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Model 3 design options - incl Station wagon

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You need to have read the two previous threads:- “Proposed
Model 3 concept clay model (unofficial)” and “Revised Model 3
Concept model” to get all the background to this thread!

Here is an alternative styling exercise – softer and less edgy
(more conservative?) - but using the same basic architecture. Which
do you prefer?

RHS - front.jpg

RHS rear.jpg
RHS side 2.jpg


RHS side.jpg


vs - the previous look....

New face - high rear 2.jpg
New Face - side low.jpg



I was (pleasantly) surprised to see how positive people were about
the option of a Model 3 (or MS) Station Wagon. With a Tesla frunk for
out-of-sight and security storage, a station wagon makes a lot of
sense – especially for a family vehicle.

So I (out of curiosity) made a 'top-hat' to go onto the basic car
to convert it to a SW. Firstly I realised that the base design with
the high rump was already quite far down the track to a SW – maybe
it should be called a 'Semi-Wagon'! The amount of extra space without
extending the wheelbase and rear overhang by just squaring off the
rear was almost minimal so I took the Citroen CX Station Wagon route
– a stepped and raised rear roof line.

It may not be 'stylish' but it has major advantages – raised
rear seats; extra leg space; extra head room; more – and higher -
internal space. If a purchaser goes for a SW then practicalities may
outweigh pure style? Of course the step could be blended into the
roof line if required (but that made the model modification too
tricky for now!) The iconic Tesla side window shape was kept intact.

There are no architecture alterations (another option) nor styling
changes – some SWs are distinctly different to the car from which
they were derived.......For Tesla this may be an excessive (and
unnecessary) development cost.

Station Wagon - side.jpg


Station Wagon high rear.jpg


Station Wagon rear low.jpg
Station Wagon high front.jpg



To get an idea of a 'finished' rear end to suit this design, look
at the Volvo V40 Estate. Or a mix of this and the Volvo C30 – I
like this style at the rear – clean; glassy; practical; different.

Vovlo V40 back 2.jpg
Volvo V40 rear 2.jpg



The resulting SW has h-u-g-e internal space; a big frunk (nearly
MS size); flat floors and low CoG (even with the raised
seating/roofline due to being an EV). And all in a package the size
of an Audi A4/BMW 3-Series...........Plus all the Tesla/EV benefits!

Anyway I am finished with options for now. I really started this
as an exercise to see if the idea of a long-wheelbase/short overhang
with a high rump and 1 ½ box shape would work. Including throwing in
the underbody rear diffuser and minimal/no faux grille. I am
personally happy with the outcome and realise that it could be much
improved with subtle and classy detailing. I can visualise something
like it in full size on the road making other cars in this class look
a bit 'dull'...........maybe pre-EV.

Over to Franz and co at Tesla to see what they ultimately come up
with!
 

Attachments

  • New face-Front three-quarters-high 2.jpg
    New face-Front three-quarters-high 2.jpg
    101 KB · Views: 1,305
I'd like to see Tesla go the route opel did with the Opel Signum.
A 5 door hatchback but with lots of rear legroom (something along the lines off a Skoda SuberB)

Opel-Signum-2006-204348.jpg


As you can see on the wikipage, it was not a small car:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Signum

Sliding rear seats could offer a choice between seating room or cargo space.

And lets hope Tesla can live up to the promise Elon made in a interview, below 30.000€ base price.
 
Yes the Signum was an interesting design and I quite liked the concept. Pity it looked a bit ungainly.

It never sold well (as I understand) and was dropped after a few years and not replaced. Maybe it just fell between too many stools - neither an MPV; nor a family car (4 seats); nor an Executive car; not compact or 'big enough'.......etc.

It's a tricky market out there and easy to get wrong!
 
For whatever it's worth, I like your final model 3s, sedan and wagon both, though I'm not too sure about that little step in the roofline.

You clearly put a lot of work into this, and the results look good and natural to me (though I don't know how the aero would work out, of course.)

Did you have any thoughts about a model 3X?
Walter
 
Hey pinguhk - I'd be interested in what don't you like about the V40 Station Wagon rear end styling?!

Conversely which Station Wagons appeal to you?

Saghost - I agree the stepped roof is a bit clumsy (couldn't change that on the model without scrapping the semi-wagon version!) but a slightly raised roofline for the SW may be beneficial OR the higher rear roof line could blend into the front part of the roof.

Would you need an X version of the Model 3 then?! Maybe just raised ground clearance and dual motors.

How much space does one need? Or is it greater SUV height and seating position that people buy into?

It will be fantastic aerodynamically (with a little windtunnel fine-tuning...) - cd < 0.23 and stable as a rock............(at a guess, I hope!)
 
