Tesla Model 3 will be revealed this March

Tesla has announced it will reveal its pure-electric take on a BMW 3 Series next month, with production for the US car-maker’s smallest offering beginning in 2017.

Making the announcement at a special event at Tesla’s French HQ in Chambourcy, north-west of Paris, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his firm would not reveal all of the mid-size Model 3 sedan’s secrets following its unveiling.

“The first pictures of the Model 3 will be end of March,” Musk said, adding: “I am being a little coy here -- we are not gonna show everything about the Model 3 until a lot closer to production time.”

It’s not known where the special unveiling will take place but it’s likely it will happen at its US headquarters in Palo Alto, California.

There’s some confusion about some of the technical nitty-gritty of the smallest Tesla.

Its smaller dimensions mean it’s unlikely to sit on the same platform that as the bigger Model S (pictured) and Model X. That means the Model 3 could be based on an all-new small-car platform.

It's likely though that the small Tesla will adopt the same electric battery cell and motor tech as the Model S and X, although detuned to make sure the smaller car does not outperform its more expensive siblings.

Expect both rear-wheel drive and a dual-motor all-wheel drive versions to be offered.

In any case, the Model 3 should reach 100km/h from standstill in less than four seconds and top out at 250km/h.

Driving range, meanwhile, will be at least 320km, says Musk, who sadds that his car-maker must sell 35,000 a year. Pricing, in the US will be around $US35,000, which is around $50,000 in our money.

Tesla hopes to sell more than 100,000 cars annually by 2020.