Update: Tesla will be having a Model 3 event in March 2016
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/tesla-model-3-event-march-2016-may-show.html
Tesla's Roadster was always the first generation in a long term plan to deliver a practical mass market electric vehicle (EV). Second generation Model S has been on sale for some time, & the Model X cross over, in prototype form, has been sighted on California roads.
After a tussle with Ford over the name "Model E", Tesla has renamed their 3rd generation electric vehicle the "Model III".
As a price control measure, the Model III will make extensive use of steel, rather than aluminium, as in the Model S. It will have a range over 200 miles, & be about 20% smaller than the Model S.
When? Elon Musk has said previously, "Hopefully 2016, but I would say no later than 2017."
Performance? Tesla dropped the 40 kWh Model S because it was "sluggish" & "didn't feel like a Tesla". Elon musk has previously indicated that he, doesn't want to deliver a third gen car that "sucks". The article linked below gives further reason to hope that the Model III will have good performance.
Other major point of interest from the item linked below is that Model IIIs will have free access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
And there will be an upgraded, longer range battery for the Roadster.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/tesla/87867/tesla-model-3-to-challenge-bmw-3-series-world-exclusive / model names Roadster Model S Model X third-generation vehicle Tesla Model III 3 mass-market vehicle Model E S-E-X Ford Model E trademark Ford sued I thought this is crazy, Ford’s trying to kill sex Model 3, we’ll have three bars to represent it and it’ll be S III X go on sale by 2017 new platform 20% smaller range of over 200 miles Tesla’s British engineering chief Chris Porritt design Supercharger network free upgraded battery Roadster boost range 245 miles 400 /
