The Tesla Model 3 Thread

Tesla Model 3 loses Consumer Reports recommendation

An influential US product-testing and review organisation says it can no longer recommend the Tesla Model 3 because owners of the car have complained about problems with body hardware, paint and trim.

"Our latest survey data has surfaced numerous problems reported by Model 3 owners," Consumer Reports said online, explaining the removal of its recommendation for the electric sedan.

The decision by the nonprofit organisation is based on results of its annual reliability survey.

The Model 3, which costs about $44 000 (R616 000) in the US, is critical for Tesla, which hopes it becomes a mass market vehicle. Its other problems since launching in 2017 include production delays resulting in long wait times for buyers.

Tesla said in a statement that it has corrected many of the problems found in the survey.

"Not only are our cars the safest and best performing vehicles available today, we take feedback from our customers very seriously and quickly implement improvements any time we hear about issues," according to the statement, quoted in US media reports.

The majority of the issues have already been corrected through design and manufacturing improvements, Tesla's statement added.

Despite the difficulties, Consumer Reports said the car has "largely lived up to its promise as a highly competitive sports sedan, earning a respectable road-test score, which puts it not far behind the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series."

Neither of Tesla's other cars, the Model S luxury sedan nor the Model X SUV, is recommended by Consumer Reports.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/indu...oses-consumer-reports-recommendation-19440991
 
Entry-level Tesla Model 3 goes on sale in US for $35,000

Firm launches electric saloon's long-awaited standard spec - and switches to purely online sales

The long-awaited ‘entry-level’ Tesla Model 3 has now gone on sale in the USA, with a US $35,000 (£26,000) starting price and a 220-mile range – at the same time as the firm has moved all of its sales online only.

Company boss Elon Musk has long promised that the electric saloon would eventually be offered in a Standard-spec, and it is now available to order on the company’s website, along with a new mid-range ’Standard Range Plus’ model designed to bridge the gap to the current mid-range, long-range and Performance models.

Musk said the standard Model 3 was “an incredible car”, citing a top speed of 130mph and a 0-60mph time of 5.6s. He noted that it met the same safety standards as the existing car. The car doesn’t come with Tesla’s full Autopilot driver assistance systems, but Musk said buyers will be able to upgrade their cars at a later date.

The standard interior comes with cloth seats and an infotainment system, with Musk calling the interior “slightly better” than that originally promised. Musk added that all cars would now feature a panoramic glass roof as standard.

The Standard Range Plus, which will cost $37,000 (£28,000), features 240 miles of range, a 140mph top speed, and a 0-60mph time of 5.3secs.

The two new Model 3 variants are available to buy now in the USA, with international sales set to start in around three to six months. Tesla recently started overseas deliveries of the Model 3 to Asia and Europe, although right-hand-drive versions have yet to be produced for sale in the UK.

While announcing the new models, Musk also revealed that it will now only offer its cars for sale online. Musk says it will be possible to order a car using a smartphone in under a minute. The company will offer a full refund within one-week or 1000-miles, allowing customers to try them and return without penalty, a concept Must said could partly replace traditional test drives.

Musk confirmed that some Tesla stores would close and some jobs would be lost, but said most stores would become showrooms and galleries to showcase the products and guide customers through the buying process. Musk said the job cuts were necessary to reach the $35,000 price target, saying: "There’s no other way for us to achieve the savings required for us to make this car and be financially sustainable."

Musk added that the $35,000 price tag was "the lowest we could possibly sell this car." He added: "It’s excruciatingly difficult to make this car for $35,000 and be financially sustainable." Pressed on whether Tesla would ever offer a cheaper machine, he said: "Will there be future models that cost less? Yes, but they won’t be soon. At least two to three years, closer to three years."

The surprise confirmation of the entry-level Model 3 comes as several major cars firms are preparing to launch their own full electric cars. Volvo sub-brand Polestar recently launched the Polestar 2 five-door fastback, with a sub-£35,000 ($46,400) guide price, 402bhp powertrain and 311-mile range, with company bosses referring to it as a direct Model 3 competitor. Volkswagen is also gearing up to launch the ID hatch later this year, the first model on the VW Group's new MEB platform.

