Tesla Model 3 Performance: Electric Excitement Meets Braking Concerns
The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling electric car in the world, offering excellent value for money, terrific range, strong practicality and a variety of technological features that set it apart from its rivals.
Lets Find out How is Tesla Model 3 Performance
The Tesla Model 3 Performance represents the most aggressive and refined soul of the Californian brand. Unlike the larger and more luxurious Model S Plaid, the Model 3 presents itself as a more accessible, compact proposal – although its dimensions are still notable – extremely fun to drive and designed to fully involve whoever is behind the wheel.
However, there is a small clarification to be made. Compared to the first generation, the Model 3 loses a few points in terms of dynamics, favoring instead greater comfort and better soundproofing of the passenger compartment. Despite this, the Tesla Model 3 boasts an impressive power of 460 HP and a maximum torque of 723 Nm , translating into extraordinary performance.
Overview
Outlook
Interiors
Road Test
Battery Power
Price
Overview -Tesla Model 3
FEATURES
- ENGINE: two engines, front and rear
- POWER: 338 kW (460 HP)
- TORQUE: 723 Nm
- TRACTION: All-wheel drive AWD
- BRAKES: 4 discs
- CHARGER: AC 11 kW, DC 250 kW
DIMENSIONS
- LENGTH: 4,724 mm
- WIDTH: 1,850 mm
- HEIGHT: 1,431 mm
- WHEELBASE: 2,875 mm
- BOOT: 594 litres + 88 litres front
- RIMS: 20″
- WEIGHT: 1,830 kg in running order
- BATTERY: 75 kWh net (79 kWh gross)
PERFORMANCES
- MAXIMUM SPEED: 262 km/h
- ACCELERATION 0-100 Km/h: 3.1 seconds
- CONSUMPTION: 17 kWh/100 km
- AUTONOMY: 528 km
- CO2 EMISSIONS: 0 grams per km (WLTP combined)
- AC CHARGING: 11 kW
- DC CHARGING: 250km
PRICE: starting from €54,475 (with Tesla Bonus of €4,000)
Outlook-Tesla Model 3
At first glance, this version of the Tesla Model 3 may seem similar to the traditional variant, but a closer look reveals numerous details that emphasize its sporty vocation. The new set-up, designed to lower the car, offers a significant improvement in driving dynamics , making it more responsive and engaging, with a more precise and immediate response to steering wheel inputs.
The bumpers, both front and rear, have been revisited to give a more aggressive look , without compromising aerodynamic efficiency, but rather increasing it.
The lighting, on the other hand, has been refined thanks to the updated light clusters with adaptive LED matrix technology, which guarantees optimal visibility in every situation.
At the front, new aerodynamic appendages – such as the splitter under the bumper and the side vents – add aggression to the design, but always with an eye on performance and efficiency.
The 20” forged alloy wheels, with their aerodynamic design and matte anthracite finish, are one of the most attractive features.
Although these wheels improve the aerodynamics, I have to admit that, once the covers are removed, they look really elegant and well-proportioned.
In this section you can also see more of this car’s braking system, featuring red Tesla-branded calipers and a larger disc than the standard version.
I would have liked to see, however, a side skirt similar to the front splitter, which would have further accentuated the sporty look of the car. However, the black pack , with contrasting door handles and window profiles, adds a touch of elegance and dynamism, perfectly balancing sportiness and refinement.
At the rear, the design is equally bold: the headlights, familiar from the Model 3 Highland, are accompanied by an elegant carbon fiber spoiler on the tailgate, a rear diffuser and a “Ludicrous” badge that, placed under the tailgate, leaves no doubt about the intentions of this high-performance version of the Model 3.
A perfect mix of power and design that communicates without words that this car is ready to get serious. Personally I find the Tesla Model 3 a very well made car in terms of design and I must say that I really fell in love with this version, from every angle of observation in fact it is possible to notice one of its gems and its more decisive character.
Inside the cabin, the changes compared to the standard version of the Model 3 are more subtle than one might expect. Although the central screen, which manages all the functions of the car, remains unchanged, I would have preferred a more evident customization to fully reflect the sporty and performance character of this version.
In particular, the seats and dashboard could have been enriched with distinctive details, to further accentuate the dynamic soul of the car.
The sports seats, with integrated headrests, are undoubtedly very up-to-date and offer good lateral support, but a finish with contrasting stitching or more marked details would certainly have improved the overall, purely aesthetic experience, enhancing the sportiness of the passenger compartment.
One aspect that does not go unnoticed is the steering wheel, which remains identical to that of the standard Model 3.
Comfortable for daily driving, in a more intense and sporty driving situation, its design could be limiting.
The small diameter is a positive aspect, but a thinner and wider rim would probably have improved the driving feel, offering greater control and precision.
Additionally, the “Ludicrous” logo under the headrest is a subtle yet significant nod to the car’s performance nature, without being too intrusive.
In the rear, the space remains similar to that of the traditional Model 3, with a good level of comfort for passengers.
However, the more supportive sports seats reduce legroom a bit compared to the basic version, while still allowing for a pleasant journey, also thanks to the presence of the dedicated screen.
As for the trunk, it offers a remarkable capacity, which is close to 600 liters, also considering the space underneath. However, its practicality leaves something to be desired when it comes to loading large objects, given that the opening is a bit limited. Despite this, the electrically actuated opening solution represents an element of convenience that does not go unnoticed.
Road Test-Tesla Model 3
Once you drive the new Tesla Model 3 Performance there are some elements that immediately capture your attention and, personally, I appreciated some of them and others less.
