Tesla’s Model 3 lives up to the hype with impressive set of features

In a brief history of the automobile, this is definitely something we haven’t seen before. Tesla has lifted the veil on its most important undertaking: the Model 3, a US$35,000 car designed to bring electric vehicles and autonomous driving towards the masses. By the looks of it, and also the interest it’s attracting, it just might succeed. 

On Thursday, Tesla raked in 134,000 reservations, each having a $1,000 deposit. Which was before most people saw the car. Just a little perspective on those numbers: Nowadays there are more reservations for the Model 3 than total sales of all previous Tesla cars combined. If the refundable deposits become deliveries, this would represent a US$6 billion launch. (Assuming a typical sticker price of US$45,000. After Tesla’s popular and dear options, it’s likely to be even higher. )

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Here are a few of the features Tesla disclosed at its special day in California:

– The bottom Model 3 ranges from zero to 60 miles (96.6 kilometres) each hour in less than 6 seconds. That’s faster than the entry BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S Class, the key cars within the compact luxury space. 



– The car will be able to drive a the least 215 miles (346 kilometres) on one charge, with choices to upgrade to a bigger battery. Tesla Chairman Elon Musk said the organization will push to have an a lot longer range on the base model between now and the car’s first deliveries.  

– The rooftop is an almost continuous sheet of glass that stretches in the front from the car to the rear to give riders a feeling of openness. The layered glass is made to block Ultra violet rays and manage heat.

– All cars can come designed with the hardware for Tesla’s Autopilot features and high-speed Supercharging.

– The Model 3 will have two trunks and much more cargo space than any car of their size. A seven-foot surf board will fit within the car, Musk said. 

– The body is made of a mixture of lightweight aluminum and cheaper steel, primarily the latter.

– Tesla’s signature touch-screen user interface will be flipped on its side and shrunk from 17 inches (43.1 centimetres) to 15 inches (38.1 centimetres). It handles everything from navigation to hurry.

– The traditional instrument panel underneath the dash is gone entirely.  

– The car is designed to fit five adults comfortably, partly by pushing the leading passengers toward provide more legroom within the back seat. 

– Rear-wheel drive is standard, by having an choice for dual-motor all-wheel drive. 

– The amount of Tesla’s high-speed charging stations will double after the coming year to 7,200. Slower destination chargers will jump from three,689 to fifteen,000.

– Also after 2017, the amount of Tesla places where people can buy or service cars will a lot more than double to 441 worldwide.

At the unveiling, Musk centered on the features that come with the base US$35,000 price of the vehicle and said more options and upgrades will be revealed before the car goes into production next year. “You will not be able to purchase a better car at $35,000.”  

By the design from it, he might be right.

Bloomberg News