Tesla Model 3 A guide to tesla's NEXT Car
Updated 12th April 2016
News/updates...
The Tesla Model 3 (also written as Model ☰) was unveiled on 31st March 2016. The all-electric car will have a range of at least 215 miles (320 km), with the first deliveries of higher end models likely to begin at the end of 2017. Model 3's starting price of around £24,500 (US$35k) is the cost before any Government incentives.
A reservation deposit of £1000 (US$1000) can be placed by visiting Tesla Stores worldwide or online. Tesla received an incredible 325,000 deposits in the first week after the launch event.
Government incentives, United Kingdom
The plug-in car grant will be maintained at £4,500 until March 2017, or until a prescribed number of each type of vehicle have been sold, whichever is sooner.
The trigger point for a further review of grant levels will be 40,000 sales of category 1 vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles). As of December 2015, 23,000 claims had been submitted for this category.
The Model 3 arrives after the Roadster, Model S and Model X and is the planned long term step in Tesla's mission to "accelerate the advent of sustainable transport." Signs currently suggest the Model 3 is on time, beginning with the unveiling on 31st March 2016. A 'part 2' reveal with give more detailed specifications on battery, options and costs.
Range, battery and charging - The all-electric car will have a real world range of at least 215 miles (320km). Current battery technology would point towards a battery capacity around 60kWh to cover such a planned range. Although Tesla Superchargers are already dotted across the United States, UK and Europe the number are guaranteed to grow substantially before 2017. A Tesla Model 3 could likely be charged to 80 percent, in about 30 minutes. Supercharging although free with Model S and X may be a cost option with Model 3.
Size of Model 3. The Model 3 will challenge cars of a similar size such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series utilising technology from Tesla's Model S and is expected to offer autopilot self driving capabilities in some form either as standard or as a cost option. It will be 20% smaller than the Model S and take styling queues from both this vehicle and Tesla's newer Model X SUV.
Construction. Model 3 will use mostly steel to keep costs down and will be built on a new platform to the S and X variants. Tesla's co-founder and CTO, JB Straubel, said in October 2015 that Tesla is shifting their focus and most of their development resources over to the Model 3 now Model X has launched.
Technology - AUTOPILOT: The Model 3 will come equipped with standard safety features that use the sensors for autonomous driving, these would be an optional cost to activate them as with the Model S.
Cost and models specs - more will be revealed in Part 2 of the Model 3 reveal. This is likely to be in early 2017.
Timescales and deliveries - Production on the Model 3 should start in 2017 with first deliveries to customers expected to begin late 2017. These will be left hand drive models with right hand drive versions available some time after.
ABOUT THIS SITE: This site is updated frequently as Model 3 speculation, rumour and information is available. Once facts are made available it will be updated so check back often. It is part of a Flipboard magazine I run to collect news stories, images and video of any Model 3 related online content. Follow this on the link below!