New Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Performance review

[AVANTI R5]

ge-topping Tesla Model 3 Performance sports saloon offers M3-beating performance and best-in-class tech





Verdict
5
Among a of sea of legends, the Tesla Model 3 stacks up as one of America’s greatest cars. Like them, it’s not quite perfect, but it offers something exciting and enticing – notably tech and performance - that you can’t get anywhere else. With a realistic range around the 300-mile mark, it proves that living with an EV is perfectly do-able, too – you’ll get a similar range to that of ICE rivals.
Never mind the Cheshire Cat, the Tesla Model 3 – in Dual Motor Performance spec – will put a smile on your face wider than the USA itself. So there we go: job done, review over.

Of course, there’s much more to a sports saloon than that, so how does this Model 3 stack up against, let’s call them more established, competitors wearing M, RS and AMG badges

We’re well used to Teslas in Europe these days, but the Model 3 is smaller, cuter and arguably better resolved – certainly proportionally. The sleek headlights on the stubby bonnet look like stickers, while the short overhangs front and rear add a pertness to the design that we’ve not seen from a Tesla before.

You unlock the car using a slim credit card-style piece of plastic waved against the B-pillar – or more likely with your phone, which works just like Tesla’s normal key by opening and closing the car as you approach.

You have to access the flush door handles yourself – they don’t pop out for you on the Model 3 – and then you swing open the doors to reveal an interior that’s other-worldly.

Let’s start in the back – you can wait for the best bit… Space is pretty similar to that in a 3 Series, so knee room isn’t too generous, but okay. There’s the added bonus of a flat floor with no transmission hump, but it’s comfy enough, the view out is good and the doors open wide enough to get in and out comfortably.

You’ve got a choice of front or rear boots – we can’t help but call the front boot a ‘froot’ – with a combined 425-litres of space. Access to the back is a bit letterbox-style, but the rear seats split and fold.

Then there’s the front. Slide into the rather comfy seats – our car had premium seating – and the optional all-white interior shows how well minimalism can work in a car.



The dash is dominated by a screen, of course – in this case a slim 15-inch monitor that sits landscape style. And when we say it controls everything, we mean everything – the only controls in front of you are a steering wheel, pedals and stalks (now bespoke, not Mercedes hand-me-downs) for the drive selector and wipers. Even the doors are opened via a push button.

Across the slim, white dash is a single wide air vent. Air flow is controlled via the screen, too, and you even open the glovebox by prodding a virtual button on the display.

There are clever charging points for your phone, plus deep-lidded storage and cup holders all between the seats. It’s a triumph of realising what you do and don’t need in your car, making the inside clean, comfortable and spacious. And as architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Space is the breath of art.”

You may think that having everything on the screen could be problematic, and although Tesla has put the more important driver information as close to the driver as possible, you do have to look further away from the road to check your speed than you would usually. A head-up display would be a nice touch.

Otherwise, it all quickly becomes intuitive and you soon learn to use the two (yes, just two) buttons on the steering wheel to control the audio or standard autonomous tech to good effect.

On board Google navigation on the big screen works well, while the Performance model gets a standard sound system upgrade that’s pretty punchy.



Much has been mentioned about Tesla quality, but we were impressed with the quality of our test car and with that of two other Model 3 cars we met by chance on our test around the hills and highways near Tesla’s Freemont factory.

Whether the car is built by Americans in baseball caps and T-shirts in a ‘tent’ in the factory parking lot or bearded artisans wearing thick leather aprons in a mountainside chalet, quality is perfectly good enough. Audi good? No. But not far off and we had no extraneous squeaks or rattles.

Of the many options in the menus in the touchscreen, we decided to opt for Sport rather than Chill in the drive mode, and set off to enjoy the sort of instant acceleration that makes any internal combustion-engined car feel tardy.

Tesla says this sportiest Model 3 will get from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds – in reality it feels slightly quicker than that and not far off what the quickest Model S will do.

But what’s most enjoyable is that the slightest tickle of the throttle from any speed – especially standstill – will shove you back into your seat with a ferocity to rival the fiercest rollercoaster, with a fun factor to match. You’ll never tire of it and will look for every opportunity to do it.

Fun isn’t just about acceleration, though, as the Model 3’s rivals prove. They have a delicious dexterity that the neigh sayers will claim only internal combustion engine-cars can have due to an EV’s battery weight.

Sure enough, the Model 3 feels different; heavy even. Yet it grips well, turns in sharply and has very little body roll. You can feel the extra weight of the car – it must weigh over 1,800kg – pull the car down into the road, but it’ll stick steadfastly to its line with a different, but no less enjoyable feel to what you might be used to.