In addition, Tesla is launching a software upgrade for all existing and future Long Range rear-wheel-drive Model 3s, which will increase their range to 325 miles. The Model 3 Performance will get a 7mph increase in top speed to 162mph.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/entry-level-tesla-model-3-goes-sale-us-35000
 
Tesla Model 3 Performance 2019 review

Should I buy one?

We dare say you’re either definitely buying a Model 3 or definitely not; either way, the outcome might not be up for debate. It's a polarising kind of car, if you’ll forgive the unintended pun. A proper Tesla, then.

All sorts of other questions ought to be answered before we get near to answering the big one. Is this now the market’s best electric car? Does it restore Tesla’s place at the vanguard of the zero-emissions market as carved out by the Model S in 2012? Is it a better driver’s car than any other electric offering? Is it the car many are hoping it might be? Is it good enough to deliver the electric car to a place where it’s a genuinely viable alternative to a big-selling, £40,000, combustion-engined compact executive saloon?

Some of those questions would clearly depend on a thorough test of a £40,000 Model 3 for an answer, and we haven’t driven one of those yet, but we’ll be getting as close as possible to a meaningful answer or two in an upcoming comparison test.

The initial impression is that this is certainly a better Tesla, a more viable everyday prospect and a better driver’s car than we’ve yet seen from the company. But it also has a much tougher life than the Model S seven years ago and still plenty to prove before we can call it the best of its kind. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo and others will all have credible alternatives by the start of next year.

On this evidence, the Model 3 will be well placed in the mix. It has the powertrain and the performance to stand out, technology that really distinguishes it, an interesting and fairly practical interior, access to charging infrastructure that should be the envy of most electric car drivers and a good enough range to compete - although we'll have to wait a while to be sure on that last front.

It also drives well, much as Musk might prefer Tesla owners not to be imposed upon to actually drive their cars at all, as he strives forward with development of the company’s autonomous driving technology with the kind of disruptive commitment that suggests he’ll be ahead of the curve of industry technology progress again before very long.

Until then, and with this car in particular, he’ll have to settle for a place somewhere near the front of the pack rather than being the leader of it. Luckily for the Teslarati, of course, he's not really one for settling.

Tesla Model 3 Performance specification

Where Amsterdam, Netherlands Price £62,000 (est) On sale Spring 2020 (RHD) Engine Two AC electric motors Power 444bhp Torque 471lb ft Gearbox Direct drive Kerb weight 1847kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 3.7sec Range 330 miles (WLTP) CO2, tax band 0g/km, 16% Rivals Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-tron

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...-drives/tesla-model-3-performance-2019-review

Model 3 Performance 1.jpgModel 3 Performance 2.jpgModel 3 Performance 3.jpgModel 3 Performance 4.jpgModel 3 Performance 5.jpg
Model 3 Performance 6.jpg
 
Tesla Model 3 is Europe's best-selling electric vehicle

Recent arrival bucks overall market decline to lead two key segments in February

The Tesla Model 3 was Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle in February, in its first full month on sale outside the US.

A total of 3657 were sold last month, according to data from industry analyst Jato Dynamics, putting it comfortably ahead of the Renault Zoe, which sold 2884. The Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 and Hyundai Kona Electric were next up on the European EV sales list.

European sales of the Model 3 began in late January, and Felipe Munoz, global analyst for Jato Dynamics, said such demand is usually not seen “until four or five months after a new car has hit the roads.”

As well as being the best-selling EV in Europe last month, the Model 3 was also the best-selling mid-sized saloon, outselling the conventionally fuelled Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/tesla-model-3-europes-best-selling-electric-vehicle
 
Lots of teslas for hire on Turo in the USA. I think I'm going to do it just for the experience of driving one.
 
Tesla Model 3 UK orders set to open in May

Tweet from Elon Musk reveals when UK customers can get in line for Tesla's compact saloon

Tesla is preparing to open UK order books for the Model 3, according to company CEO Elon Musk.

