Tesla Model 3 Performance: The Beginning of An Era
Tesla has without question been one of the most impressive manufacturers of the decade. While they remain the household name when it comes to cars powered by electricity, they are also prime examples of the cutting edge of technology.
Jumping into it, Tesla has always been a controversial word in both the financial and automotive world. In both worlds, there are two kinds of people. There are people who love Tesla, die hard Tesla fans, that will hold their shares until death. Then there are other people who believe Tesla is just a fad that is overvalued and will soon collapse to zero. While one of these kinds of people may be right, I believe that you cannot discount the product that Tesla puts out.
Tesla Model 3 Specs and Performance
The Model 3 Performance is an entry level sedan that comes standard with a few accents that can be differentiated from the normal Model 3. To begin with, the most substantial changes start with the horsepower. The standard model 3 comes out of the factory with 280 horsepower. The Model 3 Performance comes standard with 470 horsepower… definitely a huge jump. It clocks a 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds which is absolutely ridiculous and is comparable to the BMW M3 which is a lot more expensive.
The Performance model also increases the battery range from 220 miles to 310 miles which truly shows off Elon’s dedication to making every car on the road an electric car. One final drivetrain addition that the Model 3 Performance has brought to the table is its ability to maneuver around the track. In the past, some of the fastest Tesla’s have demonstrated their ability on the track but one thing that was always lacking was a way to properly cool the car under aggressive conditions. The Model 3 Performance brings a solution to the table when it is switched into track mode from the infotainment system.
The Interior of the Model 3 and the Archade
The interior of the car is where the magic really happens, and where our question emboldens: has Tesla gone too far? The enormous all-powerful iPad-like infotainment system in the dash of the Tesla has brought four brilliant functions among others that differentiate it from any other car on the road. The four functions include: Dog mode, Sentry mode, Tesla Arcade, and Theater mode are unstoppable. To begin with, the media potential really begins when you venture into Theatre mode. Theatre mode only works in park (thankfully) and it allows you to stream different applications such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and others. The flip side of Theatre mode is the Tesla Arcade.
The Tesla Arcade
The Tesla arcade is truly a testament to how far advanced Tesla is to other automakers.
The Tesla arcade transforms not only the center screen, but the dashboard into an arcade gaming controller. You can select through different arcade games that are similar to Galaga or racing simulator games. All of these are controlled using the steering wheel and even the pedals to truly immerse the driver in a Tesla filled experience. Dog mode frees Model 3 Performance owners from ever worrying about leaving their dogs in the car again. When enabled, the AC turns on and it shows the interior temperature of the car on the screen.
Lastly Sentry mode is a security feature that begins when the car is parked and locked. There are cameras surrounding the car that are used for auto-pilot but double as security cameras. They are motion detected and if there is an attempted burglary the car will ping the owner’s cell phone. All these features have been lightly grazed and quadruple in detail when you have the time to experiment with the interior of this car.
All of this comes equipped on the new Tesla Model 3 Performance, in the year 2019. Since it’s release we haven’t seen any other cars that have even come close to these technologies, the Porsche Taycan has definitely demonstrated its potential when it comes to competing with the Tesla drivetrain, but in terms of making a truly unique user experience they haven’t dove into those waters yet. This is what allows Tesla to rein king in this environment and is probably why there are so many die hard Tesla fans.
One thing is for sure, Tesla has not gone too far. The truth is, they still haven’t gone far enough. When we see technological advancements like playing video games in your car using the steering wheel and pedals or 310 miles of charge from a $56,000 car, you can guarantee that this is not the only trick up Elon Musk’s sleeve. It will be exciting to see what Tesla has in store for the new decade, the 20’s.
See you in my next story where I am discussing the end of the Subaru's EJ engine as well as in this story discussing how Tesla made the Model X a family EV Supercar SUV.
Alex Belauste reports Tesla cars and stories at Torque News. He has worked with the automotive industry for the last 18 years and has since grown very fond to the community. Alex has owned 16 different cars and writes automotive news based on research, his personal expertise and experience. Belauste has studied business at Oklahoma State University and has since started his entry into the professional automotive world. Follow Alex on Twitter at @Belauste and on Instagram. Search Torque News Tesla for more daily Tesla coverage from our expert reporters.