The steering isn’t quite as alert or tactile as that of a BMW M3, but it’s accurate enough, while sudden changes of direction don’t leave you rueing that sizeable battery pack sitting in the chassis.

True, it’s not quite as delicate to drive as an M3 or C63 can be – in spite of their power. It’s different – and you only need to flex your right foot to get the biggest grin back on your face.

We’re still about a year away from first Model 3 deliveries in the UK, but if you fancy one, then £1,000 deposits are still being taken with UK deliveries expected some time next year – probably the latter half.

The Model 3 comes in limited flavours: standard and long range – with a choice of rear or all-wheel drive – plus this Performance version with only the 4x4 option.
Performance also drops the ride height slightly and tweaks the motors to up the power from the 75kWh battery to around 450bhp. The range jumps up to a claimed 310 miles (and we did our best to dent that, but it appears pretty realistic), while you get a few cosmetic boosts, including the cute, carbon-fibre rear spoiler.

This model doesn’t come cheap – but then neither do its rivals. In the US the base price is $64,000. The premium interior upgrade is included in that price, but you’ll have to pay extra for every paint colour except for black, the wonderful white interior costs $1,500, while the ‘enhanced auto pilot’ (which is better than anything anyone else can currently offer) costs $5,000. If you want to ensure full-self driving capability in the future, that’ll be another $3,000. Our car topped out at $71,000 - Tesla has certainly learnt a trick or two about options from its rivals.

When it arrives in the UK, we’d expect prices to be pretty much pound for dollar – maybe a little less. It would be nice if a base price was around £60,000, which would still look pretty good up against its ‘old tech’ rivals.

Key specs
Model: Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Performance
Price: £60,000 (est)
Power: dual electric motor, four-wheel drive
0-60mph: 3.5 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Range: 310 miles
Equipment: 15” touchscreen, level 2 autonomous driving, premium audio system, on-board wifi

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[elirentz]

I'm waiting to see actual timed track comparisons. Will the model 3 beat an M3 around a track like Elon claimed?

My guess is it won't or we'd be seeing more track tests.

Not that it really matters in the end, but I want to see if Elon was making another empty promise.

[AVANTI R5]

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Gets 12 Miles More Range, Tiny Price Bump

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: range up 4%, price up just 1%

Tesla started November 2019 with a small change in the Tesla Model 3 offer in the U.S. as the Long Range AWD got more range at a slightly higher price.

Let's start with the range. It's now 322 miles (518 km) EPA, a full 12 miles (19 km) or 3.9% more than before.

It's almost on par with the discontinued Long Range RWD version, which at some point had an estimated range of 325 miles (523 km).

The price increased by $500 or 1% from $47,990 to $48,490. It's not a bad deal considering that recently acceleration also improved a little bit: 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time - 4.4 seconds (from 4.5 seconds previously).

As the Standard Range Plus also got slightly more range and h igher price in October, one might think that it's now time for the Performance version. The price went up by $1,000 two weeks ago, and it would be nice to see a range improvement too. However, Performance versions of the Tesla cars are usually getting a lower range than the non-Performance AWD counterparts, so we are not expecting it.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD changes:

Price: from $47,990 to $48,490 (up by $500 or 1%)
Range: from 310 miles (499 km) to 322 miles (518 km) (up by 12 miles/19 km or 3.9%)
external_image

Tesla Model 3 offer in the U.S. as of November 1, 2019

Standard Range RWD (not listed, price from summer): $34,725
($35,400 MSRP + $1,200 DST - $1,875 federal tax credit)
Standard Range Plus RWD:$38,815
($39,490 MSRP + $1,200 DST - $1,875 federal tax credit)
Long Range AWD: $47,815
($48,490 MSRP + $1,200 DST - $1,875 federal tax credit)
Performance LR AWD: $56,315
($56,990 MSRP + $1,200 DST - $1,875 federal tax credit)

[AVANTI R5]

I saw Elirentz comment from 2018 about Ring time etc...Thought of this article/info from cars.com this week.

The Week in Tesla News: Model S Rocks the ’Ring, Model 3 Aces Crash Tests, Dog Mode Defended

https://www.cars.com/articles/the-we...fended-410252/

[AVANTI R5]

Boy talk about coming long way.. 322 miles AWD, 4.4 seconds. With electric anyone can get off the line match claimed zero to sixty. Starting to see more Tesla cars in my area (North East PA, but out in the country), I don’t how the service warranty crap goes, guess the come out or it flat-bedded to nearest facility. Anyway, at 322 I’m in.. I’m good at 30 really, just that once twice a month 200 mile round trips.

