SpaceX Announces Attempt to Send Dragon Capsule to Mars as Early as 2018

Planning to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018. Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture, details to come

link.

Speculation:

They will do this either in 2018 or 2021.

The reason being they will want to take advantage of the free return trajectories that Inspiration Mars identified.

This will require a FalconHeavy because the F9 doesn't have the umph.

Inspiration Mars Made Headway: House Science Committee Plans Hearing on Mars Flyby 2021

House Science Committee plans hearing on “Mars Flyby 2021” SLS/Orion mission concept

The House Science Committee has announced plans for a hearing at 10 am Thursday, February 27th of the full committee with an intriguing title: “Mars Flyby 2021: The First Deep Space Mission for the Orion and Space Launch System?”

link.