Did Tesla use a Mazda body for its upcoming compact EV mule?
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by Thanos Pappas
1 hour ago
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by Thanos Pappas
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As the world is patiently waiting for a smaller and more affordable EV by Tesla, a photo of a camouflaged prototype appeared online creating more questions than answers. What you’re looking at is a compact SUV with plenty of Tesla design traits infused with the body shell of a Mazda CX-30, making us wonder what is going on.
The photos were published on Autospy suggesting that this is a prototype of the upcoming baby Tesla. The SUV is wearing a Zebra-style camouflage wrap on the entire bodywork but we can clearly see a lot of details. The entire front end is most likely sourced from a Tesla Model 3 including the bumper, headlights, and front fenders, while the same applies to the LED taillights. The wheels feature Model Y’s Gemini aero caps, hiding red-painted Tesla-branded brake calipers behind them.
The mysterious vehicle (above) is clearly based on the Mazda CX-30 (below).
A closer look reveals that the rest of the bodywork including the greenhouse, profile, doors, quarter panels, and tail (minus the lighting units) are sourced from the Mazda CX-30. This is evident from the rear bumper which retains the original cutout for the Mazda’s exhaust, even though this particular vehicle appears to be fully electric.
We don’t know why someone would bother infusing a Mazda SUV with Tesla parts and then adding a camouflage wrap, but this Frankenstein could also be the work of a local body shop. There is also a chance that Tesla used the Mazda body for one of its early mules, hiding the platform of its upcoming compact model underneath. This would be plausible if the two models have a very similar wheelbase and overall footprint, although using parts from a different automaker on a development vehicle is not something common.
Feel free to help us solve this mystery in the comments section below. One thing is for sure, this weird sighting gives us the best look yet at a fictional rebadging deal between Tesla and Mazda.
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