We hope you’re sitting down because Tesla has updated the Model 3 to include an even bigger screen. This has been done in tandem with other changes you probably won’t care about, like giving the Performance trim more power and improved range. Premium models also see some improved zero-to-60 times.
But we know that Tesla buyers care most about their screens, which serve as the true heart and soul of these vehicles. All future Model 3 sedans will soon have the standard 15.4-inch screen replaced for a gargantuan 16-inch unit that is likewise supposed to boast a higher pixel density.
Alright, we’re poking fun. New Model 3 buyers will simply be getting the same (slightly larger) screen that’s already been tossed into the Model Y. Considering that Tesla owners have to run basically everything via the central screen, unless they’re the type of person brave enough to use voice commands, this change is a little more relevant than it first seems.
Accounts from the updated Model Y suggest that the new unit boasts a noticeably faster refresh rate and that the higher pixel density does indeed improve image quality. It’s also supposed to be more responsive to touch. One expects this will all carry over to the Model 3.
More interesting is the power bump being given to the Model 3 Performance. The trim is now supposed to offer 528 horsepower (up from 510 hp) and 316 miles of range (up from 309). But we’re curious how this will play out in the real world since the automaker’s official zero-to-60 time hasn’t moved from 2.9 seconds.
Realistically speaking, that kind of power likely wouldn’t be sufficient to make much of a difference on a stop watch. The car is already ridiculously quick to 60 mph and a dozen extra ponies would only impact numbers a few decimal places to the right. But Tesla also didn’t come out and didn’t specify that customers would see any fractional changes to quarter-mile times or trap speeds.
The Premium AWD was said to be quicker, however. Formerly cited as launching to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, Tesla said the vehicle could now accomplish this in just 3.8 seconds. That’s a significant improvement. But it did not come with updated horsepower figures, just the assurance that its peak range of 346 miles would go unaffected.
Obviously those range estimates are subject to how you’re driving the vehicle. If you’re thrashing your Model 3 Premium or Performance during a commute, there’s zero chance your numbers will come anywhere close to those manufacturer-cited specs.
While undoubtedly exciting for some, these updates didn’t exactly fall out of the sky. Tesla had already confirmed most of these changes for the Chinese market, which has taken top priority for numerous Western brands in recent years.
Interestingly, there was no mention of Western models gaining the capability to be used as rolling batteries. Tesla likewise has the “Powershare” feature on the Cybertruck, which ties the vehicle back into the broader electrical grid and even lets it function as a backup battery for the home with the relevant accessories. This is in addition to it being able to power devices needing the kind of starting watts that an automobile normally couldn’t accommodate directly.
With vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities having become increasingly common among newer EVs, one would expect Tesla to extend those features to North America — rather than letting it remain exclusive to Model 3s being produced for China and Australia.
The Model 3 is also supposed to receive a new Zen Gray cabin color, which will replace black or white on certain trims. But this again looks like it may be locked to select markets. As with the missing vehicle-to-load features, this may just be something the automaker needs to set up for regional production facilities. Odds are decent that Western markets will see both, even if Tesla hasn’t yet said so.
One thing that won’t be changing on the Model 3 is the price. Tesla continues listing the base trim as starting MSRP at $36,990 (rear-wheel drive). Meanwhile, the Model 3 Premium starts at $42,490 without AWD and $47,490 with. The Model 3 Performance will start at $54,990 and only comes with AWD.
While the final sum for those cars will likewise need to incorporate Tesla’s $1,390 destination fee, it’s still rare to see any automaker not goosing their asking price these days. However, the only meaningful physical change for the Western Hemisphere is the slightly bigger screen. We’re assuming the boosted performance is down to software modifications.
[Images: Tesla]
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