Tesla Model 3 officially unveiled today!
I’ll keep this short and sweet, as I had to wake up really early for this and now need to go back to sleep 😉 Here’s the info unveiled today as the first 30 customers received their vehicles:
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Versions: 2 (small and large battery pack)
Base price per version: $35k / $44k. (No taxes where I am in Iceland as the law is today, but we don't know how it will be next year… In the US there’s a $7500 credit, but it’ll be slowly phased out over the next couple years)
Range: 220mi / 310mi EPA cycle. Roughly corresponds to 70mph driving in moderate conditions. Greatly elevated range at lower speeds, correspondingly decreased at higher speeds. Winter weather usually costs 10-20% of range, and more can be lost if e.g. driving through snow or in high headwinds.
Wall-to-wheels charge speed: 259Wh/mi EPA
Comparable charge rate for driving in US summer highway conditions:
15A 120V outlet: 7 mph
30A 220V (US dryer) outlet : 26 mph
50A 220V (US RV) outlet: 42 mph
Tesla Supercharger: 260 mph
Weight: 3549 lbs / 3814 lbs
Drag coefficient: 0,23
Warranty: battery: 8 years 100k miles / 8 years 120k miles; for both versions, 4 years 50k miles for everything else.
0-60mph: 5,6s / 5,1s
Top speed: 130 mph / 140 mph
Standard:
* 18″ aero wheels
* 15″ touchscreen
* WiFi / LTE / Bluetooth
* Keyless usage
* Remote control with app
* 7 cameras, radar, 12 ultrasound sensors
* Self-darkening mirror
* Electric mirrors and windows
* LED lights (all)
* Automatic crash avoidance
Options:
* $1k: other colours (only black comes free):
* $1,5k: 19″ “sport” wheels
* $5k: high-end interior materials, seat heaters, USB in the back seat, electric seats, automatic configuration (seats, steering, mirrors) for the driver, high quality audio, LED fog lights, glass roof (with UV/IR protection), console storage and docking for smartphones.
* $5k: Self driving (Level 2)
* +$3k: Level 3 (not immediately available)
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“… What’s blanching, though, is the car’s ride and handling. If anybody was expecting a typical boring electric sedan here, nope. The ride is Alfa Giulia (maybe even Quadrifoglio)–firm, and quickly, I’m carving Stunt Road like a Sochi Olympics giant slalomer, micrometering my swipes at the apexes. I glance at Franz—this OK? “Go for it,” he nods. The Model 3 is so unexpected scalpel-like, I’m sputtering for adjectives. The steering ratio is quick, the effort is light (for me), but there enough light tremble against your fingers to hear the cornering negotiations between Stunt Road and these 235/40R19 tires (Continental ProContact RX m+s’s). And to mention body roll is to have already said too much about it. Sure, that battery is low, way down under the floor. But unlike the aluminum Model S, the Tesla Model 3 is composed of steel, too, and this car’s glass ceiling can’t be helping the center of gravity’s height. Nearly-nil body roll? Magic, I’m telling you. Magic. And this is the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive starting point. The already boggled mind boggles further at the mention of Dual Motor and Ludicrous.
The photographers stare, looking bummed they haven’t gotten everything they wanted, but Franz has got to go. He’s heading up to that same key handover in Fremont. Handshakes, then the red car silently whooshes out of sight around a corner, leaving a vacuum that’s instantly filling with questions: Have I ever driven a more startling small sedan? I haven’t. At speed, it gains a laser-alertness I haven’t encountered before. By happenstance, associate road test editor Erick Ayapana had penciled me into a 2.0-liter Alfa Romeo Giulia to get here, and it feels like a wet sponge by comparison. Technological fascination? Besides what I’ve already described, the Tesla Model 3 is available with Enhanced Autopilot ($5,000) and for another $3,000 what’s called “Full Self-Driving Capability” in the future. A lot of money, sure—but how many $35,000 cars offer that? Or for that matter, standard over-the-air updatability?”
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Okay, now I can sleep 😉 Goodnight everyone! (Photo credits: Motortrend; more at the article!):
