Tesla's Model Y is coming. What should you expect?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will unveil the automaker's newest electric vehicle at an event Thursday night in the Los Angeles area.

The Model Y will make its debut as questions swirl regarding the SUV's design, tech features, exact timing and pricing.

Tesla must deliver a functional interior and improved reliability to appeal to pragmatic, family-oriented compact SUV buyers, said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at car-buying advice site Edmunds.

"This is not a sports-car segment," Caldwell said. "These are not young Tesla enthusiasts thinking this is my way into a Tesla. Will it have smart packaging on the interior that will actually work for families?"

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A worker cleans a Tesla Model S sedan before an event to deliver the first set of cars to customers in Beijing, April 22, 2014. Ng Han Guan, APFullscreenA Tesla Roadster and "Starman" mannequin head toward deep space after launching on Falcon Heavy on Feb. 6, 2018. Tesla via Getty ImagesFullscreenTesla Motors CEO Elon Musk unveils the Model X at a launch event in Fremont, Calif. Sept. 29, 2015. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAYFullscreenThe Tesla Motors showroom in the Tysons Corner Mall in VA. June 12, 2014. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAYFullscreen2 Tesla Model 3's. TeslaFullscreenA Tesla Semi. TeslaFullscreenAFP/Getty ImagesTesla founder Elon Musk presents the new Roadster electric sports vehicle at Tesla's Los Angeles design centre, Nov. 16, 2017. TESLA HANDOUT, EPA-EFEFullscreenA Tesla Roadster in San Carlos, Calif., Feb. 28, 2008. Jack Gruber, USA TODAYFullscreenThis Tesla Roadster on the road in San Carlos, Calif. Feb. 28, 2008 Jack Gruber, USA TODAYFullscreenSome of twelve Tesla Roadsters bound for Japan are seen at a dock in Port Hueneme, Calif. April 21, 2010. Chuck Kirman, APFullscreenA lot full of Tesla vehicles in Chicago, Dec. 18, 2018. Teresa Crawford, APFullscreenGuest test-drive the new Tesla Model S P85D after Tesla Motors Inc., announced its new all-wheel-drive version of the Tesla Model S car in Hawthorne, Calif., Oct. 9, 2014. Ringo H.W. Chiu, APFullscreenWorkers assembly a Tesla Roadster at their showroom in Menlo Park, Calif. Sept. 16, 2008. Paul Sakuma, APFullscreenA Tesla Roadster Sport at a charging station in Portland, Ore. May 27, 2011. Rick Bowmer, APFullscreenVisitors to the Capitol had the opportunity to inspect the Tesla Motors Model S electric sedan on display in Sacramento, Calif., June 18, 2013. Built in Fremont, the Model S has a seating capacity for five adults and can travel up to 300 miles per charge, depending on which battery package purchased. The starting price for the base Model S is $69,900. Rich Pedroncelli, APFullscreen"Starman" sitting in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's cherry red Tesla roadster after a Falcon Heavy rocket delivered it into orbit around the Earth on Feb. 6, 2018. AFP/Getty ImagesFullscreenA Tesla Model 3 is on display in Los Angeles at Automobility LA, Nov. 29, 2019. FREDERIC J. BROWN, AFP/Getty ImagesFullscreenElon Musk, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., arrives in a modified Tesla Model X electric vehicle during an unveiling event for the Boring Co. Hawthorne test tunnel in Hawthorne, Calif., Dec. 18, 2018. Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty ImagesFullscreenTwo people inspect the rear boot of Tesla's latest car "Model 3" during its first exhibition day in Spain, at the Tesla's store in Barcelona Nov. 14, 2018. JOSEP LAGO, AFP/Getty ImagesFullscreenElon Musk CEO, Cofounder, Chief Product Architect for Tesla with a new Model S car outside the Tesla customer deliver area at the Tesla Fremont factory, June 21, 2012. Jessica Brandi Lifland, USA TODAYFullscreenPeople walk past a Tesla dealership on Jan. 4, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Tesla is expected to soon begin deliveries of the Model 3 in Europe even though the car has not yet been officially approved by European authorities. Sean Gallup, Getty ImagesFullscreenInterested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:Replay1 of 212 of 213 of 214 of 215 of 216 of 217 of 218 of 219 of 2110 of 2111 of 2112 of 2113 of 2114 of 2115 of 2116 of 2117 of 2118 of 2119 of 2120 of 2121 of 21AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide

Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, said "the clock is ticking" for Tesla to deliver a compelling product because competitors are rapidly catching up. That makes it critical for the company to pull off the Model Y launch without a hitch.