[AVANTI R5]

Neeeed5

Can The Tesla Roadster Really Be Faster Than Expected Or Is This News Just Damage Control

Given all of Musk’s claims in the past, it’s got a lot to live up to for sure



0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds. 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds. A quarter-mile run in 8.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 250 mph. All with a car that can go over 620 miles on a single charge. These were Elon Musk’s claims about the second-generation Tesla Roadster two years ago. If you’re still impressed, don’t be because, apparently, the production version will blow to smithereens the prototype. Or so says its designer.

The Tesla Roadster will be "the ultimate vehicle"

Can the Tesla Roadster Really Be Faster Than Expected or Is This News Just Damage Control for Missed Targets?
- image 746102
Forget about the Bugatti Chiron. Forget about the Koenigsegg Jesko or the Pininfarina Battista or just about any other hybrid, electric, or gas-guzzling hypercar because we’ll all have to turn our heads back around to the front when the second-generation Tesla Roadster finally arrives... sometime in the future.

All right, so we don't know when it will be ready but Tesla wants us to believe it's worth waiting for the 2+2 electric missile for the road.

According to Franz von Holzhausen, ex Mazda and Volkswagen designer who’s penned all Teslas since the Model S, the Roadster is "evolving" and "needs more time," but, on the upside, it will be "even better than what we’ve unveiled in every way." He’s referring to the prototype shown two years ago alongside Tesla’s equally futuristic Semi. The American designer made these audacious claims during a ’Ride the Lightning’ podcast but he was tight-lipped when it came to giving away any numbers.

Can the Tesla Roadster Really Be Faster Than Expected or Is This News Just Damage Control for Missed Targets?
- image 745803
What we know is that the Roadster will feature the ’Plaid’ drivetrain with the triple electric motor setup, one in the front and two in the rear, allowing for all-wheel drive and torque vectoring mid-corner. We’ve already seen bits of what a Plaid-equipped Model S can do around the Nordschleife so you can only imagine what a Roadster’s capable of. After all, it’s not every day that we can talk about a car with a 200-kWh (720 MJ) battery that features one of the most amazing optional extras in the entire automotive industry: 10 cold gas thrusters that are said to slash the 0-60 mph time from 2.1 seconds to 1.9 seconds. Now, given von Holzhausen’s bold statements, we expect even more. But how much more is even possible?

2020 Tesla Roadster performance numbers
0-to-60 mph 1.9 seconds
0-to-100 mph 4.2 seconds
Quarter mile 8.9 seconds
Top speed 250+ mph
Range per charge 620 miles
Battery pack 200 kWh
Electric motors 3 (one in front, two in rear)
Torque 10,000 Nm
With 7,2000 pound-feet of torque sent to the wheels (in prototype form that is), Tesla thinks a lot is possible. "It’s an amazing machine. That car is like no other," Tesla’s Chief Designer also underlined.

"It showcases the ability of what an electric vehicle can do."

Let’s hope all this isn’t just dust in the wind and that the $200,000 MSRP won’t change but don’t bet your life on it just yet.

Can the Tesla Roadster Really Be Faster Than Expected or Is This News Just Damage Control for Missed Targets?
- image 746103
We don’t mean to say that improving on the Roadster’s already mind-boggling performance figures is impossible but you got to admit it’s a tall order for anyone, given it’s supposed to crush everything in the hypercar realm. And we don’t use ’crush’ as a hyperbole. Consider the Pininfarina Battista. With 1,900 horsepower and 1696 pound-feet of torque from its Rimac-developed power bank, it will seem like a horse-drawn carriage next to the Roadster that’s supposed to dip below the Battista’s 1.8-second 0-60 mph time with over four times the torque. And it should also blow it out of the water when it comes to a top speed run since the Battista won’t surpass 217 mph, 33 mph slower than the suggested top speed for the Roadster in prototype guise.

Looking across to what ICE-powered cars can muster, it’s laughable. A Jesko needs some 2.5 seconds to hit 60 mph and a Chiron can’t go below 2.4 seconds. Tesla’s very own Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode and the latest updates is said to be capable of a sub-2.3-second 0-60 mph run but even that is about half a second slower than the Roadster.

We don't know exactly how powerful the Roadster will be but all of the cars we've mentioned up until now are genuine powerhouses with as much as 1,600 horsepower on tap, so we guess Tesla aims to surpass that number too.

In hindsight, after seeing how Musk strapped the first-gen Roadster to one of its rockets and sent it into space, we can only conclude that the sky is really the limit for Tesla - and it has to be given how high they’ve set the bar for themselves with all the statements made in the past two years.

