Tesla Model 3 EV Leaked: Now You See It [Update: Maybe Not]

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UPDATE: The leaked photo comes from this video of the Model X, but the pictured car has a different front fascia than the Model X. It’s possible that this is a prototype Model X or a styling buck intended to test various designs, as the production Model X lacks this vehicle’s black “grille.” We won’t have to wait too much longer what the actual Model 3 will look like; stay tuned for more info to come.

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Can’t wait for Tesla to officially reveal its all-new Model 3 this evening? Here’s a preview: a photo on Instagram that seems to show this hugely important EV. While the image is blurry, it’s clear that the Model 3 will occupy a sort of middle ground between the sleek Model S hatchback and the taller Model X crossover.

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Tesla won’t pull the covers off the Model 3 until late tonight, but we have heard some tidbits about this new model. It’s rumored to have a starting cost around $35,000 before tax benefits, a bargain compared with the $71,200–$109,200 Model S and the $81,200–$116,700 Model X. Range estimates sit at roughly 200 miles as standard equipment, with a possible 80-kWh battery upgrade potentially increasing that number to 300 miles.

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Die-hard Tesla fanatics have been lining up to put deposits down for a Model 3 before the pre-ordering process opens up online tonight, and current Tesla owners get priority for reservations. Barring any delays (which Tesla has plenty of experience with), deliveries of the Model 3 are scheduled for late 2017. Stay tuned for full info when the Model 3 is unveiled tonight at 8:30 p.m. Pacific time.

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Here we go! Today is officially #tesla day! #teslamodel3 #model3 #electriccar #ev #thefuture #instacar #carsofinstagram

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A photo posted by Marc Carter (@marc.carter) on Mar 31, 2016 at 7:12am PDT​

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Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk personally unveiled his company’s latest electric vehicle, the Model 3 sedan, at an event tonight in California, where he doubled down on his company’s pledge that the new model will be affordable. How affordable? Musk insists it will start at $35,000 before any federal and local tax incentives are factored into the final purchase price; he also claims that 115,000 Model 3s were reserved globally in the previous 24 hours, at $1000 a pop. The event also provided us with our first photos of the Model 3, which is smaller than Tesla’s Model S hatchback sedan and Model X crossover, as well as early details, which we’ve listed by topic below:

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Range: In its most basic form (which we assume to be the version with the smallest-capacity battery pack), the Model 3 will be capable of 215 miles of range per the EPA’s testing guidelines. Musk added that the number could be even higher upon final certification.

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Power: No output numbers were given during the reveal—let alone confirmation of drive layout, number of electric motors, etc.—but Tesla claims the slowest Model 3 will reach 60 mph from a rest in less than six seconds. Other versions are said to be much, much quicker.

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Batteries: Battery particulars also remain elusive. Even so, the Model 3 will use lithium-ion battery packs produced in Tesla’s new Gigafactory. The packs can be supercharged as a standard feature.

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Safety: Musk promises the Model 3 will net five-star safety ratings in every category, although it wasn’t specified whether the ratings would be on the scales of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or NHTSA or both. Also on the topic of safety, every Model 3 will be equipped with Tesla’s “Autopilot” semi-autonomous technology, as well as unspecified Autopilot-related safety features that we assume include automatic emergency braking.

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Basic Car-ness: The Model 3 seats five people, can fit a seven-foot surfboard inside, and has both a front trunk (“frunk”) and a conventional rear cargo area.

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-It has the size and stance of another car called the 3 (from Mazda), its single instrument is a billboard-like 15-inch touchscreen glowing in the dash, it accelerates with the nearly silent rush that cheetahs use to get their lunch, and it will start at $35,000 when it first reaches customers, which at this moment is said to be the end of 2017. Welcome to the “affordable” Tesla Model 3 that 115,000 people supposedly put deposits on before the highly secretive car was even shown to the public at a launch party at SpaceX, Tesla’s sister company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. READ MORE ››

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The front bumper bothers me too. It's a big blank area. But other than that, they managed to design a car that adheres to contemporary design standards of beauty but changes enough to make it look like something different.

The movie of Elon Musk presenting the Tesla 3 is worth watching. He talks about how/why he introduced the different models, and also his progress in setting up charging stations. If nothing goes wrong with his line of cars (such as harm caused by batteries), he will take a seat of honor in history. What he has accomplished is incredible.

You can see the movie at the bottom of this page: https://www.teslamotors.com/model3

 

You probably noticed how enthusiastic the audience was, and how they cheered and clapped when he explained the Roadster and the Model S. Then complete silence when he mentioned the Model X. Then cheers again for the Model 3. I had not been following Tesla well enough to understand this, so I looked up the Model X. Many of the comments are not positive. I wonder if their next focus will be a replacement for this.

Anyway, I imagine the Model 3 will do very well. They already have a slew of deposits to buy them. I thought the silver one looked fantastic under all those lights.