The steering wheel, for example, is really very comfortable and practical even if it is a bit sausage-shaped but I just can’t get used to the buttons for using the indicators and high beams that are on the steering wheel because they are really uncomfortable and very unintuitive.
On this car, as usual, minimalism reigns and the total absence of buttons, another element that leaves me perplexed every time I drive a Tesla because all the functions are managed by the large central display.
If on the one hand those who buy an Elon Musk car know very well that this is a compromise to accept, on the other hand I find that in addition to being uncomfortable – also because if you consider the countless functions of this car it is not easy to find them all – it can also be quite dangerous due to the distraction that the search on the display brings to the driver.
Very good are the new front seats of this Model 3 on steroids that come with a new design with integrated headrest and ludicrous badge, side bulges for a containment functionality, carried out impeccably, and I must say also really very comfortable.
In “quiet” conditions, so acceleration “Soft”, suspension “Standard” that absorbs road bumps well and steering calibration on “Light” , it is like driving a Model 3 Highland in Long Range version.
However, looking at the dashboard, the carbon-like moldings remind us of what we are driving and once the acceleration is set to “Insane”, the suspension on “Sport” – which for the first time is electronically controlled on this car – and the steering on “Heavy “, at this point the driving sensations change and the Performance label comes out forcefully.
The roughness of the road is felt much more markedly and the electric power available begins to excite the driver and, I would say, scare his passengers.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance boasts a power output of 460 hp and a maximum torque of 723 Nm , data that translates into extraordinary acceleration: the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is covered in just 3.1 seconds , while the maximum speed reaches 262 km/h .
It is possible that you have heard of even more high-performance variants of this model. If so, you are not mistaken: the versions intended for the American market are in fact equipped with a different battery pack, capable of offering higher performance – around 510 hp – than the European ones. However, the specifications for the European market are already of the highest level and, all things considered, more than adequate to guarantee an exciting driving experience .
Before delving into further aspects of the Tesla Model 3 Performance, it is important to highlight two elements that, in my opinion, are less convincing than the overall impressive exuberance of the car: the steering and the braking system .
Source -Reddit
As for the steering, despite the setting in Insane mode, with Heavy steering calibration and sports suspension, I found it to be excessively light which, compared to the previous generation that I had the opportunity to test, seems to have lost some of its precision, especially in the closing phases of the curve.
I would like to point out that this is not a steering that is lacking in absolute terms: the control remains very direct and reactive, with rapid response times, but the excessive lightness can sometimes reduce the sense of control, slightly penalizing the perception of precision compared to the previous version.
I was perhaps expecting that extra sharpness that would have made it really interesting.
Moving on to the braking system, the doubts become more marked. On a car of this performance caliber, it is unacceptable to perceive a feeling of poor braking efficiency .
The brakes appear undersized for the potential of the car and, in the absence of the contribution of regenerative braking in Track mode, the pedal response is stiff and not very modulable , transmitting feedback that is not always reassuring. Furthermore, in conditions of intensive use, the brakes tend to overheat quickly, further reducing performance and raising doubts about their adequacy in prolonged sports driving contexts.
An aspect to pay particular attention to, especially for those who intend to fully exploit the dynamic capabilities of the car.
Only by stopping and putting the car in Park can you access what is perhaps the most interesting feature and the one that best embodies the name “Performance”, namely Track Mode.
By accessing this mode – which Tesla recommends using exclusively on the track – you can customize the behavior of the car to your liking: you can choose whether to distribute the torque to the rear or the front , with various intermediate levels, you can choose the level of regenerative braking , the resistance exerted by the powertrain and how much stability assistance to have.
Once I found my driving settings on track mode I understood the true potential of this Model 3 Performance, the games in fact change decidedly.
Without the stability controls the car becomes a wild horse and begins to have a much more peppery behavior: the suspensions stiffen further and the torque delivery is nothing short of lightning-fast.
In this mode, you feel more of the inside wheel slipping , which dirties the trajectory of a curve, an element that can be attributed to the absence of a self-locking differential, but I don’t feel like highlighting it as a defect.
Excluding some elements mentioned above that I did not particularly like and once you have acquired full familiarity with the safety transmitted by this car, you find yourself in the presence of a car with remarkable, or rather, impressive, performances .
It demonstrates exceptional stability on the road , despite the mass of 1,830 kg, and tackles curves with surprising aggressiveness, rare for an electric vehicle.
BATTERY-Power-Tesla Model 3
The declared autonomy is about 520 km , made possible by the 79 kWh battery (75 kWh usable) supplied by LG, the same one also installed in the Long Range version .
This accumulator allows for ultra-fast charging up to 250 kW , allowing you to go from 20% to 80% of the capacity in just over 20 minutes.
A particularly interesting aspect concerns the management of autonomy: during sportier driving, the available range is inevitably reduced, but to a less drastic extent than one might expect or than what can be observed in some competing models.
Price-Tesla Model 3
As reported a list price of €58,470, a price that confirms the Model 3 Performance as a reference in the segment, standing out for a refined, technologically advanced product, engaging to drive and, above all, offered at a relatively affordable cost.
To date, however, Tesla has decided to offer in Italy a “Tesla Bonus” of €4,000 for both Model 3 and Model Y, this means that the purchase price of the Model 3 Performance drops to €54,475.
Although there may still be more suitable alternatives for those seeking the most extreme emotions behind the wheel, it is important to consider how the evolution of electric vehicles is proceeding at a rapid pace .
In a few years, the pleasure of driving in its purest form could become an increasingly achievable prerogative also for this type of propulsion.
This blog detail’s source is edmunds.com Tesla
