Photo: ffiarpg on Reddit / sirfupdate, EstherKokkelman, and mrxrx2 on X / autoevolution collage
Tesla is inching closer and closer to finally uncovering the redesigned Model 3. We've seen it in China. We've seen it in the US. But a place not visited by the 'Highland' prototypes is the Old Continent.
The updated version of Tesla's Model 3, dubbed "Project Highland," has been spotted roaming around Germany and France in the last two days. The EV might be in the last stages of development. Now, engineers fine-tune everything and iron out all the itsy-bitsy details.
The all-electric sedan is an important car for Tesla. Alongside the Model Y crossover, these vehicles propelled the now-Texas-based automaker into a position of power on the automotive scene. Not only is it the world's most valuable carmaker, but it's also the company that transformed an EV into a global best-seller. So far, the Model Y is considered the most popular vehicle worldwide when accounting for new sales in the first half of 2023.
The first Model 3 'Highland' under heavy wraps was spotted in Germany. Tesla might have wanted to see how the powertrain behaves when it's stressed on the country's high-speed roads known as the Autobahn. Similarly, it might have wanted to measure efficiency and figure out how the suspension system handles driving on various types of European asphalt.
Some speculated that the all-new Model 3 could be introduced at the German International Automobile Exhibition (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung - IAA Mobility). Still, it's unlikely that Tesla will debut it there, despite it being one of the OEMs that confirmed to have a booth of its own during the event.
The pictures showing the vehicle with German plates don't reveal much more than we already know, nor do they give us any other extra clues regarding the updated exterior.
However, things change when we look at the camouflaged French unit. Someone managed to get up close and filmed the EV.
Something to look forward to in October
That revealed a part of the new lighting signature and a headlight shape that doesn't look like it's straying too far from the current design. But that may be just the disguise tricking us.
European legislation has allowed automakers to deploy lighting technologies that make life easier for drivers since 2012. LED headlights can be too powerful at times. But matrix headlamps have thousands of moving mirrors inside them. A computer can read the road ahead with the help of a camera. If it identifies oncoming vehicles, it can turn off or redirect parts of the beam of light to isolate them from being temporarily blinded.
Photo: @Jojje167 via Twitter
Sadly, the NHTSA is delaying the factory implementation of this technology. Automakers, including Tesla, deliver cars with matrix functionalities turned off or without the software that enables them to work correctly. The government agency requires different testing procedures and added new requirements on top of those included in the SAE J3069 standard enforced in almost any other country where new cars are being sold.
That tells us that Tesla might have wanted to test out its new headlights with matrix functionality in a place where that's possible. Even though China allows cars to come with this feature, road conditions are different, and the final setup may require some careful reprogramming before being approved for production.
Europe-bound Teslas also come with the CCS Combo 2 charging port. The Model 3 'Highland' might have been through some Supercharging sessions at the automaker's high-power stations. As the pictures and the video below show, the housing might have been moved a bit forward to accommodate the new design. But it's worth noting that the CCS Combo 2 (which has two extra power pins over CCS Combo 1) is a bit larger than the NACS.
Another Tesla Model 3 'Highland' was caught charging at a Supercharger in France. That image shows wheels that seem to have the same design we caught a glimpse of back when the first good leak uncovered the front of the refreshed EV.
Lastly, rumors say that the next-generation Model 3 will be cheaper than the current version because Tesla implemented a bunch of cost-cutting measures. It remains to be seen if that will be true. We doubt it because other people with knowledge about the car said ventilated seats and ambient lighting will debut on the new car.
But if it happens, it would mark an important premiere in the automotive industry. For over a century, updated models almost always introduced a slight price bump.
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
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News