First an S, then an X, now it’s a punchy Model 3

We heard the rumours and then the plans, that a pure electric supercar would be available for the masses, but it was only last Thursday that we saw the car.

Unquestionably, it is a good looking model, perhaps smaller than its forebearer, the executive Model S, it is still impressively striking as Tesla has done away with the front grille. While the front grille is a required feature of combustion engine cars, the EV does not actually need one. Even though they are on the S and X models, they are just there to keep up appearances and are purely cosmetic. The Model 3’s unique smoothed-over front bonnet of the car is undeniably cool. Otherwise the Model 3 retains all the characteristic Tesla design features from the big rims to the  debut in a red model.

In the unveiling Musk kept to his delivery date by the end of 2017, but even despite the likelihood of possible delays that won’t see the Model 3 rolling off production lines until 2018, it didn’t stop the hundreds from waiting in line outside Tesla outlet shops to place their $1,000 order. Or for that matter the thousands more online, where orders reached 253,000 last count on Saturday morning.

So what can drivers expect from their latest car purchasers? Well, not much information has actually been provided despite this enormous move of confidence. All we know is that the Model 3 has an EPA range of at least 215 miles, is set to meet a five star safety standard under every criteria and will be available as standard with supercharging. Not as fast as the Model S’s “Ludicrous Speed”, it is still likely to keep the plebs happy as it races from 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds. According to Musk “At Tesla, we don’t make slow cars”. Yet, most of those details are likely to not even be known by the crowds placing orders, what they do know however, is that the Model 3 is expected to be theirs at a happy “family meal value” price starting at $35,000.

How Tesla was able to move from the production of elite models to mass production models, he attributes to those previous elite buyers who supplied the necessary revenue to instal the preliminary production equipment. Musk confirmed that the Gigafactory in Nevada is up and functional. Not only that, but this monstrosity is expected to produce not just all the lithium-ion batteries that will be required, but more lithium-ion batteries than all the factories in the rest of the world combined. So there, that’s how he will be doing it. In true larger-than-life Elon Musk style.