In a tweet, Musk said the online order page would open "around May 1 or 2", allowing UK customers to place an order before Tesla raises the price of its 'full self-driving' autonomous functionality. From the 10th of May, new orders will need to pay an additional $1000 for the feature.

Tesla had previously confirmed that the Model 3, in AWD Long-range guise, will offer 338 miles of range on a WLTP cycle, meaning it takes the lead in Europe as the EV with the longest official range.

The Hyundai Kona EV previously laid claim to the title, with a range of 279 miles in 64kWh form.

The car maker launched its configurator in December for European customers who had already put down a deposit for a Model 3 saloon, which in the process revealed previously unconfirmed pricing and range details.

Model 3 pricing announced in Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and France suggest the entry-level EV will be available from around £50,000, falling to £46,500 after taking into consideration the £3500 UK government incentive for zero-emission vehicles.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-uk-orders-set-open-may
 
Tesla Model 3 Performance 2019 UK review

Should I buy one?

You can’t summarise a car as different as this in an hour or so, which is what we had. But this is indisputably a fascinating, very capable car.

The Model 3 Performance easily answers that question about suiting British drivers and roads — it’s made for them. And the softer suspended Long Distance will likely do better still.

Tesla Model 3 Performance specification

Where Surrey, UK Price £56,050 On sale July Engine Two AC electric motors Power 444bhp Torque 471lb ft Gearbox Direct drive Kerb weight 1847kg Top speed 162mph 0-62mph 3.4sec Range 330 miles (WLTP) CO2, tax band 0g/km, 16% Rivals Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-tron

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...ives/tesla-model-3-performance-2019-uk-review

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Watch Tesla Model 3 ace the ‘Moose test’

The Tesla Model 3 has been put through the “moose test” in order to test its handling capabilities.

The “moose test” is an evasive maneuver test that consists of determining how well a certain vehicle can evade a suddenly appearing obstacle that could take an entire lane, like a moose.

Spanish car magazine km77 put Tesla’s Model X through the test two years ago.

The electric SUV performed fairly well, but it also had some difficulties at higher speeds – like many other SUVs.

https://electrek.co/2019/05/25/tesla-model-3-moose-test/

 
My New Hero Is This Woman Who Turned Her Tesla Model 3 Into a Pickup Truck

If you want an electric pickup truck, you sort of don’t have any options right now because none currently exist for the public to buy, at least here in the U.S. There’s the Rivian R1T, of course, but it isn’t available yet. And there’s the Tesla pickup truck which we’re told might happen this summer. So, if you want one now, you kind of have to build it yourself.

That’s not a problem if you are amateur robot builder and YouTuber Simone Giertz, also known as “The Queen of Shitty Robots.” She’s no stranger to using angle grinders and welders, so there’s really no stopping her otherwise. This project will yield, as Giertz claims, the first functional Tesla pickup truck ever. I’m so onboard.

She and her team decided early on that they were just going to wing it, which is honestly how the best plans are conceived. They used a Tesla Model 3, which has a steel chassis and is easiest to wrench on. Plus, it’s the cheapest Tesla you can buy new.

https://jalopnik.com/my-new-hero-is-this-woman-who-turned-a-tesla-model-3-in-1835621405


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Truckla! US inventor turns her Tesla Model 3 into a bakkie

It’s no secret that American electric car pioneer Tesla is actually working on a pick-up truck, but at this stage the details remain shrouded in mystery, although it is likely to be revealed later this year and promises an extremely radical design.

Popular YouTube video producer Simone Giertz, however, got tired of waiting for Tesla to build a bakkie, so she decided to create her own (with a little help from some friends), culminating in a rather tongue-in-cheek spoof advert, which you can watch below.

“It’s here… the truck the world didn’t know it was waiting for,” she chirps, along with some inspirational mumbo jumbo and cowboy antics with the charging cable.

“The new 2019 Truckla, available… nowhere,” Giertz concludes.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/indu...urns-her-tesla-model-3-into-a-bakkie-26689660
 
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