Following the restyling of the Tesla Model 3 in 2023 (Model 3 Highland), its sporty Performance version has disappeared from the catalog. However, via various leaks, we quickly learned that Tesla was indeed working on a new supercharged version of its electric sedan. Nicknamed Model 3 Ludicrous since its badge in reference to the film Spaceballs has leaked, this new variation has already been seen camouflaged.
A private event in Malibu
From now on, it is without any camouflage that the Model 3 Ludicrous seems to have been seen.
Photos published by the user Imtz on the Chinese social network Xiaohongshu thus report an event organized by Tesla, supposedly to present this Model 3 Ludicrous. The user specifies: “I have seen the real car, and it is very different from the old Model 3 Performance and the classic Model 3. There are changes to the exterior and interior. It is still worth seeing wait with impatience.”
Other photos were then published, on X this time, by a certain @BooDev. We see the one that looks like it could be the Model 3 Ludicrous without any camouflage. This would be a private event at the Tesla Store in Malibu, aimed at showcasing the car.
If all these photos may cast doubt on their veracity, especially on April 1st, they seem very real and the events agree between the two posts. Furthermore, the presence in these photos of the Cybertruck of Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s head of design, or even of journalist Cyril Drevet from Turbo, suggests that they are authentic. American YouTubers Marques Brownlee and Jason Cammisa, who had already had access to Tesla exclusives, were also seen in Malibu.
These photos allow us to see a reworked front shield, which further distinguishes this sporty version from the rest of the range. A specific spoiler and rims, which correspond to a design that had already leaked, are also present, as is the famous Ludicrous badge.
Everything therefore suggests that the official presentation of the new sports version of the Model 3 is imminent. It remains to know its technical sheet, which could be more radical than the old Model 3 Performance. User BooDev reportedly heard of a 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds, while the Model 3 Performance took 3.1 seconds for the same exercise, omitting the first 30 centimeters approximately.