and a shorter cap
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Not a whole new vehicle, but an AWD option for sure.

 

[cvollers]

Required some small modifications for the self driving tech, but I’m sure most will hardly notice

That’s what I’m talking about. It’s like a Rivian delivery van and 3rd world TV station Doka had a love child.

 

[E90400K]

Required some small modifications for the self driving tech, but I’m sure most will hardly notice

Why then, would it need headlights if it is self driving...?

 

[E90400K]

I'll answer: "So the passenger can see what the computer is going to drive into before he gets killed."🤣

 

[Benjamin Nead]

I haven't read through all 3 pages of posts on this thread yet, but I'm going to guess that not too many would have suggested a 100" (254cm) wheelbase 4-seat passenger car. Note, though, that the Ford Model T, the post-WWII Volkswagen Beetle and (have to mention it) the Mitsubishi i-MiEV I currently drive all fit this exact same drive train dimension.

The general format would be a 4 passenger, 5 door electric hatchback (ie: 4 standard passenger doors with a rear cargo hatch) and, If designed correctly, a small frunk could be part of the deal. I'd also make it rear motor drive.

For a visual of the sort of thing I'm thinking of, I offer the original Audi A2 from 20 to 25 years. ago Not all that much different from an early to mid 2000s Toyota Prius, actually, which also has excellent aerodynamics. One interesting detail about A2s of this period: the aerodynamics were so good that there was no turbulence to speak of around the rear window. Hence, no extra wiper motor/blade/squirter assembly needed back there. Hand crank windows and no pre-installed audio, of course.

Note that the A2 from the early 2000s is around a 95" wheelbase 4-passenger car, while the Prius from that time period has a 106" wheelbase and seats 5. So, the Slate EV Hatch (we've got to call it something super simple like that) can be right in between, at a 100" wheelbase and comfortably/safely seating 4 adults. Rear seats would fold completely flat for a generous cargo berth.

Make it out of the same stuff as the Slate EV Truck and classic Saturns: poly panels (mold them in plain white for this one,) hung on the steel structural skeleton. Tell the kids to bring their favorite color of vinyl wrap, etc.

I'm not going to speculate one way or another if by the early 2030s there's still going to federal EV purchase incentives or not. Or if we'll have already be overrun by small cheap Chinese EVs. But let's just say that this car - with a mostly North American supply chain, assembled domestically, equipped with a 30kWh LFP battery, weighing in somewhere around 2700 pounds, impressive small EV acceleration/handling specs and with a real world range of about 140 miles - could be typically sold in the US for "under $20K"

 

[SlateModGarage]

Simple 4 door car. Called Simple.

 

[Dorbiman]

Simple 4 door car. Called Simple.

I dig it. I could see them calling a small sedan the Pebble. Or a sports car called Flint or Shard.