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Tesla Reveals Model 3 Performance Prices, Specs
Tesla just unveiled new details about the performance variant of the Tesla Model 3. Tweets from both Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the company itself claimed that the fastest version of the compact sedan will offer BMW M3-beating speed and handling.
According to Musk, the Model 3 Performance will be “15% quicker & with better handling” than BMW’s M3. It boasts that it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 155 mph. The boldest claim from Tesla? The new Model 3 Performance will “beat anything in its class on the track.”
The company has not released the official power output for the car yet, but the Model 3 will use a dual motor setup—one powering each axle and running individually from the other. This means that if the other motor breaks, the car would still be drivable, thanks to the other motor.
The claimed range is 310 miles, but it will be possible to have 170 miles more in 30 minutes, thanks to Tesla’s Superchargers. Model S owners will get that for free, but Model 3 drivers would have to pay for that service.
On the outside, the Model 3 Performance will get the larger set of 20-inch wheels and they will house upgraded brakes. There’s also a carbon fiber lip spoiler that will improve the car’s rear downforce, but no official figures have been released yet.
Inside, the Model 3 Performance has a single 15-inch touchscreen that features live traffic updates and over-the-air updates. The seats are heated and they are trimmed in black and white leather. A panoramic glass roof will also come as standard.
The Model 3 Performance will have a starting price of $78,000, excluding the Autopilot system. production of the Model 3s will begin in 2019.
Tesla Model Y To Be Revealed On March 15
There are some pretty outrageous things that have been said on Elon Musk’s Twitter account, and another crazy claim from the Tesla CEO is that the Model Y will be revealed on March 15. Yes, as in 10 months from this date.
When Musk said that the reveal date is on March 15, Twitter handle @DMC_Ryan remarked that the date was “oddly specific” and that he cannot tell if the Tesla CEO is serious or not. Musk answered, “I just made that up, because the Ides of March sounded good” but followed it up with “But consider it real.” He added that Tesla could unveil the Model Y anytime from late 2018 to middle of next year, so March 15 sounds about right.
That’s a pretty big window for a schedule, considering that there is still a lot of drama surrounding the Model 3’s production. Tesla can’t even settle the production issues of the Model 3 and then, there’s the Tesla Semi. Throwing in the Model Y into the fray is a bit crazy, but nothing is crazier than Tesla, Musk, and their production and delivery dates all thrown together.
If the Model Y will debut on March 15, it will begin its production by mid-2020, barring other issues. Of course, we’re all assuming that the Model Y’s production will befall the same fates as the Model S, the Model X, and the Model 3, all of which suffered from delays in production and delivery.
There is no hate here. We’re just pointing out the obvious that Tesla has made some erroneous promises in the past and have not kept them. With Tesla’s past representative of what could happen, it certainly means we will encounter some trouble along the way. But since we’re pretty excited about this small electric SUV, we’re hoping Musk will finally make true his overzealous timeframe.
Production of Tesla Model Y SUV Moves To 2020
Photo Source: Avarvarii via AutoExpress
Amid growing concerns that Tesla is taking in more than it is capable of, its CEO, Elon Musk, revealed that the production for the Tesla Model Y SUV will officially be moved to 2020. Initially, the plan is for the Model Y SUV to join Tesla’s lineup sometime in 2019.
This information was revealed during a heated investors’ meeting wherein Musk revealed the $710-million net loss because of struggles to produce the Tesla Model 3, which future owners have paid reservations for almost two years ago.
The Model Y will be a new crossover from the Californian EV company. This is a “crucial step” to the second stage of Tesla’s “Master Plan,” which aims to move the firm and expand its current lineup with a second-generation Roadster and commercial vehicle entries, including an all-electric pick-up and a full-sized Tesla Semi truck.
Through its plans of producing smaller SUVs aka crossovers, Tesla is gearing up itself to enter a blooming auto market. The cheaper and smaller offering will allow Tesla to truly enter the true volume vehicle manufacturer’s market.
Musk has been vocal about his excitement for the Tesla Model Y SUV, and has even released an official teaser image of the Model Y’s design last year. It might be similar to the Model X SUV’s form and function, though the Model Y will be smaller. It might even have that Falcon-wing-style doors that Musk initially promised. Other design cues from the Model 3 could be carried over such as the flat, grille-free front end.
Officially, the Model Y will sit under the Model X in Tesla’s range as the second and smallest SUV, but it would also make sense for Tesla to market the Model Y as a Model 3 crossover rather than a smaller Model X. The upcoming Model Y will use the same platform as the Model 3, meaning it might also have the same drivetrains— 220-mile Standard and 310-mile Long Range launch editions.
