Tesla Model 3: long-anticipated 215-mile, $35,000 electric car revealed
The Model 3 quite closely follows the style of the Model S sedan and Model X crossover, and it鈥檚 unmistakably a Tesla. Yet at a far more affordable $35,000 starting price, it should help break past dismissals that Tesla is a brand only for the rich.
A Tesla Motors mass-market Model 3 electric car is seen in this handout picture from Tesla Motors on March 31, 2016.
Handout/Reuters
At a launch event held in Hawthorne, California, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk introduced the Model 3聽, the company's highest-volume, lowest-priced effort yet.
The Model 3 quite closely follows the style of the Model S sedan and Model X crossover, and it鈥檚 unmistakably a Tesla. Yet at a far more affordable $35,000 starting price, it should help break past dismissals that Tesla is a brand only for the rich. And the Model 3 is a crucial step toward the company鈥檚 goal of 500,000 annual sales.
Just over the past couple of days, the company has made great strides toward seeing that goal as perhaps reasonable. In the 24 hours leading up to the beginning of the launch event, more than 115,000 people put $1,000 each down to make a reservation for the Model 3鈥攕ight unseen, and before any specifications had been detailed.
Rated at least 215 miles
While we still won鈥檛 call the Model 3 clearly defined, we have a much better idea of where it will land in the market. Musk declared that base versions of the Model 3 will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds, and have a minimum 215-mile driving range
Tesla wouldn鈥檛 say anything yet about the capacity of the battery packs in the Model 3, although this model is lighter than the Model S, so a smaller-capacity pack should go farther.
Such a driving range would handily beat the anticipated range of the Chevrolet Bolt聽and the next-generation Nissan Leaf鈥攂oth models that arguably lack the brand image and luxury cachet of Tesla.
Outdoing Leaf and Bolt EV, eying German sport sedans
This new sedan, which will be sized quite closely to the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and others, will measure between compact and mid-size by U.S. standards. Like most of those models (and like the Model S and X), the Model 3 is rear-wheel drive, with dual-motor (all-wheel-drive) versions available.
Exact dimensions haven鈥檛 been released yet鈥攁nd the聽聽that was shown was officially a design prototype鈥攁lthough Musk noted that the Model 3 will have space for five. As with Tesla鈥檚 other models, the Model 3 has a front 鈥渇runk鈥� in addition a rear one鈥攚hich adds up to more cargo capacity than any car of the same outside dimensions, according to Musk.
Tesla moved the instrument panel forward, which allowed a more forward seating position in front, freeing up more space for the rear passengers as well. The roof is one continuous pane of glass.