Tesla CEO Elon Musk Teases Unveiling Of 'The D;' New Models Next Week?

By CHICAGO (CBS) -- The CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, is up to something, but exactly what?

Musk sent out an enticing, if cryptic, tweet that said:

Is "the D" a new, "budget" model for the all-electric car maker? Maybe/maybe not.

The "something else" is anybody's guess.

Tesla followers will find out next Thursday

The picture offers a glimpse of the front end, but what is behind the door is generating plenty of speculation.

So much, that the company's stock got a big boost at the market open on Thursday, trading has high as $252 a share.

While Tesla has generated a lot of excitement, the car is way out of the mainstream in terms of price.

The cost of a Model S, for example, ranges from $70,000 to $90,000, depending on the options. A lease from the Chicago dealerships would run nearly $1,000/month.

One thing is clear, Tesla isn't building its $5 billion battery factory in Nevada to supply a small number of high-end cars.

The company has previously said it is working on a Model 3 that would retail for around $35,000 with a range of 200 miles on a single charge.

Tesla executives have also been seeking financing to build a series of stations across the county that would allow owners to quickly swap out a battery or plug-in and recharge.

Originally, Musk wanted to have a Model E to go between the S and the X--the company's SUV model. Get it?

However Ford threatened to sue, claiming it had the trademark for its E-Series of trucks.