[WReXinEfX]

I test drove a Model 3 performance edition with the 20" wheels. It was scary fast, never been in a car that just rockets off the line without any hesitation and just keeps going and no gear shifts. Every sports car even $300k+ cars have to change gears. My body felt like it just ejected out of a launchpad on the highway. Most Teslas I've seen on the road drive like Priuses. But never seen anybody gone fast with it.

I overcooked the turn a little and the tail comes out and then the AWD just sort itself out like the Evo and the car just sort itself out. Amazing. It definitely feels like the car has a lot of traction control, assists, and collision safety system. I got a little too close to the sidewalk and the steering wheel sort of locked itself and the car pull back onto the road.

The Tesla worker told me that if you switch to Track mode it will be less intrusive with the assists.

After my 15min drive, I honestly don't think there's one car quicker on the road for under $60k. It was just electrifying fast.

[juanmedina]

Originally Posted by WReXinEfX

I test drove a Model 3 performance edition with the 20" wheels. It was scary fast, never been in a car that just rockets off the line without any hesitation and just keeps going and no gear shifts. Every sports car even $300k+ cars have to change gears. My body felt like it just ejected out of a launchpad on the highway. Most Teslas I've seen on the road drive like Priuses. But never seen anybody gone fast with it.

I overcooked the turn a little and the tail comes out and then the AWD just sort itself out like the Evo and the car just sort itself out. Amazing. It definitely feels like the car has a lot of traction control, assists, and collision safety system. I got a little too close to the sidewalk and the steering wheel sort of locked itself and the car pull back onto the road.

The Tesla worker told me that if you switch to Track mode it will be less intrusive with the assists.

After my 15min drive, I honestly don't think there's one car quicker on the road for under $60k. It was just electrifying fast.

You can get the same car without the big brakes and spoiler with 18" wheels for $52K . You can spend what you save on some KW coilovers, wheels and tires and some pads and make the handle like a dream.

[godfather2112]

Originally Posted by WReXinEfX

I test drove a Model 3 performance edition with the 20" wheels. It was scary fast, never been in a car that just rockets off the line without any hesitation and just keeps going and no gear shifts. Every sports car even $300k+ cars have to change gears. My body felt like it just ejected out of a launchpad on the highway. Most Teslas I've seen on the road drive like Priuses. But never seen anybody gone fast with it.

I overcooked the turn a little and the tail comes out and then the AWD just sort itself out like the Evo and the car just sort itself out. Amazing. It definitely feels like the car has a lot of traction control, assists, and collision safety system. I got a little too close to the sidewalk and the steering wheel sort of locked itself and the car pull back onto the road.

The Tesla worker told me that if you switch to Track mode it will be less intrusive with the assists.

After my 15min drive, I honestly don't think there's one car quicker on the road for under $60k. It was just electrifying fast.

I'm pretty sure it is the fastest vehicle available under $60k.

[juanmedina]

Originally Posted by godfather2112

I'm pretty sure it is the fastest vehicle available under $60k.

and I just got my 5% power bump yesterday .

[WReXinEfX]

I'm talking to the Tesla salesman and they just sold a used P3 for $55k with 7k on it. They get used one every 1-2 weeks and he said the used Dual Motor non-Performance models can be bought for $47k used. I might shoot for the DM for just $45kish. The loan is only 3.9% which is really good.

[juanmedina]

Originally Posted by WReXinEfX

I'm talking to the Tesla salesman and they just sold a used P3 for $55k with 7k on it. They get used one every 1-2 weeks and he said the used Dual Motor non-Performance models can be bought for $47k used. I might shoot for the DM for just $45kish. The loan is only 3.9% which is really good.

If you have any questions or need a referral code let me know

[arghx7]

got my 5% power bump on my non performance long range AWD. It snowed here so the road wasn't good for hard acceleration. I'll test it in the next day or two.

The long range AWD is already very fast with very hard acceleration. The Performance is literally painful. When I got a ride in one at Tesla store I wasn't ready for the stop light launch, and my neck was hurting afterward. My buddy traded in his Camaro SS 1LE for a Model 3 Performance.

[WReXinEfX]

Originally Posted by arghx7

got my 5% power bump on my non performance long range AWD. It snowed here so the road wasn't good for hard acceleration. I'll test it in the next day or two.

The long range AWD is already very fast with very hard acceleration. The Performance is literally painful. When I got a ride in one at Tesla store I wasn't ready for the stop light launch, and my neck was hurting afterward. My buddy traded in his Camaro SS 1LE for a Model 3 Performance.

