Speculation: What Will Slate's second model be?

[Susan]

If you're going to do the engineering to extend the bed to 6', may as well also do 8' at the same time. Another two feet of battery could mean sodium-ion is viable. Or 50% more range. Or more towing capacity.

If people want an 8 ft. bed, that's cool. I don't have room for a truck that big in my driveway.

Also, if they up the towing capacity I hope that means they'll also up the hauling capacity, so you can actually use that big truck bed!

 

[Rocks]

I want a hot hatch 3-door on the same chassis.

 

[stEVe]

Not to dampen your spirit here but I strongly doubt there will be much third-party support at the beginning of this (or any) product's life. Some things take a long time to get going and be profitable enough for a market to establish & grow. Not saying it won't happen, just it'll take time.


I was thinking more about companies that already make products like audio systems, speakers, lighting, storage, and other accessories that can be purchased and installed by new Slate owners. Since Slate is selling a truck without an entertainment system, we're a brand-new target market for companies that already have solutions. They shift some of their digital advertising to target me.

 

[Trace26]

I'm predicting this:
-Current truck will get AWD and a long range battery option (NMC "cell in pack" design that gets 250-260ish miles of range)
-4 door truck that can take all the same accessories, including the SUV kit, allowing it to be upgraded to a 3 row (8 seat). And 300+ miles of range.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Not to dampen your spirit here but I strongly doubt there will be much third-party support at the beginning of this (or any) product's life. Some things take a long time to get going and be profitable enough for a market to establish & grow. Not saying it won't happen, just it'll take time.

The more Slate trucks are out there with owners willing to customize, the larger the customer base.

Where'd my post go???...

I don't understand why you wrote your response as part of my post instead of your own standalone post.

 

[EVfun]

My personal thoughts would be, what sells? I could see an AWD option because it looks to largely be possible now with some loss of frunk space. Another option on the existing platform would be a larger range battery pack, likely not LFP, so it can fit in the same space. I think some sound system options based on existing aftermarket parts is likely as well.

I would like to see them leverage the existing basic tech into an enhanced platform built as a dedicated 4 door sedan or 4 door small SUV. Give it some restyling so it looks more car-like too.

 

[sodamo]

I don’t see a major shift. Most likely nothing changing basic body, add 4wd.

 

[TPL]

After thinking more, I agree with the opinions about incremental upgrades like AWD and battery. But the more I think about it, the more I think a Slate 2 would be a full size truck that can do full size truck things while taking advantage of everything the Slate 1 teaches them:

• 4 door option
• longer bed option
• bigger battery
• sodium ion battery? (multiple synergies)
• flash charging? (the first US full size pickup with flash charging gets all the money)

The batteries we have available in 5 years will be so much better.

I'd rather have a small efficiently-shaped car, personally.

 

[Brabbit]

I'm still hoping for a jetpack...

 

[kvermeer]

I want a hot hatch 3-door on the same chassis.

I am also hoping for a 3-door hatch (or even a 2-door coupe, let the "hatch" be the frunk), but I don't think it can be on the same chassis. Slate's roofline is just too tall, the firewall too far back, and the A-pillar too steep, for the existing chassis to become a compact car. You need to send your legs out in front of you, not up under you, and tip the seat and windshield down and back, to make it a hatch. It needs to be a new chassis, though that's not a big ask. A compact Slate would be awesome.

Also, Slate's all about reasonable, affordable design, not "hot". A 181 HP electric motor with a low CG due to a big under-floor battery is more than hot enough to be fun.

I don’t see a major shift. Most likely nothing changing basic body, add 4wd.

I also think 4WD is likely on the distant horizon. Battery technology is constantly improving, so a 2029 or 2031 Slate will probably get more than 205 miles of range just by updating the pack.

I'd also love to see some V2L or onboard inverter accessories that could be ordered from Slate and installed by the delivery partner or high-voltage certified RepairPal shops, that feels achievable if slightly outside the core market of the Slate.

 

[dmon4u]

A replacement for the Toyota 50 Cal armed terrorist truck seen all around the world ?

Just kidding, I think !

 

[AZFox]

Maybe they'll stick with the original Re:Car plan.

Build the same truck, with few incremental improvements, and a sodium battery at a lower price.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Maybe they'll stick with the original Re:Car plan.

Build the same truck, with few incremental improvements, and a sodium battery at a lower price.

i did see that ai cannel on tic tok make a slate car and man was it clean all their stuff even though ai looks good

off-roader looks pretty clean

 

[Trace26]

I am also hoping for a 3-door hatch (or even a 2-door coupe, let the "hatch" be the frunk), but I don't think it can be on the same chassis. Slate's roofline is just too tall, the firewall too far back, and the A-pillar too steep, for the existing chassis to become a compact car. You need to send your legs out in front of you, not up under you, and tip the seat and windshield down and back, to make it a hatch. It needs to be a new chassis, though that's not a big ask. A compact Slate would be awesome.

They could use the same base (battery and motor with associated frame) the front suspension would need to be redesigned because McPherson is too tall. But outside that it's just some different stampings for the body panels to attach.
Not crazy to do, but at that point it might be worth doing a clean sheet design.

 

[E90400K]

I don't expect Slate to change the truck every year. That would defeat the entire concept. The only real upgrade will be the battery... as soon as scientists decode the next shipment of recovered alien technology. 👽

Wait... didn't Donut Labs just do that?