The new version of the Tesla Model 3 is about to hit the market. Code name ? Highland Project. On the program: RGB lights that shine brightly, an all-new electric steering wheel and other features.
Since the end of last year, there have been a lot of rumors circulating that Tesla is working on a refresh of their flagship vehicle, the Model 3. This project will be planned for the second half of 2023. But then where do these rumors come from? ? In December 2022, a massively camouflaged prototype would have been seen in the test phase on a Californian road.
Five months later, in April 2023, a first leaked photo, this time the Model 3 is fully visible and stripped of all camouflage. There, the facelift is more obvious, with aesthetic changes visible from the outside. However, users are not expecting an aesthetic evolution, since we know that this new version will include the new Hardware 4.0 autonomous driving technology. Finally, the novelties concerning the Highland Project are rare and Tesla plays the suspense well as usual.
Electric steering wheel and RGB light ecosystem
Tesla users have a dedicated community platform, Teslascope. It allows them to share their driving and performance data and also gives the company the possibility of collecting data on its fleet of vehicles. It is through this platform that a conversation between Tesla employees would have been notified, during which they discussed the details of the facelift of the Model 3.
According to what has been reported, the renewal of the model will be more important than the simple external observations that have already been practiced. Recently, the media Electrek had brought up the information that a brand new electric steering wheel system would take place on board the car.
A new matrix LED lighting system will also equip the model, like the S/X models. And the highlight of the show: for lovers of shimmering light shows, an all-new set of ambient RGB lights will adorn the Model 3. Nice, but not exactly revolutionary, considering the number of car brands that have been equipped with them since. years.
A plausible evolution
All this information deserves to be taken with precaution as its origin is vague and it is more or less an aggregation of precise details and more vague potential changes. There is also talk of a new camera on the rear of the vehicle. Other more abstract details mention a better audio system and increased comfort on board thanks to new seats.
The electric steering wheel can be considered the most plausible novelty, since Tesla announced in 2019 the arrival of it in its pickup, the Cybertruck. To see if it will take the form of the highly contested Yoke steering wheel, deemed impractical in everyday use or a more classic appearance.
Project Highland is becoming clearer thanks to this new report and reveals some details concerning the revival of the Model 3. Despite this, gray areas persist and Tesla has not yet confirmed the official launch date and above all, its price!
Sources: Electrek, Numerama, Medium
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