The P3 is scary fast, I think my kidneys were pressed against my back. You're not supposed to step on it like ICE since the torque delivery was just insane.

The handling was something that surprised me, there was no understeer as it was just so flat it makes boxer engine feel like a yaht. The closest like I said was like having AYC and ACD on the Evo but without a stiff suspension. P3 didn't feel that stiff and it's able to ride like rails on turns.

I may try to get a test drive of Model S P90D and see how that compares with P3.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by WReXinEfX

I test drove a Model 3 performance edition with the 20" wheels. It was scary fast, never been in a car that just rockets off the line without any hesitation and just keeps going and no gear shifts. Every sports car even $300k+ cars have to change gears. My body felt like it just ejected out of a launchpad on the highway. Most Teslas I've seen on the road drive like Priuses. But never seen anybody gone fast with it.

Congrats. This is exactly how a modern literbike/superbike feels under WFO through the gears. You have to get used to it and master it or it will kill you. The only car besides a MP4-12c I have driven that could accelerate like my bikes was a Model S P90D. I'm used to it on my bikes with 20 years experience in the saddle. I'm not used to that in a car. It felt mind bending WFO from a roll at 20-25 mph. I thought I'd handle it easily with all the track time and my felony rides in the country but no. My first mod in that damn Model 3 Performance model would be a hard mount for my V1 so I don't end up in jail. Thankfully I don't have the temptation with the Ford Pinto version in my garage (2013 Leaf). It's going to be fun watching Tesla's truck come out and see what it can do in terms of acceleration, payload and towing.

[WReXinEfX]

I just took delivery last week of used Model 3 LRDM with 10k mi on it with 19" wheels for $47k including the FSD. I know a lot of folks said the FSD is not worth it but I figure it may come in handy in my 50mi round trip commute later on. There was another used one for $43k without the FSD. So I figured adding $4k with FSD is not a bad deal.

So far I can't think of any reason to go for the Performance Model. The performance, handling, and ride felt just like it without the extra $10k bump.

The car is so fast I can't think of needing anymore performance as is. On the open highway it can go from 50-90 like in under 2 secs, the handling is amazing. If you make lane changes at over 80mph+ the car is perfectly flat and no body roll/.

If anyone is shopping for a STI, don't bother with it. You can have a Model 3 that has no turbo lag, no body roll, no constant gas fill ups, and from what I read of other owners, hardly any car maintenance to perform.

[arghx7]

I'm very happy with my long range AWD non performance, but you do notice the additional low end torque on the performance model. The non performance blows the STi away though, I agree, and you don't feel the weight too much due to the low center of gravity. It weighs as much as my challenger but feels completely different partly because it doesn't have a big V8 boat anchor under the hood.

[AVANTI R5]

Hacker Uncovers A Big List Of Potential Model 3 Upgrades. Including A Larger Battery @ Top Speed
Sidd Dhimaan
These hacks show a lot of potential upgrades that will make the Model 3 an absolutely drool-worthy car!

by , on December 24, 2019, 08:30

Tesla is generally known to be tight-lipped about news and information about its products. Take the Cybertruck, for instance. Until the date of the unveil, no one had seen it, no were any sketches or other relevant information leaked aside from Elon Musk’s cryptic logo. But, this time, Tesla couldn’t keep things to itself. Tesla somehow leaked some codes in the recent software upgrade on the Model 3. A Tesla hacker who goes by the name “Green”, has cracked the code and come up with some interesting data, including a 100 kWh battery pack in the near future!

Hacker Uncovers a Big List of Potential Model 3 Upgrades. Including a Larger Battery Exterior
- image 801510
While Tesla manages to keep things away from the paparazzi and the public, they can’t do much when it comes to hackers. Some hackers manage to get root access to Tesla’s software and reveal the features lined up for the near future much in advance. “Green” has been leaking Tesla’s upgrades for quite some time, but was not very active over the last year as he was focusing on visualizations of what the Tesla Autopilot can see. In this case, he noticed that Tesla is using a different gateway and that made it hard to decipher the configurations. Green tweeted, “When Model 3 was introduced it sported a very different "gateway" computer (this is where the car config is stored), instead of old style text file it is now a set of opaque binary registers with values so it was sort of hard to know what meant what." "It was curious that MCU2 reused the oldstyle gateway with a text file config. (internally it was called MCU-transitionary, so clearly it’s just a transition to something better, but I digress)." He was right.

Tesla is indeed looking to bring about many changes in the Tesla Model 3 soon.

Tesla Will Switch to its Own Tire Pressure Sensors

One of the changes includes Tesla’s big step of shifting to its own BLE sensors from traditional Continental TPMS sensors that it has been using.

