Tesla Model 3 is a long-anticipated model, and soon we will know more about it. In case you didn’t know, Tesla likes to reveal their vehicles in several stages. The first stage of the reveal was early in 2016, and we were introduced to the design of the car, range and starting price. In the second stage, which was in October, the carmaker said that all of the future cars would have a hardware for fully autonomous driving.
Now, the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has set a loose date on next stage of car introduction. Namely, we should find out more about Model 3 at the beginning of 2017. In this step, we expect to receive some important details such as battery pack options. In other words, the production Model 3 will be presented, and according to Musk, it should happen in three to four months.
Orders and Deliveries
As it appears, Tesla will manage to stick to the schedule, and all of the pre-ordered vehicles will be delivered without delay. The customers should be able to use the Model 3 Configurator, which is going to be available online soon. One of the novelties for this electric sedan is the dark blue color which we have yet to see.
So far there have been 373,000 pre-orders, and the company hopes that 200,000 people will pay off their vehicles in 2017. The Tesla’s aim is to manufacture 500,000 units in 2018, which, to be honest, will be extremely hard to achieve. As Elon Musk stated, the people who want to buy or who have already ordered their Model 3 will not have the right to use the Supercharger network for free. Although he claims that this is still a cheaper solution than a vehicle with gasoline or diesel engine, the customers will have to pay for the charging anyway. The reason is the low price of Model 3.
2017 Tesla Model 3 Price
The production starts in the US, and the starting price of the Model 3 will be $35,000. The Tesla CEO believes that most people will upgrade their car with at least one or two option packages which would increase the price to $42,000. The Model 3 will reach the soil of the UK and Europe in about two years.
Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar XE, BMW Series 3 and Audi A4 are some of the rivals of Model 3. They have more conventional powertrain, but the drop in sales is not expected. However, when the fully electric car appears on the market, the competitors will need to do something about it.
What We Know about Tesla 3
Many details about the Model 3 have not been revealed yet. What we know is that it will come with all-electric powertrain and lithium-ion battery. The minimum range per charge will be approximately 200 miles, whereas it will go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6 seconds. Nevertheless, the “Ludicrous mode” from the Model S should also be available on the Model 3. On the Model S, it helps the car reach 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, but the smaller brother is expected to be slower than that.
Tesla Model 3 Name
Originally, this vehicle was supposed to be called Model E. Here is why Musk had to change it. He said: “We had the model S for sedan and X for crossover SUV, then a friend asked what we were going to call the third car. So I said we had the model S and X, we might as well have the E. We were going to call it model E for a while and then Ford sued us saying it wanted to use the Model E…so we’ll have to think of another name. The new model is going to be called Model 3, we’ll have three bars to represent it and it’ll be S III X!”
Exterior and Interior
The Model 3 looks similar to the Model S, but it has been downsized. This has been done in order to place it under the flagship sedan but still not to lose space for the passengers in the back that was achieved by moving the front seats slightly forward. The car comes with a front and rear boot which can be quite handy. However, what separates this car, not only from other Teslas but from other vehicles as well is that it comes with no grille. This will definitely upgrade car aerodynamics, but it will look unfinished. A large sunroof makes this car even more fashionable.
The cabin is really simple. There is a big touchscreen located in the center. Gear selection and speed are placed in the upper corner of the display. You can also see the stereo controls and the map in the center, whereas climate controls are positioned at the bottom. We can also see a small steering wheel, but this is pretty much it. It is a minimalist cabin and something you might find in a concept, but this car will be in production line soon, so this is a design to expect. Speaking of space, there will be enough of it for both passengers in the front and in the back.
Gigafactory and Car Production
We are all familiar with Tesla’s Gigafactory in Fremont, California. There is no doubt that the factory can produce 500,000 vehicles per one year. The problem is providing a battery, a necessity for every electric vehicle. According to Elon Musk, the company would have to absorb the lithium-ion battery production from the whole world to reach the milestone of 500,000 cars. Once the factory is finished and working at the full capacity they will produce “more lithium ion batteries than all the other factories in the world combined,” said Musk.
Tesla Supporters
Tesla is the carmaker with a large fan support. Here is what Bob Antonopolous, a lawyer from California has to say about Tesla Motors. He wrote: “I’ve been waiting for a longer range electric car because 90 miles isn’t suitable [for me]”
Currently, he drives a Chevy Volt, and he was asked why he wants his next car to be Tesla Model 3, and he stated: “It’s the range and their track record. The Model S had Consumer Reports’ highest score ever when it came out. I’m impressed with the technology and the company, and I’m not willing to bet against Elon Musk on too many things right now.”
However, Tesla Model S has had problems with leaky sunroof and bad drive motors, and that is why Customer Reports didn’t give it “recommended” rating. Nevertheless, that wouldn’t stop 97% of Tesla owners to buy another Tesla, though.
