The Tesla Model 3 should soon offer a new version with a revised style and many mechanical and technological improvements. If Elon Musk hasn’t confirmed anything yet, it seems like a good time to upgrade to the Model 3 in version 2.
The Tesla Model 3 has been on the market for five years now: first in the United States before arriving in Europe in 2018, with the Paris Motor Show. Evoked since 2007 years the Master Plan of Elon Musk under the codename BlueStarthe compact has evolved relatively little during its career.
A new version
Certainly, new versions have emerged over the years, with the Long Range Dual Motor and Performance among others. In October 2020, the star of the brand got a slight facelift, including the arrival of new rims, a heat pump and new batteries. The design had meanwhile hardly changed, except for the window surrounds then becoming black and no longer chrome.
But it is rumored that bigger changes would be planned for the sedan, now overtaken by the Model Y in terms of sales. Because despite the success of the latter around the world, the brand does not forget the sedan, which is starting to have more and more rivals on the market, with the Renault Mégane E-Tech and other BMW i4, among others. But also with the arrival of new players, such as the world number 2 in electric cars, BYD.
It is therefore time for the Model 3 to afford a real facelift. A few days ago, the American agency Reuters indeed evoked the “Project Highland”, simply designating the restyling of the compact. The latter must then cover many aspects, such as reducing the number of components, as well as simplifying the interior, which is already very refined. This version should also offer new batteries equipped with 4680 cells.
This overhaul should also focus on the infotainment system, which should offer some improvements that have not yet been detailed. All these developments should allow the brand to reduce production costs, and therefore increase its margins. It could also be that the firm takes the opportunity to reduce its prices, as it has already done in China in order to revive falling sales.
Several conditions
This restyling should also relate to the design, whilea camouflaged copy of what could be the restyled Model 3 had been seen in a parking lot. But for the time being, no official information has been revealed by Elon Musk, who had listed in 2021 a few conditions that the brand had to meet before thinking about upgrading its electric sedan.
Relayed by Teslarati, the new boss of Twitter first wanted to wait for his factories in Freemont and Berlin to turn. This is now the case, while the German Gigafactory produces several versions of the Model Y, many of which have already been delivered to Europe. Another prerequisite was that the Model 3 no longer represents the majority of the firm’s sales volume.
If this was the case before the launch of the compact SUV, the latter now dominates the “3”, becoming in September the best-selling new car in Europe, all engines combined. Everything therefore suggests that the signals are green for the start of production of the restyled version. Especially sinceElon Musk did not deny the Reuters report.
This new version should be assembled in the factory in Freemont, Texas, which should undergo some changes in order to adapt its production lines. According to the latest rumors, the restyled Model 3 is already in the testing phase and should emerge in the second half of 2023.
As for the Model Y, the future Model 3 should be designed with far fewer parts, thanks to the Giga Press which will also be used for the manufacture of the electric pickup, the Cybertruck.
A prototype of a restyled Tesla Model 3 was seen in a parking lot. Unfortunately, it is almost completely camouflaged. However, this allows us to imagine a significant improvement, in terms of autonomous driving and…
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