As it turns out, Tesla has even applied with the FCC for the new device. Green’s tweet reads, "For example here’s an addition from April that said that Tesla is planning to do away with Conti TPMS sensors and replace them with their own BLE ones (and save money)? And sure enough this month there was FCC application confirming it,”

The Tesla Model 3 Could Recieve 20-Inch Dark Staggered Wheels

He also found codes about new wheels for the Model 3. Now, if you remember correctly, Tesla had initially showcased three different wheel designs, out of which two made it to the production, and the hottest looking one didn’t. According to Electrek, the patent applications show that the wheels were designed by Joonas Vartola, a car designer who left Tesla in 2016 to become an independent designer in Finland. After being asked if there’s any update on this the third design, Elon Musk tweeted saying “Will do it later this year. Too much on plate right now. Will be available as an upgrade from service.” Apparently, Tesla abandoned this design in favor of the other two, but it will make a comeback as an optional upgrade. So, it could be those wheels that are making a comeback.

Tesla Model 3 Aerodynamic Updates?

With improved airflow, the Model 3 could become an even better performer. The function of the air intake system is to allow air to reach the powertrain. It helps keep the batteries cool, thus increasing their life in the long run. It also helps achieve better power and range efficiency. The next upgrade on the Model 3 could come with a better airflow system and aerodynamic updates.

PET - It Means the Tesla Model 3 May Be Offered With Some Kind of Laminated Roof

The Model 3 could come with some sort of laminated roof. This could come in from the 2021 model year. There have been instances in the past wherein sunroofs have exploded suddenly with no apparent cause. According to a Consumer’s Report, it investigated at least 859 accounts from the NHTSA database. So, this is a big hazard and Tesla wants no part of it. Making use of laminated glass is a simple fix that reduces that danger.

The Code Shows a 100-kWh Battery Might Be Available in the Model 3 Soon


Now where it gets interesting is with the actual batetery packs.

the 100kWh pack has survived the great "non-model3 stuff purge" mid year so there's a fair chance this is actually upcoming and not some spillover. pic.twitter.com/gliPuJhrP7

— green (@greentheonly) December 20, 2019
Green also found codes about a battery upgrade.

Currently, the Model 3’s biggest battery is a 75 kWh pack. But, this could soon be trumped by a 100 kWh pack! It doesn’t seem plausible, but he tweeted, “Now where it gets interesting is with the actual battery packs. the 100kWh pack has survived the great "non-model 3 stuff purge" mid-year so there’s a fair chance this is actually upcoming and not some spillover.” However, I’m still not convinced that Tesla will bring in such a big battery pack for the Model 3. It will send the prices close to the other products and may not even sell in huge numbers.

Tesla Model 3 With Ludicrous Model?


Another interesting set is performance config types.
Baseplus_awd is what is speculated to be theboost, but look at the other options. Ludi mode survived the great model S purge too so there must be a reason for it?
It's also all changeable on the fly. pic.twitter.com/1UXAtWzWJ4

— green (@greentheonly) December 20, 2019
The final de-code was about the performance.

Green found a reference of the Ludicrous Mode for the Model 3.

Musk has promised this in the past, but never got around to it. Musk has announced that it is done with new launches for the near future and will focus on technology for now. So, I think we can expect this to happen quite soon. Or, Musk could also wait for the right time and then launch this feature. Too many uncertainties, but the point is a Ludicrous mode looks very likely to happen.

Final Thoughts

Hacker Uncovers a Big List of Potential Model 3 Upgrades. Including a Larger Battery Exterior
- image 801512
The Tesla Model 3 is the most popular product in the company’s lineup currently. So, it is inevitable that the car receives a lot of upgrades every now and then. The Model 3 Performance recently received an over-the-air update that enhanced the performance by five-percent. Many owners checked this out and all of them felt the increase in their 0-60 mph sprints. The company’s earlier 3.2 seconds claim was squashed by this update as owners were able to breach the three-second barrier. The Model 3 Performance comes with two motors, one attached to each axle, and boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 191 W/kg. With all the codes decoded, the Model 3 could become an even more exciting vehicle to drive. Which hack surprised you the most? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.


From ELECTREC

https://ww.electrek.co/2019/12/21/te...udicrous-mode/

Tesla leaks code hinting at Model 3 100 kWh battery pack, Ludicrous mode, and more - Electrek


Tesla leaked some code in recent software updates hinting at a possible Model 3 with a 100 kWh battery pack, Ludicrous mode, and more.

Some hackers have root access to Tesla’s software in their vehicles, and they have often revealed features ahead of time.

