Maxim Ostapenko Envisions an All Electric S-Class Competitor

With Tesla�s long anticipated Model S sedan still more than six months away, designers from all over the world have begun to speculate what will be next for the Silicon Valley-based automaker.

One such design study is the Current by Maxim Ostapenko, a graduate of Pasadena, California�s Art Center College of Design.

Essentially a four-door all-electric saloon car to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Jaguar XF, the Tesla Current shares its design heritage with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style and the Citroen Survolt concepts.

The Current was designed for the NAFTA Superhighway: a ten-lane road that would join Canada, the United States of American and Mexico. Four of the ten-lanes would be used solely for trucks heading north and south with goods.

The Current�s fluid shape, partially-enclosed rear wheels and cab-rearwards design exist to convey a sense of speed and help it cleave through the air like a windjammer. You can check out our full gallery of images and leave a comment below.

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Tesla Model X Roadster

Plugging int? the future. In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange C?mmissi?n, Tesla announced plans t? end Roadster pr?ducti?n in December. While this is a tad peculiar, since the M?del S will n?t be launched until mid-2012, Tesla is c?nfident that they can survive ?n selling the remaining inventory ?f Roadsters during their year and a half l?ng production hiatus.

The filing als? revealed the company will intr?duce a Model X c?ncept later this year. Details are limited, but the cr?ssover will inc?rp?rate the functionality ?f a minivan with the consumer appeal ?f a sports-utility vehicle. If everything g?es according t? plan, Tesla will launch a production M?del X in 2014.
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Tesla Losses Soar to $154.3 million in 2010

Tesla Motors has just released a preliminary, unaudited financial report concerning the year than ended on Dec. 31, 2010. The company reported losses of US$51.4 million in Q4 2010 and US$154.3 million for 2010, which was almost triple the US$55.74 million loss for the year ending Dec. 31, 2009.
The EV automaker's revenue, however, rose approximately 5 percent in 2010 to $116.7 million. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 were US$36.3 million, a 16% increase from the US$31.2 million reported in the prior quarter. Tesla added that gross margin improved to 26% for the full year 2010, up from 9% for 2009.
The company 's future plans include the launch of the Model S, which is scheduled to go on sale in the middle of next year. Scroll down to read Tesla CEO Elon Musk's statement.

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