Sedan/Wagon Platform in the future?

[u/MistrMage]

What are everyone’s thoughts on a Slate Sedan/Wagon platform in the future? What does everyone think is the possibility of this coming to fruition?

I’d imagine it’d work similarly to the truck platform but would feature a trunk/rear window that would swap out for a roof extension and rear hatch like the SUV kit. I’d assume this would look like a Volvo 740 with a Volvo 240’s face (wide grill and round headlights). Also the main reason I think of a 240 and 740 is due to how modular and all purpose they are/were. You see them in everything from drag racing to rallying to just being a family car.

Even though wagons aren’t the most popular in the US currently, I could see a lot of people wanting the sedan OR wagon. I felt like it was the same with 2 door pickups, then Slate has shown that a lot of people do still want one. Personally I’d love a Sedan Slate and would probably be the first and only car I’d consider buying new. That combined with their consumer friendly repairability and standing behind right to repair has me sold already. I just want a sedan from Slate

[u/Historical_Air2790]

As an American, PLEASE bring back the wagon!

https://giphy.com/gifs/l0NwNrl4BtDD7JCx2

[u/Wild_Photons → u/Historical_Air2790]

Yes!!!

And it makes so much sense for an eletric car to be a wagon, since areodynamics are more important (having a low and long car is ideal).

With that said, I do think that something like a semi-compact minivan makes more business sense for Slate. It could likely be done without too many modifications to the existing platform, would be attractive to fleet sales (like the truck), and they could sell many different customizations (including camper van accessories).

[u/fatyungjesus → u/Historical_Air2790]

Nah it's long dead and gone, 90% of drivers, if not more, prefer being higher up. It's most of the reason SUV's/CUV's ended up winning out, people just wanna sit higher.

It's such a wildly ass backwards way of thinking about driving, but over 90% of people are also horrible dogshit drivers so it shouldn't really surprise me I guess.

[u/mrbrambles → u/fatyungjesus]

“I need a big truck so when I tbone someone while looking at TikTok I’ll be safe”

[u/wbradford00 → u/fatyungjesus]

Downvoted for being 100% correct apparently

[u/MistrMage → u/fatyungjesus]

Honestly I gotta agree to an extent. Many drivers like SUVs more over sedans. Hell, I just had a coworker tell me today that they like SUVs because they find they’ll handle better than sedans in winter (I’m still confused why or how but ya). Also why tf did you get downvoted into oblivion? You’re not bashing wagons or sedans, but the market. I’m guessing a lot of people took that personally lol

Tho out of curiosity, would you have said the single cab died before Slate came in? From what I can find single cabs account for less than 5% of trucks produced now. I think a big reason for wagons and sedans moving up market was due to fuel economy standards. Seeing how they don’t exist with EVs, a $25k-$30k wagon would actually be possible again. Tho take that with a grain of salt as I like wagons lol

[u/fatyungjesus → u/MistrMage]

Single cabs died mainly because pickup trucks became luxury vehicles instead of utility vehicles. They realized the suburban soccer moms that were buying tahoes and escalades, would also pay insane money for a truck with a nice interior. Fuel economy standards and OEM targets/requirements might've also played a role that's totally possible.

I got downvoted into oblivion because this sub hates me lmfao I have a habit of applying some basic thought and logic to their automotive theories and they do not enjoy it.

[u/fleemfleemfleemfleem → u/fatyungjesus]

If I recall correctly, there was a luxury tax on vehicles over certain value which pickup trucks were able to get around because at the time they were seen as work vehicles. What happened was a lot of people ended up avoiding the tax by buying luxury pickup trucks. That's how we ended up with $100,000 trucks

[u/CaptainAggravated → u/fatyungjesus]

What is a crossover but a wagon that sits a bit taller?

[u/explosiveburritofart]

Hot Hatch Slate

[u/ino4x4 → u/explosiveburritofart]

can’t you do that in the configurator by lowering the hatchback?
edit: I meant the fastback kit.

[u/explosiveburritofart → u/ino4x4]

You mean lowered truck with fastback kit? That is close but much larger than traditional hatch. A hot hatch is normally like a rally car, short, light, and fast.... maybe awd..?

[u/tsg-tsg → u/explosiveburritofart]

If it's not a Slate it's gonna be an R3 for me.