Elon Musk To Push Through With Tesla Model Y
Elon Musk’s Tesla is making the ambitious plan to commence production of its Model Y in November 2019. Reports from Reuters said that Musk is accepting preliminary bids for supplier contracts of the Tesla Model Y, which will be a more affordable version of the Model X.
The Model Y was first teased at Tesla’s Annual Shareholder meeting in 2017. That time, Musk said that the Model Y will be built on an entirely new platform. But the Tesla CEO recently admitted that feat was ambitious and the Model Y will instead be using the same architecture as the Model 3, Tesla’s latest production car.
If the production of the Model Y will continue, that will be in November 2019 at the Fremont factory in California. Two years after, the production will move to China.
This may sound all too exciting, but remember that Tesla is under fire now for its issues with the production of Model 3. What’s up with that, anyway? The sedan had 500,000 initial orders in refundable deposits in July last year. The company, however, failed to deliver the cars on time. There was an initial promise for these to be ready by November 2017, but that did not come into fruition.
Earlier this month, Tesla tried to convince investors and the general public that the production was getting better, doubling during the first quarter of 2018 and increasing to 5000 units per week in the second quarter.
As for the Tesla Model Y, the “ultimatum” is November 2019, which means that the company might skip the pre-production phase at all. We’re hoping these reports are false because safety is very important in these electric vehicles. A Model X crashed because of the Autopilot feature’s failure, so it makes no sense for Tesla to escalate the production of the Model Y when there are still clear issues with its previous model.
Tesla Model 3 Will Receive The Air Suspension System In 6 Months
Ever since the release of the Tesla Model 3, everyone’s eyes turned to boy wonder Elon Musk, the chief architect of this range of electric cars. But those who want to get their hands on the Model 3 have to wait for a while to get the best of both worlds.
Right now, Tesla Model 3 only has a few options such as colors, wheels, and the choice between a short- and long-range variant. Such a short list for a very popular vehicle, right? If you want another color than black, you will have to shell out extra for that.
The Model 3 is now in production with at least 20,000 units to be made available each month. Musk said that while this is happening, the “Smart Air Suspension” is continually being tested and will be fitted in the affordable electric car.
On Twitter, he answered a question about the release of the Smart Air Suspension. He told Twitter user Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_R) that the feature will be made available on the Model 3 “in about six months or so.” Musk revealed that it will also come with a dual motor configuration option.
The Tesla Model 3 configurator right now has the dual-motor, all-wheel drive variant scheduled to arrive in the spring of 2018. This works well with Musk’s six-month timetable. He added that Tesla fans can also expect a performance version of the Model 3 sometime in 2018.
The Smart Air Suspension can raise or lower the car after it is enabled to learn and adapt to roadways. With the help of the onboard GPS, a road detail log is available. This allows the car to safely creep into unlevel driveways or places that require lower or higher ride heights.
The Smart Air Suspension option became so popular on the Model S and the Model X that it has become standard on later Tesla models. Before it became part of the package, you will have to shell out $3,000 for the option.
The options for the Model 3 won’t be available until a few more months. Other options will become active in about a year or so.
Tesla Model 3 Gets Funded For Production
Were you a bit worried that the much-awaited Tesla Model 3 won’t see production because of funding? The car business is quite an expensive one, and the production of the Model 3 was almost halted because of it.
But it looks like Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s plan to boost production to 500,000 units by the end of 2018 is now possible, thanks largely to investors’ faith and trust in the young entrepreneur. Unlike many products and concepts that are still looking and begging for investors, Musk was the only face needed for these big businessmen to trip over themselves to raise money for the Tesla Model 3.
Musk was simply seeking $1.5 billion last week, and he managed to raise $600,000 of that four hours after his announcement. Now, we heard reports that he was able to sell a half-million worth of Junk bonds to investors, which totaled to $1.8 billion, surpassing the initial amount he was seeking.
The investment is in the form of “eight-year unsecured bonds at a rate of 5.30 percent.” The investment is not without its risk, of course. Such investment yields bigger profit in the long run, but it’s also possible to lose your money when the company you invested your money in made some bad decisions along the way. Hopefully, we won’t see Musk do that.
One of the biggest challenges that face the production of Tesla Model 3 is its dependency on Gigafactory to supply each and every battery—both the standard- and long-range model. Though there is no problem about bringing in profit from the manufacturing of the battery itself, even Musk admitted that he was worried about the lack of battery cells.
Only time will tell if there’s going to be a shortage of cells in the future. When that happens, Tesla might need to cut short its production of the long-range model of battery and stick with the standard-range model, which uses fewer cells.
