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Mystery surrounds an image of a camouflaged SUV with Tesla design cues – but why is it on the back of a trailer in Belgium?
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An image has appeared online of a camouflaged vehicle that looks like it could be a Tesla.
Though the original source of the photo is unknown, the image surfaced on Twitter in recent hours, with Japanese outlet Predict Cars claiming the mystery vehicle is a new entry-level vehicle from Tesla.
While the car does share a number of conspicuous design cues with Tesla vehicles – as well as sharing key features with models from Chinese manufacturer Nio – the vehicle appears to be too big to fit the brief.
Vehicles from both Tesla and Nio have a similar cabin silhouette, shoulder line, and front-end shape, but the clamshell bonnet is very reminiscent of Tesla models.
The pop-out door handles appear to be quite different from the Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y – though not entirely dissimilar from those seen on the original Cybertruck concept.
However, exactly why a top-secret Tesla or Nio prototype would be on the back of a trailer with Belgian registration – being towed by an older Mercedes ML – doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors last on an earnings call last week the company was prioritising development of a new, more affordable vehicle to sit below the Model 3, but the car on the trailer doesn’t appear to be any smaller than a Model Y – if anything, the vehicle looks as if it’s the size of a larger SUV.
Musk has mentioned in his most recent ‘Tesla Master Plan’ of 2016 his desire to expand the company’s product line “to address all major segments,” however we haven’t heard anything about a new SUV from the brand.
While we’re confident of ruling out the vehicle in the image as Tesla’s future entry-level model, exactly what we’re looking at has us stumped.
Think you know what the mystery car is? Let us know in the comments section below.
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