Love it or hate it, Slate's new electric truck is causing some big feelings on the internet. You know a new car is going to make an impact when more normies are talking about it more than car enthusiasts. The average shopper is looking at a truck they can get for $20,000(after EV incentives that may or may not exist when it launches). Enthusiasts are excited for Slate to start pumping out simplistic old-school no-frills trucks that existed before everyone decided they needed a 3-ton luxury bro-dozer for daily driving. Plus, the idea of a vehicle that's easily modified, or even open-source, is a relief for tuners who are struggling with modern sport compact cars with locked-down ECUs and the constant threat of losing their warranty or getting fined for breaking emissions laws. Affordable Fun For Everyone slate truck black with stripes front quarterSometimes affordable cars are a huge success, not just because of the normal entry-level buyer, but they attract buyers from every class. Cars like the Scion XB, Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius and VW New Beetle attracted people who could afford and often did own cars that were substantially more expensive. Nostalgia obviously played a role in buying cars like the Cooper and the Beetle, but the XB's main customer was far older than what Toyota had originally envisioned. There always seems to be a market for a small, honest, fun-to-drive city car. Not only will the low starting price of the Slate make it attractive, but having a home charger will make operating costs a fraction of what most people are paying for gas. When the Fiat 500e launched, the Los Angeles freeways were flooded with them because the lease prices were far less than what many commuters were paying to fill-up their Escalades or S-classes. Not to mention how much easier they are to park in tight garages on the street. Slate Specifications The Return Of The Mini Tuck @abilmelecdesign InstagramThe mini truck scene of the 90s was born from necessity. At the time, single cab, 4-cylinder, no-option trucks were cheapest vehicles young people could buy and modify. It wasn't about performance, it was about individualization. Slate has already announced vehicle wraps, sticker packages, and more accessories than you would care to count. But, with the announcement that several of the vehicles trim pieces, both inside and out, will be made open source, it will open it up to home 3D printers and small makers to let their imaginations run wild.We found this render from abimelecdesign on Instagram of their vision of a Slate Autos truck taken to the next level. This is obviously way beyond what can be done with the official configurator, but might be mild compared to what we're about to see on the streets in the next few years. Vehicle wraps and air-suspension have come along in the past couple of decades. Custom interior components that used to take months to fabricate in fiberglass can be made in a matter of hours now with additive manufacturing. Hopefully, the modern twist on old-school roots will be the thing that gets another generation into cars again.
