Tesla ute: Elon Musk reveals more details

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has offered more details on the electric car-maker’s upcoming utility.

While asking Twitter followers what they would like to see in an all-electric pick-up this week, Musk said the Tesla offering would come standard with the firm’s dual motor all-wheel drive powertrain, one that would offer “crazy torque”.

He also revealed the hay-hauler would feature suspension that automatically adjusts rear damping, rebound and compression based on load weighting when it is released to market around 2019.

“What would you love to see in a Tesla pickup [sic] truck? I have a few things in mind, but what do you think are small but important nuances & what would be seriously next level?” Musk tweeted.

Musk hopes the Tesla pick-up will be differentiated from segment rivals including Ford’s F-150 thanks to ingenuities, everyday conveniences. For example, the Tesla ute will purportedly parallel park automatically and will have 360-degree cameras and sonar.

In addition, power outlets would allow use of 240-volt high-power tools without needing a generator.

“It will also have a special built-in sensor. Details later,” Musk says.

Musk has been spruiking a Tesla ute since 2013. In December last year, Tesla released a futuristic image of a pick-up that was spun off its prime mover truck.

According to Musk, when the pickup arrives — despite its size and expected considerable weight — it will not be classed as truck and drivers will require only a conventional licence.

The new Tesla pickup could redefine the pickup segment for not only size but performance, especially if it comes equipped with the Semi’s powerful electric motors which can launch it from standstill to 60mph (97km/h) in just five seconds.

If fitted with the same huge battery pack, the Tesla pickup could offer a range between battery recharges of up to 800km.