Cheaper Model 3 EV starts at $ 35K, garners 115,000 advance orders
The speculation, hype and excitement in the days leading up to the March 31 unveiling of the Tesla Model 3 felt more like the launch of an Apple product than any new-car event. Enthusiastic Tesla fans at the company’s stores around the world camped overnight and waited in long lines to be some of the very first to put a $ 1,000 deposit down on the new $ 35,000 electric sedan. The lines stretched blocks long and more than 100 people deep in some cities. To add to that buzz, at one store in Los Angeles, CEO Elon Musk even showed up to thank fans and slap them high-fives for their devotion to the brand. And they are anything if not devoted: The car isn’t expected to arrive before late 2017, and none of the folks in these lines had seen as much as a photo of the car yet. By the end of the day, Tesla had amassed more than 115,000 in-store and online orders.
Judging by what we saw last night, those who put down money on a Model 3 won’t be disappointed. When Musk strolled on stage at Tesla’s design center in Hawthorne, California, and finally pulled the wraps off the Model 3, the crowd of nearly 800 Tesla fans didn’t just cheer — they roared.
Tesla’s Model 3 will start at $ 35,000 according to the company.
The Model 3 is a handsome machine that looks every bit like a smaller version of the company’s Model S. Musk didn’t reveal many of the car’s specs or features, but he did say base cars can travel more than 215 miles between charge-ups and hit 60 mph in six seconds. All Model 3s will have the hardware for Autopilot and be Supercharger capable — critical, considering Tesla plans to double the number of those Supercharger stations to 7,200 worldwide by 2017. Musk assured the crowd that safety is a key component of all Teslas and expects the Model 3 to return five stars in every safety category. The Model 3 has front and rear trunks just like the Model S, so according to Tesla, it should provide more cargo space than any car in its class. Musk says it can even fit a 7-foot surfboard.
We had a chance to go for a short ride in the Model 3, though our car wasn’t a base model. It was equipped with the optional air suspension and rode on big 235/35R20 tires up front and fat 275/30R20 rear tires, likely an upgrade over smaller standard tires. We also learned that this particular Model 3 was a dual motor model with all-wheel drive — it was certainly quick, pushing us deep into the seat with that wonderful thick wall of torque that’s typical of all Teslas.
On the inside the dash is very low and provides an expansive view of the road ahead. There are no gauges in the Model 3 — just one huge, 15-inch touchscreen monitor that displays everything from speed to navigation and climate controls. There are no buttons anywhere on the dash, which is both clean looking and a bit strange at the same time. We sat in the rear seat and found legroom and headroom is excellent. Practically the entire roof was glass on our car, which provided a wonderful view. Roof options will also include a metal panel over the driver.
The new Tesla Model 3 EV
After the $ 7,500 federal EV tax credit, a base Tesla Model 3 should cost right around $ 27,500. The Model 3’s chief competitor will be the Chevy Bolt. With the same credit, the 200-mile-range Bolt will sell for $ 30,000 and reportedly hit 60 mph in less then seven seconds. The Bolt gets the jump on the Model 3 in terms of timing. It will arrive by the end of 2016 — a full year ahead of the Tesla. But the Bolt doesn’t have Tesla’s sleek design, techy cachet or built-in fan base.
The Model 3 is most certainly the most important car Tesla has ever produced. It’s the first one priced in a neighborhood that many new car buyers can afford. And as long as the Model 3 launches without the delays and quality problems of the previous models, it will be key to the company meeting its goal of moving 500,000 cars a year by 2020.
