Restyled in 2023, the Tesla Model 3 did not immediately renew its Performance version. Since then, however, numerous leaks have confirmed that Tesla was indeed working on a new sports version of its electric sedan. It is now official and takes the name of the old Model 3 Performance, although we previously imagined that it could have been called Model 3 Ludicrous.
As rumors announced, Tesla went a little further in modifying its Model 3 Performance to make it truly sporty. Its front and rear shields have been slightly reworked and the Model 3 Performance is equipped with adaptive suspensions, the absence of which we regretted during our test of the previous version.
The new 20″ Warp rims are also now wider at the rear than at the front. Inside, the Model 3 Performance inherits sports seats similar to those recently launched on the Model S Plaid. They should ensure better lateral support than those of the previous version, which was sorely lacking. The rest of the modifications compared to the other Model 3 concern the stabilizer bars, the silent blocks, the brakes, the decorative carbon fiber inserts and even the V3 Track mode. , which now also acts on adaptive suspensions.
A less efficient version in Europe
While the old Model 3 Performance was already very fast, it lacked some of the touches usually found on sporty versions of competing models. This is now corrected, but it is ultimately on the performance that we would almost dare to be disappointed by this new version. Indeed, if it announces up to 517 hp in North America, the new Model 3 Performance must be satisfied with 460 hp in Europe. This difference would be due to the power delivered by the battery which equips the versions produced in Fremont, California, and those assembled in Shanghai, China. The models produced in the United States are supposedly equipped with Panasonic batteries, while Tesla would source from LG Energy Solution for the Model 3 Performance produced in China, which are those delivered in Europe.
The two electric motors of the new European Model 3 Performance, which therefore still offers four-wheel drive, allow it to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds, two tenths better than the previous version. Let us remember, however, that Tesla communicates on a time which omits the first 30 centimeters approximately, as is done during drag races. The top speed is announced at 262 km/h, or 1 km/h more than previously.
The range is announced at 528 km for models sold in Europe. This is less than the 547 km of the old Model 3 Performance, or the 629 km range of a Model 3 Grande Autonomie.
In terms of prices, you need to count on €55,990 to afford the new Model 3 Performance. This is €2,000 more than the last recorded price of the previous version, but with a good number of additional equipment, some common to other restyled Model 3s. The price of this Model 3 Performance is also incomparable to that of its thermal rivals, which are much more expensive and heavily taxed.