A Tesla hacker known as Green has done it several times, but he slowed down his leaks over the last year, focusing on cool visualizations of what the Tesla Autopilot can see.

For the end of the year, he is back at it and released a ton of interesting information that he found in recent Tesla software updates.

There are some relatively small but interesting changes, like Tesla moving away from traditional TPMS sensors in favor of their own BLE sensors:

For example here's an addition from April that said that Tesla is planning to do away with Conti TPMS sensors and replace them with their own BLE ones (and save money)?

And sure enough this month there was FCC application confirming it https://t.co/5yur4WOJKg pic.twitter.com/J6edXXRq1U

This code leak appears likely to turn out to be correct since as Green pointed out, Tesla has filed an application with the FCC for the new device.

Green also found some hints of new wheels coming from Model 3:

Or the existing wheel types with some upcoming one that there's no picture of yet? pic.twitter.com/cTLBaHqhYG


Tesla recently launched the new Gemini wheels for Model 3, and it wouldn’t be the first time that Tesla wheels first leak through Tesla’s software.

We have also recently seen on Model Y prototypes wheels first unveiled on the Model 3 prototypes but that never made it to market:

It might be one of those new wheels Green is seeing in the code of Tesla’s latest software updates.

Now to the bigger stuff — much bigger, but also less likely to happen.

Green found a reference to a 100 kWh battery pack for the Model 3, which would be a massive increase over the current biggest Model 3 pack (75 kWh):

Now where it gets interesting is with the actual batetery packs.

the 100kWh pack has survived the great "non-model3 stuff purge" mid year so there's a fair chance this is actually upcoming and not some spillover. pic.twitter.com/gliPuJhrP7

The hacker also found a reference to Ludicrous Mode for the Model 3, which is something CEO Elon Musk has promised in the past, but Tesla never released it for the Model 3 Performance:

Another interesting set is performance config types.
Baseplus_awd is what is speculated to be theboost, but look at the other options. Ludi mode survived the great model S purge too so there must be a reason for it?
It's also all changeable on the fly. pic.twitter.com/1UXAtWzWJ4

To be clear, Green himself warns that it’s still all speculation at this point:

Tesla moves in unknown ways and none of that may come to life.

While it’s a good sign that it’s in the software, Tesla has sometimes included things in updates that never made it to the wider fleet.

Electrek’s Take

As a Model 3 Performance owner, I’d love to finally see a power upgrade resulting in a Ludicrous mode, but I also kind of think that if it was going to happen, it would already have.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

As for the 100 kWh battery pack, that would be a massive surprise, and also, not really necessary.

What would Tesla do with a 100 kWh battery pack? A $60,000 Model 3 vehicle with 400 miles? I am not exactly sure how many people actually want that.

300 miles of range is plenty for most people.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against it, but it would be very surprising to me.

The good news is that it would also likely indicate an energy density improvement to enable such an energy capacity in the Model 3 form factor. Maybe with a new Tesla-made battery cell?

[AVANTI R5]

Our long-term Tesla Model 3 broke down on Christmas Day. While parked.

This is the first time we've ever had a long-term car suffer a catastrophic failure while parked, and also the first time we've been alerted to our being stranded by a push notification from a mobile app.

Although the tow truck was extremely quick to arrive, we're now in an unknown holding pattern waiting for parts.

Whatever you call the opposite of a Christmas miracle befell our long-term Model 3 last Wednesday. Our staff photographer, Michael Simari, was at his parents' home for a holiday gathering in suburban Detroit with the Model 3 parked outside when he received an ominous push notification from the Tesla app that the car had "suffered a failure and will no longer drive." Welcome to the connected, digital era of automobiles?

Photo will not post
Tesla push notification
Car and Driver

Not only is this the first time we've ever had a long-term car suffer a catastrophic failure while parked, it's also an extraordinarily rare case of any car leaving us stranded, something unacceptable for any new vehicle, particularly one that costs $57,690 and with merely 5286 miles on the odometer. Even our problem-prone Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was at least able to limp to the dealer following each one of its numerous issues.

Impressively, even on Christmas Day, Tesla roadside assistance got a tow truck to us in about a half hour, which brought the car to the closest service center: Toledo, Ohio, because Tesla isn't allowed to operate company-owned service centers in Michigan. That's only about an hour away from our Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters, far closer than when we had a long-term Model S in 2015 and 2016, which had to be serviced nearly three hours away in Cleveland, Ohio. However, the dramatic increase in Tesla's sales since then has no doubt worked to degrade the service experience. Back in those days, the flatbed to pick up our car would be carrying a loaner Model S to drive while ours was away for service. This time, there was no offer of a loaner or any kind of temporary transportation, such as the Uber rides that we've heard have been proffered to some others in similar situations.

