Tesla’s entry-level EV is getting another update soon. This one will focus on making the basic Model 3 run better. Even though the sedan hasn’t been given the Plaid treatment yet, the new “Highland” version was the inspiration for the new Tesla variant 3 Performance. It’s faster and better equipped for handling back roads, thanks to some upgrades to the suspension and motor. Elon Musk says that the 2024 Model 3 Performance is the “most powerful Model 3 ever,” and early tests by Top Gear seem to support this claim. The trim has two motors like the Model 3 Long Range, but its range is shorter because speed is more important. A new generation of Tesla’s drive unit, the Performance 4DU, gives it 510 horsepower and 547 pound-feet of torque. Musk says this is a 22% boost in constant power, a 32% boost in peak power, and a 16% boost in torque compared to the previous Model 3 Performance. Not finding it funny that about a third of the extra power makes you angry is not funny. Power use may have gone up because the EV’s suspension was improved with changeable dampers that help control its heavy weight. This car weighs 4,054 pounds, which is pretty heavy, even though it has Model 3 first-generation springs. They say that the adaptable suspension changes “in real-time,” making all four corners tighter or looser as needed. Even though the Model 3 Performance has all-wheel drive, Tesla says that its larger Pirelli P Zero rear tires give it a better grip when moving quickly. In the future, changes will be made to the adaptable suspension over the air, which could lead to even better Performance. For better software, the Model 3 Performance has Track Mode V3, which, among other things, combines suspension and motor settings into a single system. Tesla says that the new interface will make it easy for users to change the settings for a “more consistent and predictable driving experience” while racing. The Tesla Model 3 Performance can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds. This is a big step forward for Tesla. It is said that the new Performance model can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, while the old Model 3 Performance took 3.3 seconds. Tesla’s claimed acceleration numbers for the new EV are, of course, based on ideal conditions and don’t take rollout time into account. This means that, while they are technically correct, they are hard to repeat. The fastest it can go is 163 mph. Along with some aerodynamic changes made to the Model 3 Performance’s front and back fascias, the changes to the suspension make the EV look faster than it really is. Both the new carbon fiber spoiler and the rear diffuser work together to make the air move better. Drag is said to be 5% lower than the old model, lift is said to be 36% lower, and front-to-rear lift balance is said to be 55% higher. Carbon fiber details aren’t just on the outside of the new Model 3 Performance. They’re also in the dashboard, which hints at the car’s goal to be a sports sedan. Most of the Model 3’s features are controlled by its 15.4-inch center screen, and the EV comes with new heated and cooled sports seats. An extra 8-inch screen lets people in the back use the entertainment system. The EPA says that the Performance can go up to 296 miles on a single charge, which is farther than the Model 3 Long Range. That’s 45 miles less than the Long Range model, but that’s to be expected from an electric car that gives up the range to be more fun to drive. The new Model 3 Performance will go on sale this summer. It will cost at least $54,630, which includes delivery. In the US, the price of an EV will drop to $47,130 because of tax credits of up to $7,500 and more. It’s pretty good, given that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N‘s unique all-electric thrills cost $20,000 more.
