Defining the Tesla 'D'

07.11.2016

Speculation has run rampant about what the elusive "D" could be in Tesla's Oct. 9 announcement.

Speculation has run rampant about what the elusive "D" could be in Tesla's Oct. 9 announcement.



In the week since Tesla (IW 500/384) (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk teased the Twitter world with his tweet, "About time to unveil the D and something else," speculation has run rampant about what the elusive "D" could be.

Since Musk tweeted the announcement, the company's stock has gained upwards of $2 billion, CNNMoney reports.

And deliberation about the "D" has skyrocketed even more as Tesla fans, analysts and automotive and technology reporters alike are all tossing out new explanations for the "D."

One popular suggestion is that the Palo Alto, Calif.-based electric vehicle company is preparing to introduce an AWD dual motor version of the Model S.

Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry in a Sept. 22 report said that Tesla is expected to introduce a 4-wheel drive Model S in the next three months, StreetInsider.com reports.

Another suggests Tesla is ready to unveil a driverless -- or semi-autonomous at least -- vehicle.

In a September interview with The Wall Street Journal, Musk said a fully autonomous car could be ready in five to seven years. Or rather, the technology would be ready.

Senior editor Sebastian Anthony writes, "Obviously, a diesel/plug-in hybrid (PHEV) would be the most exciting — but it’s antithetical to Tesla’s mission to popularize the all-electric vehicle."