Sunlight: I like both the sedan and the wagon designs. Even though I am a big fan of the Volvo wagons what I would prefer in your design is to extend the roof line of the wagon to be the same width as the rear fenders (at least slope it in that direction). This give a larger opening in the back and even more room especially for wider items. I also agree that the step up in the roof looks a little weird. A slightly taller arch from front to back would remove this and still keep headroom in the back. I guess that would almost make for a model X3. Just my thoughts. Awesome work on the design and very impressed with your clay skills :smile:
 
You need to have read the two previous threads:- “Proposed
Model 3 concept clay model (unofficial)” and “Revised Model 3
Concept model” to get all the background to this thread!

Here is an alternative styling exercise – softer and less edgy
(more conservative?) - but using the same basic architecture. Which
do you prefer?

View attachment 64056
View attachment 64057View attachment 64058

View attachment 64059

vs - the previous look....

View attachment 64061View attachment 64062


I was (pleasantly) surprised to see how positive people were about
the option of a Model 3 (or MS) Station Wagon. With a Tesla frunk for
out-of-sight and security storage, a station wagon makes a lot of
sense – especially for a family vehicle.

So I (out of curiosity) made a 'top-hat' to go onto the basic car
to convert it to a SW. Firstly I realised that the base design with
the high rump was already quite far down the track to a SW – maybe
it should be called a 'Semi-Wagon'! The amount of extra space without
extending the wheelbase and rear overhang by just squaring off the
rear was almost minimal so I took the Citroen CX Station Wagon route
– a stepped and raised rear roof line.

It may not be 'stylish' but it has major advantages – raised
rear seats; extra leg space; extra head room; more – and higher -
internal space. If a purchaser goes for a SW then practicalities may
outweigh pure style? Of course the step could be blended into the
roof line if required (but that made the model modification too
tricky for now!) The iconic Tesla side window shape was kept intact.

There are no architecture alterations (another option) nor styling
changes – some SWs are distinctly different to the car from which
they were derived.......For Tesla this may be an excessive (and
unnecessary) development cost.

View attachment 64063

View attachment 64064

View attachment 64065View attachment 64066


To get an idea of a 'finished' rear end to suit this design, look
at the Volvo V40 Estate. Or a mix of this and the Volvo C30 – I
like this style at the rear – clean; glassy; practical; different.

View attachment 64067View attachment 64068


The resulting SW has h-u-g-e internal space; a big frunk (nearly
MS size); flat floors and low CoG (even with the raised
seating/roofline due to being an EV). And all in a package the size
of an Audi A4/BMW 3-Series...........Plus all the Tesla/EV benefits!

Anyway I am finished with options for now. I really started this
as an exercise to see if the idea of a long-wheelbase/short overhang
with a high rump and 1 ½ box shape would work. Including throwing in
the underbody rear diffuser and minimal/no faux grille. I am
personally happy with the outcome and realise that it could be much
improved with subtle and classy detailing. I can visualise something
like it in full size on the road making other cars in this class look
a bit 'dull'...........maybe pre-EV.

Over to Franz and co at Tesla to see what they ultimately come up
with!


Tesla Wagon.jpg
How about this? Looks absolutely stunning!

- - - Updated - - -

Tesla Wagon front.jpg
Here's the front view.
 
I'm usually a big fan of wagons, but in this case, I like your fastback model better. Love the thin LED headlights and the overall proportions. If that's what the production Model III looks like, count me in! :cool:
I agree but I would note that everything in front of the A pillar is exactly the current Model S design. Expect the font end to be significantly different.
 
As I said it in an other thread I think that the Model 3 will combine the advantages of a station wagon and a hatchback. It would have the capacity of a station wagon (because of the frunk), but it'd look like a hatchback and it would be relatively small to make it city-friendly as well. It'd look something like this:
8965298544_faa8076d99_o.jpg

With this design the car would also have a trunk with approximately the same capacity as the Model X's trunk. Basicaly the difference between the Model 3's and the Model X's capacity would be that the Model X has two more seats.
tesla-model-x-trunk.jpg

The base model would have a 50-60 kWh battery (200 miles), which would enable the car to reach another Supercharger without the need to recharge. Some people said that with the base Model 3 Supercharging won't be free. I don't think so. It's not likely that Tesla will get rid of it's main advantage over other EVs.

I really hope that the Model 3 won't be a scaled down Model S, because Tesla now has an opportunity to reinvent the station wagon. Station wagons and hatchbacks are extremely popular in Europe, but with this SUV-ish look the Model 3 will surely attract a lot of american consumers.
8964103939_fe627f877f_o.jpg


What do you think about this concept? Could the Model 3 really be a hatchback?
 
I like it, close to the Model S style, with no third widow like other M3 Wagon rendering..
8965298544_faa8076d99_o-jpg.71799


However, I would prefer to have the top of the window going a little bit higher.
This rendering look more like a Golf or Audi3.
8964103939_fe627f877f_o-jpg.71801


full




But look so much more practical than the big rear widow.

Anyway, I would prefer a Model 3 with a metal roof than a glass widow.
I wonder if there would be a difference of style between the metal roof versus the glass roof?
 
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