Tesla updated the Model 3 in all the brand's markets except North America. That may be due to Fremont joining the party later, proper federalizing, or the automaker wanting to get rid of the remaining inventory. It could be just one cause, or it could be all of them. We can't say for sure. But what we can confirm are the new power figures. Here's what you can expect.
One could think that Tesla may be preparing something spicier for Mexico, the US, and Canada, but it's improbable. The brand is known for streamlining production and selling nearly identical vehicles almost anywhere on Earth. That's why we're confident that the numbers revealed in China will be very similar to what customers from North America will see when they check the spec sheet.
The rear-wheel-drive 2024 Tesla Model 3 has an official output of 194 kW or 260 hp. It's a single-motor EV with the power unit installed on the rear axle.
The 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD puts out 19 hp more, making 279 hp or 208 kW.
The all-wheel-drive 2024 Tesla Model 3 gets an extra motor on the front axle, and that helps it develop 331 kW or 444 hp.
There's no word out about the renewed Performance version when writing, but for future reference, the fastest Model 3 - currently available in North America and other parts of the world as an inventory unit - has an output of 527 hp (393 kW). It doesn't look like much of a difference, but Tesla says there's a one-second difference between them regarding zero-to-60 mph times.
Tesla confirmed that it lowered the top speed of the brand-new Model 3 because the new tires are quieter and help improve efficiency. What it did not say, however, was that it has also lowered the hp figures.
Photo: Tesla
The Texas-based EV brand isn't a big fan of communicating official power figures because EVs don't always make use of everything they have available. For example, a Model S Plaid with 1,020 hp and just a 5% state of charge won't allow the driver to put all those horses in order so they can deliver maximum performance. It would stress and drain the battery, and that's not very good for long-term dependability.
Weight and size
The all-new single-motor Model 3 weighs 1,760 kg (3,880 lb). The dual-motor variant comes in at 1,823 kg (4,019 lb), according to CarNewsChina, citing the Asian country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Those numbers tell us that the facelifted rear-wheel-drive Model 3 is 18 lb heavier than the outgoing unit, while the all-wheel-drive EV is 15 lb lighter. There's not much difference between the 2024 and 2023 model-year vehicles weight-wise. Plus, we must consider various industry practices that differ between the US and China. The North American figures might not be the same.
The same source says the single-motor 2024 Tesla Model 3 will have a CATL-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery (less energy dense but more durable), while the dual-motor sedan will have a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) energy storage unit.
In China, the base Model 3 could be known simply as "Model 3," while the all-wheel-drive EV might be called "Model 3+." But this can change, so let's wait until October, when the car officially goes on sale, to see what's what in this respect.
The 2024 Tesla Model 3 costs RMB 259,900 (USD 35,636), while the Model 3+ retails for RMB 295,900 ($40,572). However, these figures shouldn't be used as reference points for the US or Canada.
When writing, the cheapest 2023 Model 3 available stateside costs USD 40,240. The Long Range version starts at USD 47,240 before taxes, fees, and incentives.
Finally, the Model 3+ (aka Model 3 Long Range) is 26 mm (one inch) longer, 1 mm shorter (0.03 in), and 2 mm (0.07 in) narrower than the outgoing model. The wheelbase size has not changed.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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