Tesla teases gargantuan pick-up

AT THE reveal of its new-generation Roadster and all-new Semi truck, tech start-up company Tesla has teased a massive pick-up truck that looks to be based on its new all-electric truck.

A single image was teased that shows a pick-up truck with similar styling to the Semi, save for a tray back and chunky off-road tyres.

The rendered image also shows what looks to be a Ford F-150 loaded into the bed of the Tesla – a particularly impressive feat given the F-150 measures between 5316mm and 6363mm long and 2029mm wide.

It is likely that the pick-up will share the same electric powertrain as the Semi, seeing as how it is said to be built on the same platform.

Tesla never divulged the exact outputs of the Semi’s electric motor and battery system, other than it will send the load-hauler from zero to 60mph (97km/h) in five seconds flat, or 20.0s with an 80,000lb (36,287kg) payload attached.

It will also feature up to 804km of driving range, while having a lower drag coefficient than a Bugatti Chiron.

When plugged into a DC supercharging system, dubbed Megacharger, up to 644km of driving range can be charged in 30 minutes.

If the same specs are applied to a production version of the pick-up, it should be able to blow all other current pick-ups out of the water in terms of performance, towing and payload capabilities.

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk said the fact that the pick-up will not be classed as a heavy vehicle means it can be driven using a regular licence.

“You’ll actually be able to legally drive it with a driver’s licence,” he said.

“It’s kind of wrong, but I like it.”

Mr Musk also alluded to a Semi-based pick-up on Twitter earlier this year.

When asked by a punter whether Tesla plans to build a light duty pick-up next, Mr Musk responded: “What if we just made a mini version of the Tesla Semi.”

Given the size of the pick-up, Tesla would be faced with scarce competition in the market, with its closest competitors probably coming in the form of the diesel-powered Iveco Daily 4x4 or Mercedes-Benz Unimog.

The pick-up still remains far from a certainty to be produced by Tesla and could simply be a design exercise, but if the Silicon Valley company is serious it could go into production as early as 2019 alongside the Semi.