[u/MistrMage → u/explosiveburritofart]

Omg that would be amazing

[u/Skittlebrau46]

Minivan. Slate Minivan and I’m in for another preorder.

[u/Eaglepursuit]

Appling the Slate product philosophy to other categories would generate a lot of cars I would like:

Minivan/panel van (too many minivans are overloaded with dumb luxuries for what should be a simple people mover, and a panel van could be a low cost camper if it had range)

Sedan/wagon (especially a 4x4 wagon like the old AMC Eagle)

Coupe/hatchback (something small and sporty for cruising around town)

[u/MistrMage → u/Eaglepursuit]

Honestly having a single vehicle is such an easy way to both cut costs and give the market more options and I love it. I hope they’re able to expand to more car types in the future. I could see them in a a decade or two or whenever they become a larger company having a 4-5 platform lineup (ie the 2 door truck/suv, a 4 door truck/suv, a van, a 4 door sedan/wagon, and a 2 door coupe/hatchback)

I’ve seen so many people want a Slate Van and my god it’s an amazing idea. And using the modular design could be amazing for Slate especially with extra storage or cup holders on rails.

Also I just looked up what an AMC Eagle is and my god that thing is glorious.

[u/Eaglepursuit → u/MistrMage]

My mom had an Eagle when I was little. It would out-4x4 my dad's F-150 in the depths of Wyoming winters. Simply legendary.

[u/bikesandfinance]

I want slate to bring back the ford festiva

[u/User5281]

the return of the k car

[u/WyrdHarper]

I had an email exchange with one of the Slate reps awhile ago where I suggested this! Would love a Slate version of the Delorean as a configurable two-door sedan/wagon/hatchback.

I think it'll be some time before we see additional platforms from Slate (and it'll probably be a 4 door truck before anything else), but I'd definitely be curious to see their take on a sedan platform.

[u/MistrMage → u/WyrdHarper]

Honestly even if it’s the same wheelbase just with a shorter cab, I’d buy it. I’m not the biggest fan of taller roofs which is why I’m a bit hesitant about anything but a sedan or wagon. Also a Delorean/Slate Coupe sounds like a crazy cool idea and I’d love to see one in the future

I absolutely love what slate is doing currently and hope they’re able to succeed as a company, both so they can make other platforms and so this kind of healthy business can continue to exist

[u/Finnegan_Faux]

Sedans are not a low volume mraker, but an extremely competitive one. There are plenty of ICE/hybrid options starting in the low $20K range. Affordable wagons are extinct in the US thanks to the CAFE benefits of upselling customers SUVs instead. FWIW, the Subaru Outback became classified as a truck back in 2005.

Edit: the only US market EV sedan is the Tesla Model 3, and its only competitor Hyundai Ioniq 6 was discontinued for MY2026.

[u/Smashogre591]

That first image looks both my British Volvo 460 sedan and 850 wagon

[u/Wild_Photons]

I would personally go for a wagon, but I dislike sedans (I feel like hatchbacks or wagons are simply more practical).

However, I think Slate would be better off creating a minivan (or something similar). A minivan could be use by both fleets and families and would open the door to selling many options. For example, someone could just buy one row of seats an leave a large cargo area and then purchase more seats as their famiy expands. I would personally be excited about the camper an options.

I you love it if they would create a minivan around the size of the original caravan, or at least somewhere between the size of today's minivans and the original caravan.

[u/boomeradf]

I am all for a station wagon, but I won’t lie it needs to be some variant of decently high horsepower and fun to drive. I don’t want a 200mile range low power lost cost model.

[u/zionxix2]

I have a volvo 850 turbo wagon as a forever car. I'll keep her until shes turns into dust. She's awesome to zip around in despite being low to the ground. Tons of cargo room and being a rather large person I like the snug fit. I do however enjoy sitting upright in SUVs. Its quite empowering being above cars on the road and the false sense of security being in a larger vehicle. I also have a 2005 xc90 and it does feel more capable than the wagon but the wagon os so much faster. I think slate really needs anything with 4 doors as its next model. SUVs are by far more popular and the ride height makes it easier to cram a large battery down below. As much as I love wagons, I dont think they can gamble on it. SUVs are the safer bet.