First look at the new and improved Tesla Model 3 Performance
- The updated variant comes with new dedicated ‘Sport’ seats
- The spotted car featured the ‘Sports’ wheels from the pre-update Model 3
- Headlights are similar to other Highland models
Published on Feb 20, 2024 at 7:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Feb 20, 2024 at 9:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The new and updated version of the Tesla Model 3 Performance seems to be getting close to official release.
The updated Tesla Model 3 engineering vehicle was spotted charging in Santa Monica, California.
The car had light tints on its windows, so it was fairly easy to see inside the vehicle.
Read More! Elon Musk confirms low-cost Tesla coming with target date set
It seems the car features dedicated “Sport” seats, designed for high-intensity driving.
Since Tesla is equipping the new Model 3 Performance with “Sport” seats, it is safe to assume that similar seats might also be rolled out to Tesla’s other high-performance EVs.
So, we might see the same dedicated “Sport” seats on Tesla Model S Plaid, Model X Plaid, and Model Y Performance.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance is a highly anticipated release.
The EV has only gone on sale in single-motor rear-wheel drive and long-range dual-motor variants.
Even after the Tesla Model 3 refresh, codenamed “Project Highland”, the high-performance variant has been absent from the lineup.
Although the spotted car featured the ‘Sports’ wheels from the pre-update Model 3, it also came with the Highland model’s slimmer headlights.
The Model 3 rear-wheel drive and long-range cost $38,990 and $47,490, respectively.
Therefore, the updated Model 3 performance might cost around $55,000 before on-road costs.
Tesla’s director of vehicle programs, Daniel Ho, said that the company “left a few things on the table” when it released the previous generation Model 3 Performance.
This decision was made due to the EV maker being in the middle of production hell.
However, In November 2023, Ho told the media the new Model 3 Performance would return as something “pretty special” in the first half of 2024.
So, if you want to learn more, keep your eyes peeled for any new announcements from Tesla – including an upcoming low-cost Tesla.
In the meantime, Elon Musk might be more busy creating a hovering Tesla, rather than focusing on slipping deadlines.
And to think: Elon Musk almost sold Tesla to Google for what would have been a huge loss.
Nalin Rawat
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
