Ever since the debut of the Elise-based Tesla Roadster, Elon Musk has been wanting to change the way the general public views electric cars and associate its brand with a trendy image, much like what has been achieved by Apple in its sector. Fast forward to today and you can purchase extremely fast, luxurious and stylish cars such as the Model S and recently introduced Model X crossover which both have a huge following all over the world. However, neither of these cars are affordable for most people and Tesla hopes to enter a much larger, cost-conscious market with a brand new offering: The Model 3.
At first glance, this is unmistakably a Tesla with its sleek lines, large greenhouse and familiar rear end. However, it does separate itself from the rest of the range with a much smaller body, reshaped full-LED headlights and a sculpted front bumper. Speaking of which, the approach taken to the front end may divide opinion with the lack of a faux grille (featured on the Model S) making it look bland. On the other hand, it adds to the Model 3's simplistic nature. Me? I wish it had the faux grille but the Model 3 unquestionably the most attractive electric car within its price range.
On the inside, the obsession with simplicity continues. The prototype is almost devoid of any styling features, aside from that huge touch screen which is arguably larger than any screen fitted to a car (and wow, I thought the screen in the Model S was huge!). What appears to be a giant iPad plastered onto the centre console is a 4K resolution screen, containing all the information you could ever need to monitor the vehicle, including a speedometer which is reportedly in the driver's line of sight.... Just. On the positive side, you got a huge amount of room, and Elon Musk claims you can fit 5 adults inside comfortably thanks to the clever packaging of batteries underneath the floor.
With the exterior and interior proving to be modest, it should come as no surprise the performance should follow suit. Compared to the Model S P90D being able to complete the 0-60mph sprint in less than 3 seconds these days, the Model 3 gets to 60mph in a more leisurely 6 seconds. Still, that is by no means slow and more powerful versions are almost guaranteed in the near future. The range is officially rated at 215 miles, but expect to get closer to the 200-mark in the real world.
So, the launch of this car was a pretty big deal - Elon Musk claims the Model 3 scooped 115,000 pre-orders on the night of the car's debut. That's $115m of revenue gained ($1000 deposit per order) on a car that's not going to be released for at least a year! It is pretty clear Tesla is becoming the world's latest cult brand, following the footsteps of Apple and the iPhone - People were queuing, even camping outside Tesla showrooms waiting to place their order. Tesla has made itself appealing with the internet generation by showing how EV technology can be exciting by showcasing videos of autonomous technology, drag races against supercars and much more. Now when the brand enters a more mainstream market, the sizeable fanbase which could not afford a Model S or X can now aspire to purchase a Model 3 at a very reasonable $35,000 (about £25,000 in the UK). The auto industry is extremely difficult to crack for newcomers, but early statistics show that Elon Musk has played his cards right. Remember how Apple got nearly everyone to switch from feature phones to smartphones? A similar radical shift may be awaiting for the automotive industry, with Tesla leading the way towards electrification of the motor car.
At first glance, this is unmistakably a Tesla with its sleek lines, large greenhouse and familiar rear end. However, it does separate itself from the rest of the range with a much smaller body, reshaped full-LED headlights and a sculpted front bumper. Speaking of which, the approach taken to the front end may divide opinion with the lack of a faux grille (featured on the Model S) making it look bland. On the other hand, it adds to the Model 3's simplistic nature. Me? I wish it had the faux grille but the Model 3 unquestionably the most attractive electric car within its price range.
On the inside, the obsession with simplicity continues. The prototype is almost devoid of any styling features, aside from that huge touch screen which is arguably larger than any screen fitted to a car (and wow, I thought the screen in the Model S was huge!). What appears to be a giant iPad plastered onto the centre console is a 4K resolution screen, containing all the information you could ever need to monitor the vehicle, including a speedometer which is reportedly in the driver's line of sight.... Just. On the positive side, you got a huge amount of room, and Elon Musk claims you can fit 5 adults inside comfortably thanks to the clever packaging of batteries underneath the floor.
With the exterior and interior proving to be modest, it should come as no surprise the performance should follow suit. Compared to the Model S P90D being able to complete the 0-60mph sprint in less than 3 seconds these days, the Model 3 gets to 60mph in a more leisurely 6 seconds. Still, that is by no means slow and more powerful versions are almost guaranteed in the near future. The range is officially rated at 215 miles, but expect to get closer to the 200-mark in the real world.
So, the launch of this car was a pretty big deal - Elon Musk claims the Model 3 scooped 115,000 pre-orders on the night of the car's debut. That's $115m of revenue gained ($1000 deposit per order) on a car that's not going to be released for at least a year! It is pretty clear Tesla is becoming the world's latest cult brand, following the footsteps of Apple and the iPhone - People were queuing, even camping outside Tesla showrooms waiting to place their order. Tesla has made itself appealing with the internet generation by showing how EV technology can be exciting by showcasing videos of autonomous technology, drag races against supercars and much more. Now when the brand enters a more mainstream market, the sizeable fanbase which could not afford a Model S or X can now aspire to purchase a Model 3 at a very reasonable $35,000 (about £25,000 in the UK). The auto industry is extremely difficult to crack for newcomers, but early statistics show that Elon Musk has played his cards right. Remember how Apple got nearly everyone to switch from feature phones to smartphones? A similar radical shift may be awaiting for the automotive industry, with Tesla leading the way towards electrification of the motor car.
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