"Every day that goes by, it's less interesting for any single (electric) SUV to hit the market than what was a day before, and that include Teslas," Brauer said. 

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Here are five key things to expect from the Model Y:

It could be Tesla's best-seller yet

Americans are having a love affair with SUVs and crossovers, and the Model Y size is expected to line up with the popular compact SUV subsegment.

Compact passenger cars are actually declining in popularity, which is partly why it was surprising that Musk chose the category for the automaker's first mass-market vehicle, the Model 3.

Musk has estimated that Model Y demand could be anywhere from 50 percent more or even double that of the Model 3.

Brauer agreed that Model Y sales will likely eventually top the Model 3.

Tesla's next mass-market vehicle will be the Model Y, a crossover based on the Model 3's architecture. It could arrive in 2020. (Photo: Tesla, Inc)

Higher cost, less battery range

"Model Y, being an SUV, is about 10% bigger than Model 3, so will cost about 10% more & have slightly less range for same battery," Musk said on Twitter on March 3.

The basic version of the Model 3 starts at $35,000, but most buyers have paid well over $40,000 and some have paid more than $50,000 for vehicles with more options.

The starting price for the Model Y likely will approach $40,000, Brauer and Caldwell said. And many buyers will likely pay $50,000 or more, they predicted.

"There will be a lot of questions about the price," Caldwell said. "Not only are we looking for a pricing announcement but some assurance that they're actually going to offer that vehicle at that price."

The Tesla Model 3. (Photo: Tesla)

You won't be able to get one for a while

If history is any guide, Tesla will likely begin accepting online orders soon after Thursday night's event, if not immediately after. But that doesn't mean you should expect to drive one anytime soon.

Musk has said that production will begin slowly in early 2020 and hit high volumes by late 2020. But Tesla has repeatedly missed production goals in the past.

"They need to confirm that the car has a realistic timeline that they can meet," Brauer said. "This would be a good time to not overpromise and underdeliver."

It's a lot like the Model 3

The Model Y is based on the same architectural platform as the Model 3.

That allows Tesla to save costs by using about 75 percent of the same parts, Musk told investors in January.

Assembled in Reno?

That's an unusual place to manufacture vehicles. Most U.S.-assembled cars are made in the Midwest or the South, with the notable exception of the Tesla Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles made in Fremont, California.

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The automaker has said it will likely make the Model Y at its battery factory in Nevada, where it continues to expand production. But that will require a major investment in assembly line equipment and employee training to get started.

"Batteries and powertrains will come out and go straight into the vehicle," Musk said in January. "So that also reduces our risk of execution and reduces the cost of having to transfer parts from California to Nevada. It's not a for-sure thing, but it's quite likely, and it's our default plan."