2019 Tesla Model 3 warning message
Michael SimariCar and Driver

Our opinion on the service experience hasn't improved much in the subsequent days. We heard back on the afternoon of the 26th that our car was in the queue to be diagnosed, but there was no time frame given for how long that might take. After a two-day wait, we were informed that there are issues with the rear drive unit, the pyrotechnic battery disconnect, and the 12-volt battery and that they are waiting for parts. Again, no estimated time was given for when we might be able to cease scrambling for backup transportation.

Notably, there had been no earlier warning messages that anything was amiss prior to the failure. The only oddity was that when at a nearby Supercharger earlier that day, the car was charging at only 50 kW, which is far lower than the usual 150-kW peak. Initially, we were sharing a stall with another car, which reduces the charging rate, so we moved to an empty one to see if the power level would increase. But it didn't. We were just about to download the latest software update (2019.40.50.1) but hadn't yet done it, so that didn't have anything to do with it.

After that slow-charging experience, the car was driven 10 miles to the holiday party where it sat for about an hour and a half before the notification of doom.

We'll keep updating this story through our car's repair and return.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...-while-parked/

[AVANTI R5]

Boy you would think a loaner would have been provided. New car with 5K on odometer. Not just the manufacturer but who ever sold it to him . When my brand spanking new 04 STI failed less than 1k think it was week 2, they had a loaner provided Instantly and they didn’t even sell the car to me. Brand Spanking New Impreza, they pulled sticker and plastic off in front me..

Just noticed this was posted , searched title only..didn’t show..

[arghx7]

Cost cutting unfortunately

[Keshav]

interesting. I'm assuming the huge increase in sales have overwhelmed the service infrastructure. It would be advantageous to open-source the diagnosis and repair services, but parts supplies are going to be constrained until they aren't.

[4S-TURBO]

Originally Posted by AVANTI R5

Boy you would think a loaner would have been provided. New car with 5K on odometer. Not just the manufacturer but who ever sold it to him . When my brand spanking new 04 STI failed less than 1k think it was week 2, they had a loaner provided Instantly and they didn’t even sell the car to me. Brand Spanking New Impreza, they pulled sticker and plastic off in front me..

Just noticed this was posted , searched title only..didn’t show..

You and new cars. What happened to that one?

[AVANTI R5]

Well it’s summer 03 everyone Here was posting this first 04 STI available, I think it might have even been posted on EBay Motors from The dealer. No one was buying it, it sat for a while people here where like holy crap why isn’t that selling. It was located in Upstate New York. I get back to the States after three years in Afghanistan with Special Activity Division, people who even heard of it think it is part service it’s not. Anyway, I knew I had only short period of time before I would have to leave again. Jump in a piece **** Chevy Prizm it’s really a Toyota Corolla. Go to the dealer, paid cash for STI, I got 2500 off the sticker 500 for the prizm. Drive it back to PA, stop half way, go to restart, the DCcD would flash go into lock mode Restart car, itwould be ok , I figured it was something stupid, I didn’t know much about it at that point. Get back home over next couple days did it more and more.I Look it up in the manual sure enough it was there. It was going into DCCD failure. By the time I found it in the manual it was really bad. it was going into full lock, so when turning the wheels it was binding up bad. Call closet dealer, drop it off, They are telling me its ok , I said drive it for a couple miles and look on page .?? It’s going into DCCD failure. After a day they said they finally got same result. After 2 weeks , car totally turn apart, Tranmission sent to New Jersey, SOA headquarters for a show and tell session, that I found out on my own. I was pissed they should have told me they where doing that. A wire Coil or something that was a manufacturing problem was resolved/fixed put back together. It was still screwed up. After another a month,(I’m back in Afghanistan) they finally find out the the whole wiring harness had to be replaced,it was shorting out. There wasn’t one available in the states. Then SOA said a 2003 Forester wiring harness would work, So they get it all back together I have someone pick it up. They sign drop off loaner get keys go out to the car pull across street to get gas, he looks the whole front fender was squashed bad, guess the mechanic leaned on it while working squished it , it’s alum. .. I was pissed, They fixed it by using No paint body thingy, they pop it out, without doing body work, it’s incredible couldn’t tell. The whole experience was night mare, took the new car STI fun out of it, plus I didn’t get to enjoy it because the had to leave while they fixing it for two months . Never buy a new model when they come out Waite a good year

[White out]

On the flip side, I've never had a problem with first model year cars I've owned.