Tesla presented the Model 3 facelift last September, but without presenting the high-end version. The Performance model must be around the corner given that preliminary details are hiding in the source code of the company’s UK configurator. A reader of our sister site Inside electric vehicles I found the juicy details hidden in plain sight. We have checked the source code and can confirm that everything is there.
The updated Model 3 Performance gets “all-new high-performance drive units” that will deliver a combined output of more than 500 horsepower. The exact figure produced by the two motors is not mentioned, but Tesla claims that it is “the most powerful Model 3 ever created.” As a reminder, the old one was rated at 505 hp.
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Tesla mentions that it has also tweaked the chassis and suspension for “intuitive and precise response to driver inputs.” Elsewhere, pedal feel has been improved, as has heat management for more consistent braking regardless of speed. The new Model 3 Performance also features lightweight, offset wheels with unspecified tires for “increased traction when exiting corners.”
As for the aesthetic changes, the same source code mentions “redesigned front and rear fascias, rear diffuser and carbon fiber spoiler.” Inside, it gets an “all-new seat design with improved side bolsters and cushions” and ventilation. To distinguish it from lesser versions of the Model 3, Tesla is giving the Performance a “lightweight carbon fiber decor and refined weave pattern.”
There are also a bunch of images that we couldn’t get off the website. Also, the 0-60 mph time is a placeholder since the source code only says {ACCELERATION}. The old Model 3 Performance required 3.1 seconds. Range doesn’t appear to be listed, but we’ll remind you that the outgoing model was EPA-rated at 315 miles.
Weight is not mentioned, although a previous leak indicated it would remain unchanged, at 4,089 pounds. It is also believed that the battery capacity of 82 kWh will be identical, but nothing is official yet.
As for the name, it seems to be postponed. Despite rumors that it would be renamed the Model 3 Ludicrous, it looks like Performance is sticking around.
As Tesla updates its regional websites to include the new Model 3 Performance, expect an official reveal in the coming days or weeks.
