“I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one…”
- Henry Ford, My Life and Work
Doesn’t that feel nostalgic? Doesn’t that somehow make you feel that, after almost a century and a decade, history is repeating itself? Maybe I just feel so because of my Tesla fandom but you can’t deny that this car is going to be the one that the car giants of the past and the future are gonna aspire after.
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most anticipated vehicles of all time. The Californian company received nearly 400,000 pre-orders worth upwards of $10 billion simply by showing off a close-to-production prototype. No other automaker has ever pulled off such a feat. And finally, the Model 3, the culmination of one man’s dream and endless hustle, is here.
Model 3 has been launched to an audience of Tesla employees and customers at a special event held outside the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. The first 30 customers collected their Tesla Model 3s at the event with Elon Musk revealing that 50 cars had been built so far. The remaining 20 cars will be taken for Engineering validation. Maybe for a safety assessment as the following video!
Two core versions of the Tesla Model 3 are being offered from launch, the Standard and Long Range models. The standard car comes in at a price of $ 35,000, that translates as £26,650. The standard Model 3 has a 220-mile range, a 5.6s 0-60mph time and a 130mph top speed but for $44,000 (£33,500) you can have the Long Range model. That car ups the ante with an official range of 310 miles, a 5.1s 0-60mph time and a 140mph top speed.
Here is the full list of Specifications from Tesla.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Price – $35,000
Standard Battery
- Range: 220 miles (EPA estimated)
- Supercharging rate: 130 miles of range per 30 minutes
- Home charging rate: 30 miles of range per hour (240V outlet, 32A)
- Deliveries begin: Fall 2017
Performance
- 0-60 mph: 5.6 seconds
- Top speed: 130 mph
Interior
- 15” touchscreen display
- Dual-zone climate control system
- FM/Internet streaming radio
- Textile seating
- Front Center console with open storage and two USB ports
Convenience
- Onboard maps and navigation
- Wi-Fi and LTE internet connectivity
- Keyless entry and remote climate control using the Tesla app
- Voice-activated controls
- Bluetooth hands-free calling and media streaming
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat to maximize cargo options
- Backup camera
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- One-touch power windows throughout
- Power-adjustable side mirrors
- 12-volt power outlet
Safety
- Full LED exterior lighting
- Seven cameras, forward radar and twelve ultrasonic sensors enabling active safety technologies including collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking
- Six front row and two side curtain airbags
- Three-point safety belts with belt-reminders for driver and four passengers
- Two LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments in the second row
- Electronic stability and traction control
- Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with the electronic parking brake
- Child safety locks
- Anti-theft alarm system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
Warranty
- Vehicle: 4 years, 50,000 miles limited warranty
- Battery warranty: 8 years, 100,000 miles (120,000 miles with Long Range Battery)
OPTIONS
Long Range Battery – $9,000
- Range: 310 miles
- Supercharging rate: 170 miles of range per 30 minutes
- Home charging rate: 37 miles of range per hour (240V outlet, 40A)
- 0-60 mph: 5.1 seconds
- Top speed: 140 mph
- Deliveries begin: July 2017
Paint
- Solid Black: Standard
- Midnight Silver Metallic: $1,000
- Deep Blue Metallic: $1,000
- Silver Metallic: $1,000
- Pearl White Multi-Coat: $1,000
- Red Multi-Coat: $1,000
Wheels
- 18” Aero: Standard
- 19” Sport: $1,500
Premium Upgrades Package – $5,000 Upgraded interior with additional features and premium materials.
- Premium heated seating and cabin materials throughout, including open-pore wood décor and two rear USBs
- 12-way, power-adjustable front seats, steering column and side mirrors, with custom driver profiles
- Premium audio system with more power, tweeters, surround speakers and subwoofer
- Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
- Auto-dimming, power-folding, heated side mirrors
- LED fog lamps
- Center console with covered storage and docking for two smartphones
Enhanced Autopilot – $5,000
Model 3 will match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes, transit from one freeway to another, exit the freeway and self-park at your destination.
Additional features will roll out over time through software updates.
Full Self-Driving Capability – $3,000 (requires Enhanced Autopilot)
In the future, Model 3 will be capable of conducting trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat. This feature is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary by jurisdiction.
VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight
- Length: 184.8”
- Width: 76.1” (72.8” with mirrors folded)
- Height: 56.8”
- Wheelbase: 113.2”
- Track (wheel centre): 62.2” front and rear
- Ground clearance: 5.5”
- Headroom, standard: 39.6” front row, 37.7” second row
- Headroom, glass roof: 40.3” front row, 37.7” second row
- Legroom: 42.7” front row, 35.2” second row
- Shoulder room: 56.3” front row, 54.0” second row
- Hip room: 53.4” front row, 52.4” second row
- Seating capacity: 5 adults
- Luggage capacity: 15 cubic feet
- Curb weight:
- 3549 lbs. (Model 3)
- 3814 lbs. (Model 3 Long Range)
- Weight distribution:
- 47% front, 53% rear (Model 3)
- 48% front, 52% rear (Model 3 Long Range)
Body
- Hybrid steel/aluminium body
- Drag coefficient of 0.23
Chassis
- Double wishbone, virtual steer axis front suspension with coil-over twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
- Independent multi-link rear suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
- Variable ratio, speed-sensitive electronic power steering
- Electromechanically boosted four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution
- 18” Aero or 19” Sports wheels with all-season tires
Standard Accessories
- 240 volt NEMA 14-50 adapter
- 120 volt NEMA 5-15 adapter
- J1772 public charging adapter
- 20 feet mobile connector with storage bag.
All these specifications imply that this isn’t just an affordable car. It is 100% Tesla. Maybe this is not the car that the billion population of the world is gonna drive. But, this will be the reason that those billion cars of the future are gonna be electric!
Are you feeling excited? Do you feel that it’s too much hyped? Please feel free to use the comments section below!
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