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

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Tesla owners love sharing photos of their cars. We invited drivers across social media to send us their favorite shots. Tom Moloughney, who runs a Tesla Model 3 Facebook group with nearly 41,000 members, shared a shot of the car he test drove. He was a first-day reservation holder. Tom MoloughneyFullscreenMin and Chad Hurin figured out a way to afford to buy their Teslas -- rent them out, airbnb style. Their company, Frunk Yea, has a fleet -- an S, a 3 and an X -- and are based in San Diego and Tampa. Min HurinFullscreenA Model 3 trickle charging in the North Woods of Minnesota. Bryce PierFullscreenAlong with Models S, 3 and X come a couple of babies. The shot features a 2016 Model S 70D, a 2018 Performance Model 3 and a 2016 Model X 90D with a couple of Radio Flyer Tesla Model S's for the kids. Among the long list of Rema Shalan's favorite things about her Model X are the self-presenting doors, summon feature and Bioweapon Defense Mode. Rema ShalanFullscreenChristopher Chan says that before the Tesla, "my favorite car was the BMW 328i 2012, which I loved driving until the kids were born." (He had to swap it for the popular parent-mobile, the Honda Odyssey.) While he said he "missed that 'ultimate driving machine' feeling" of the BMW, "the Model 3 is the BMW experience plus more." This was taken Dec. 8, 2018, at Santana Row in San Jose, California. https://www.christopher-chan.com Christopher ChanFullscreenKarina's Model X sports custom wheels, tinted windows and a satin metallic purple wrap. Karina WuFullscreenThis is "Marvin," a Model S that Kristy Eisele bought in 2016 and drove from New York to California and back to take her son to college. This shot was taken in Reno, Nevada. "[B]eing able to put the car in Autopilot takes away a lot of stress of driving long distances," she says. "At the end of the day, I can arrive at my destination and not be exhausted." Kristy Eisele (@razemfrazem)FullscreenRyan's Model 3 in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 2018. He's had the car since June and says it's his "favorite thing." "The car is constantly evolving and they provide the updated features for free. Not even the iPhone gives you that much with an update without purchasing a new model." He's a big fan of the self-driving capabilities: "I don't know how I drove before without it. I used to dread long drives or driving in traffic, but this makes it so simple and easy." Ryan TickleFullscreen"Ruby Rose" is Adam Etkin's 2018 long-range, rear wheel drive Tesla Model 3, with chrome delete and custom Aero wheel covers. Adam EtkinFullscreenClay Whitely, from Sacramento, says driving his Model 3 "puts a smile on my face every time I sit down in the drivers seat. No car has ever done that before, for me." Clay WhiteleyFullscreenRick Teremi says he and his partner, Michelle Leale, were among the first to pre-order in 2016. The car arrived Oct. 1, 2018, in Chicago. "[S]pending $60k for a car sight unseen was quite the plunge." This one's Michelle's. Rick is planning to buy one for himself next month. They will have his-and-hers both in white -- but his will have the white interior. Hers sports the black. Rick TeremiFullscreenBehold "Purple Reign." Some details about the customization of the Model 3 sporting the white vegan leather interior: The vinyl wrap color is Black Rose Metallic. The 20-inch sport wheels are powder coated in gray metallic. "I've had some nice cars before, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc., but there has never been a community amongst the owners like Tesla," says owner Scott Berland. "Sometimes it's members argue (like a family) but it's still a far more communal experience than any of the others." Scott BerlandFullscreenRodney Bailey, at the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, credits his Model 3 "Tess" with making him a better driver "even though I thought I was pretty good prior to ownership." Rodney BaileyFullscreenNotice the customized red Tesla T on the frunk, or front trunk. "The instant torque and sporty handling really make the Model 3 a fun car to drive," says owner Allen Lau. "The functionality of the touchscreen console and Auto Pilot are just some of the features that really makes driving a pleasant experience in the Model 3." Allen LauFullscreenGaurav Mahendru shared his picture of "Pearl," a Tesla Model 3 in Pearl White with 18-inch Aero Wheels, outside the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum. His family got the car last September after waiting 17 months. They were among those who reserved the car before it was in production. "We have already done 5,000 miles on it! We had a 2004 Toyota Camry before this and we were past due for an upgrade....We are so much in love with this car that we are never going back to gas cars ever again." Aside, from the car being electric, its safety record, design and being a tech gadget "built around a computer," he feels a part of something bigger: "The feeling of being a part of a movement!" Gaurav MahendruFullscreenKristy Eisele says she loved her Model S experience so much, she bought a Model 3 last November in Deep Blue Metallic with 19-inch Sport wheels and black and white interior. Kristy Eisele (@razemfrazem)FullscreenAlyson Vogel's car family includes two Model 3s. The second they bought on New Year's Eve, ahead of the tax credit partially expiring. "We bought it in 4 hours from California, and they delivered it to our garage in N.Y. while we signed the paperwork in California!" Alyson VogelFullscreenElaine Borseth, vice president of the Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego, says she's done a couple of San Diego to Maine roundtrips and a 16,000-mile trek that took her all over North America in her P85D. "I've charged my car everywhere from Superchargers to 110 outlets at homes, businesses and hotels, RV parks, a 240 outlet on the side of an unoccupied cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (all with the owners' permission via plugshare) to my own garage." #CoastToCoastTeslaFullscreenInterested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:Replay1 of 182 of 183 of 184 of 185 of 186 of 187 of 188 of 189 of 1810 of 1811 of 1812 of 18BlogThis!