Starting Price Of Tesla Model X Dropped
The Tesla Model X 75D luxury electric sport-utility vehicle will now have a starting price of $79,500, which is $3,000 less than the original price. The move comes on the heels of the launch of the new Tesla Model 3, which will have a starting price of $35,000, the most affordable in Tesla’s lineup of electric vehicles.
Analysts predicted and even feared that the introduction of the Model 3 to the market will significantly affect the sales of Model X as customers will now want to settle for the cheaper sedan than the luxury SUV. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk was quick to shrug off the speculations. He said that the demand for Model X has not waned and that there is still very much a market for a $79,500 electric SUV.
Musk said that the Model X had a low gross margin when it was launched. However, as the company achieved fuel efficiencies, they decided to lower the price and pass that value to the customers.
The demand for Model X and the Model S has actually increased, the Tesla CEO added amid fears that the Model 3 will isolate the other vehicles in Tesla’s electronic range. The Model X’s most expensive variant, the P100D, costs $145,000. It has the fastest acceleration among Tesla’s models and also has a longer range.
The Model 3 is being marketed as an electronic car for the masses. With a starting price of $35,000, this is easily accessible for those who want to be environment conscious. However, there are still plans for a longer range model that will be priced at $44,000. This model will compete with luxury sedans such as Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and the Mercedes C-Class.
Although Tesla is adamant that Model 3 did not affect the other vehicles in its lineup, overall gross margins excluding stock-based compensation and revenue from zero-emission vehicle credits decreased to 25 percent in the second quarter from 26.4 percent during the same period last year.
Elon Musk Says Tesla Model 3 Performance Version Will Arrive Next Year
Tesla finally handed over units of its Model 3 to those who had it reserved months ago. Although the production are only in small numbers, more are expected to come as the electric car manufacturer is ready to roll out performance versions of the Model 3 next year.
Tesla is gearing up to boost production of the Model 3 in the Long Range trim because a new version is expected to come out next year. The Model 3 has an estimated EPA of 310 miles range, which will probably increase significantly when the performance variant debuts next year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk answered questions about the Tesla performance variant on Twitter. It can be recalled that Musk hinted last year that after the production of Model 3 went full swing, a performance version would be in the works.
He told Twitter user Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) that a performance variant will probably debut by the middle of next year. “Focus now is on getting out of Model 3 production hell. More version = deeper in hell,” Musk said.
The problem is that while Tesla is in the middle of producing the Model 3 according to the demands of the market, more pressure will be put on it once more variations of the car come out. For now, it’s the Long Range Model 3 that is available to the market. The base model of Tesla’s most affordable electric vehicle will be available this fall.
The base model is priced at an affordable tag of $35,000, and it has an EPA-estimated 220-mile range.
Tesla was the first company to prove to the auto industry that electric cars can be fun, too. Its Tesla Model S was the one who introduced dual-motor configuration, which led to the P100D. The performance variant of Model 3 will likely use a similar motor design, though it might not be as powerful as the P100D.
Tesla Rolls Off First Model 3 As Mass Production Begins
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has given car enthusiasts and experts a glimpse of the very first production version of the Model 3, the company’s third production vehicle following Model S and Model X. Musk did well on his promise to start off mass production before the week ends as he tweeted earlier that Tesla plans to roll off 20,000 units by December 2017.
The Model 3 sits below the larger Model S, and is even more affordable with a suggested retail price of $35,000, excluding government incentives. The release of the Model 3 on Friday launched Tesla to a bigger market, where people are more interested to investing in electric cars, particularly the Tesla brand.
According to a tweet from Musk, the first Model 3, which he named SN1 (Serial Number 1), is completed and is on its way to the inspection board. “Production unit 1 of Model 3 is now built and going through final checkout. Pics soon.”
The first Model 3 was supposed to be reserved for Tesla board member Ira Ehrenpreis, who was the first to place a full deposit for the model. But instead of taking the car for himself, Ehrenpreis gave the first-slot rights to Musk as a 46th birthday gift.
Ehrenpreis will instead have the rights to the second production car, the Tesla CEO said in a tweet. Musk did not reveal any updates about the Model 3’s powertrain, but there should be more details in the coming weeks.
Customers to Get Their Hands on Model 3 by July 28
There is a huge demand for Model 3 and hundreds of thousands of people have already reserved for a unit, which will begin deliveries on July 28. By December 2017, Tesla plans to produce 20,000 units and 500,000 vehicles annually by next year.
Musk is confident that demand for the Model 3 will increase “exponentially” in the coming months.
Tesla Model 3 Photos
Here is a glimpse of the Tesla Model 3:
