特斯拉的創始人、CEO伊隆·馬斯克是個不折不扣的夢想家，他的很多科幻般的理念受到了萬眾追捧。除了已經量產并大獲成功的特斯拉電動汽車，他還有一家私營的太空運輸公司，另外他還在籌劃一個用真空管道建造的“超級高鐵”項目。

就在本周一，特斯拉又拋出了一個旨在再次革新整個汽車行業的理念——一輛燒汽油的車。

在特斯拉總部舉行的新聞發布會上，馬斯克宣布，特斯拉公司將從2022年起量產一款汽油動力車型，這款車被命名為Model T。

馬斯克表示：“我們絕對能造出一臺創新車型，但難點不在這里。真正的難點是，你怎么生產一款美國人真正想買的創新車型？我們認為我們已經有了答案。”

他補充道：“Model T將是一款超級的下一代車型。”（墳頭里的亨利·福特表示我沒有什么好評論的。）

雖然特斯拉一心搞大事，但它的成功也并非沒有伴隨著陣痛。首先是Model 3的大火讓它的產能有些捉襟見肘。《華爾街日報》近日的一篇報道稱，Model 3的一些零部件是“手工”制造的，而不是自動流水線的產品。馬斯克稱此報道失實，并表示：“就算有些零件真是手工制造的，那也只會讓我們的車子顯得更有工藝感。”

為了平息各種質疑和批評，馬斯克表示，特斯拉正在尋找一種低成本且高效率的出行方式。汽油車也許正是答案。

馬斯克在新聞發布會上表示：“我因為火星旅行和超級高鐵計劃受到了不少批評。我明白這些理念在有些人眼中太超前了，所以我又設計了一點不那么超前的東西。”

作為一個做電動車起家的公司，有人擔心造汽油車會有損特斯拉的品牌，對此，馬斯克表示沒什么好擔心的。

馬斯克指出：“坦率地說，很多人根本不在乎他們的車子是不是電動的。所以汽油車盡管可能給人一種倒退的感覺，不過一想到我可以把賣車的利潤拿來造超級高鐵，這樣大家不管樂意不樂意，以后最終都得通過真空管道出行，我心里還是挺安慰的。”

Model T將成為特斯拉公司的第一款內燃發動機汽車。從目前披露的參數看，Model T是一款五座車型，高速油耗約為每加侖31英里。該車型不會搭載任何自動駕駛功能（特斯拉招牌性的“滑稽模式”也將被“理性模式”所取代），其軟件也不能無線升級。

“顯然，有些人就是喜歡模擬技術。”馬斯克有些惱火地說。有報道稱，有人瞧見他在發布會結束后把一罐可樂往墻上摔。

特斯拉Model T還沒量產，就已經有了很高的需求。在聽說了量產計劃后，Urban Outfitters公司當即表示要采購40萬輛。

“現在的千禧一代非常喜歡有情懷的東西。”Urban Outfitters公司的發言人表示：“就像黑膠唱片機一樣，油耗一般的汽油車會給人一種很酷的感覺。”

另外，Model T也得到了一直被特斯拉忽視的一群人的支持，他們就是對消費汽油上癮的美國人。

“我買車必須符合兩個條件，一是美國產的，二是燒汽油的。”一名預訂了Model T的用戶對記者說：“但特斯拉的車卻是燒電的，當初我買的時候并不知道這一點。每個星期我都要買好多汽油，由于用不了，只好白白倒掉了。一旦我買了一臺Model T，我就可以不用這么做了。”

特斯拉表示，所有預售訂單都被一搶而空。該公司還稱，如果美國在2022年以前立法禁止汽油車上路，公司將概不退款。（財富中文網）

譯者：賈政景

FREMONT, Calif. (SATIRE)—Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla Motors, is revered for his visionary ideas: a mass-market electric car, a private space transport company, a mode of regional transportation that relies on vacuum-sealed tubes.

On Monday, Musk revealed his latest groundbreaking concept in a bid to once again transform the automobile industry: a gasoline-powered car.

At a press conference held at the automaker’s headquarters, Musk announced that Tesla will begin mass production of a gas-powered vehicle in 2022. He plans to call this vehicle the Model T.

“We can definitely make a innovative new car, but that’s not the hard part,” Musk said. “The hard part is, how do you make an innovative new car that Americans actually want to buy? We think we have the answer.”

He added: “The Model T will be super next level.” (Henry Ford was unavailable for comment.)

Famous for its ambitious projects, Tesla’s success has not been without growing pains. The automaker has been struggling to keep up with the demand for its latest electric vehicle, the Model 3. A recent Wall Street Journal report claimed that parts of the car were built “by hand,” rather than on its automated assembly lines; Musk denied the report, adding, “Even if we did, that makes our cars artisanal.”

To stanch the tide of criticism, Musk said Tesla has been searching for a low-cost, efficient way to serve customers in need of a new ride. Gasoline might be the answer.

“I’ve been criticized for my plans for Mars travel and Hyperloop transport,” Musk said during the press conference. “I understand these concepts are too advanced for some. So I went back to the drawing board.”

When asked if Tesla risks besmirching a brand built on electricity, Musk dismissed the idea.

“Honestly, a lot of people don’t really seem to care if their cars are electric,” Musk remarked. “So while this gas-powered vehicle might look like a step backwards, I take solace in knowing the profits will help me eventually transport people via pneumatic tube, whether they want it or not.”

The Model T will be the company’s first vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The model specifications boast a capacity of five passengers and roughly 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The vehicle will not have any autopilot capabilities (the company’s signature “Ludicrous Mode” has been swapped out for “Sensible Mode”) nor software available for over-the-air updates.

“Apparently, analog technology is what some people want,” said an exasperated Musk, who was reportedly seen hurling his Diet Coke into a wall after the press conference was over.

The Tesla Model T is already in high demand. Upon hearing news of planned production, Urban Outfitters committed to purchase 400,000 of the vehicles.

“Today’s millennials yearn for the styles of yesteryear,” said an Urban Outfitters spokesperson. “Just like the vinyl record player, gas-powered vehicles with average fuel economy are very much cool again.”

The Model T has also seen support from a demographic previously underserved by Tesla: Americans who love to consume fossil fuels.

“When it comes to my car, it’s gotta be two things: American and gas-powered,” said one customer who pre-ordered a Model T. “But Tesla’s cars run on electricity, which I didn’t know when I bought one. Each week I end up buying gallons of gas that I can’t even use. I just pour it all down the drain. Once I have a Model T, I can stop doing that.”

Tesla noted that all pre-order sales are final, and that it will not issue refunds if legislation banning gas-powered vehicles is signed before 2022.