Tesla leaked the rear badge for the new Model 3 performance
The Kilowatts
Fasten all seat belts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three-range circus, and secure all animals in the zoo... Tesla's New Model 3 may be going Ludicrous! If you're not following, then you don't understand the heart of Tesla and you owe it to yourself to watch the video below; it's Spaceballs.
Since the new Model 3 was unveiled, we've speculated that a unique trim could yet be revealed. Now, thanks to Tesla fan, the Kilowatts, we may know what that new upgraded package will be - Ludicrious.
Tesla Community Spots the Parts
The Kilowatts uncovered Tesla's Parts Catalog that hints at a performance version of the Model 3, initially speculated to be Plaid. The images showcasing the rear badge and the new wheels have since been removed from Tesla's catalog, but not before fans could capture a variety of screenshots.
Tesla's Plaid versions are known for their advanced tri-motor setup, however, after a closer look at the rear badge, it doesn't seem like the Plaid logo. It does resemble when Dark Helmet orders his ship to go to Ludicrous speed. Like the movie, the image appears to be the stars streaking past.
This development aligns perfectly with Elon Musk's well-known quirky sense of humor. He did name his Space X rockets after the Millennium Falcon; he also has the Boring Company.
It also fits Tesla's lineup. The flagship, luxurious Model S and Model X have a Plaid trim. Therefore, putting the Plaid badge on the lesser, more common Model 3 and Model Y could deteriorate the exclusivity of the Plaid brand. As the Tesla Silicon Valley Owners Club has pointed out several times, Musk previously rejected a Plaid version of a Model 3. But Ludicrous is just one step down as we've already passed light and ridiculous speed.
More than Just a Badge
While the badge will look great on the back of the new Model 3, and the new logo will make for a fantastic T-shirt print, there is much more to this new level. Also spotted in the parts catalog are improved sport brakes, suspension, and unique wheels.
Model 3 Performance Motor
This latest discovery aligns well with the vehicle certifications spotted in Europe last month. The letter T appeared in documents issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW. This 'T' in the Model 3 Performance's VIN could indicate the motor/drive unit type.
While there was initial speculation about a potential tri-motor setup for a Plaid Model 3, regulatory filings and certification documents have clarified that the Model 3 Performance will retain its dual motor setup. Given the documented specifications, it's plausible that one of the dual motors has been enhanced, possibly to match the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This is anticipated to boost the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3.
While the current Model 3 certainly isn't a Cuisinart, it does have hyperjets of its own, especially with the acceleration boost software enhancement. So this latest revelation is just one more thing to entice the current Model 3 owners to consider upgrading and more reasons for potential owners to jump into the Tesla world.
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Tesla recently showed off Giga Small Haus, an interesting new display project hosted at Giga Berlin. The small new house is located just outside the main entrance of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, with a Quicksilver Model Y parked inside.
Giga Small Haus is powered only by solar and Powerwall 3 - disconnected from the local grid and from Giga Berlin itself. It serves as a live demonstration of Tesla Solar and Tesla’s Powerwall battery backup.
Giga Small Haus
The centerpiece of the display is a Model Y in Quicksilver - a beautiful pick for a beautifully lit house. However, that’s not the real focus here - it's the Powerwall and Gateway on the wall.
The Powerwall is the focus of Giga Small Haus, and there’s a display with some additional information on the wall. Part of the display also includes a screen that displays the current output of the Powerwall itself versus the consumption of Giga Small Haus, as well as the input from solar.
The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
Not a Tesla App
The text on the exhibit is divided into several sections. Here’s a translated and edited version of what we can see from Tesla’s images. Some additional text is obscured. If someone visits Giga Small Haus, let us know.
Powerwall
Powerwall is a home battery system that stores energy from solar panels, the electrical grid, or during off-peak hours and powers your home during the day or during a power outage.
With Powerwall, you can use self-generated solar energy during the day and night, thus avoiding high electricity costs. You can also store excess energy produced during sunny periods for use during times of low production or power outages.
Key Features
Energy Storage: Powerwall stores excess energy from solar panels or the grid for later use or during power outages.
Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, Powerwall automatically switches to battery power to ensure continuous power supply.
Integration: Powerwall can be seamlessly integrated with existing solar systems and other power sources.
Scalability: Multiple Powerwalls can be installed to meet higher energy storage needs.
Smart Energy Management: Powerwall works with Tesla's software to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.
How Powerwall Works
Storage: During the day, when solar panels produce more energy than needed, the excess is stored in Powerwall.
Usage: At night or during times of low solar production, the stored energy is used to power the home, reducing reliance on the grid.
Backup: During a power outage, Powerwall automatically provides power to critical circuits, ensuring continuous operation of essential appliances.
Benefits
Cost Savings: By storing and using solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills.
Reliability: Provides backup power during outages, ensuring your home remains powered.
Sustainability: Promotes the use of renewable energy by storing excess solar production for later use.
Overall, Giga Small Haus is an interesting real-life demo of what Powerwall and Solar can accomplish. It would be neat if Tesla built more of these displays - perhaps near major Delivery and Service Centers and at Giga Texas, Fremont, Giga Shanghai, and other facilities. Many Tesla owners have yet to learn about and experience some of Tesla’s Energy products.
Tesla has added the Acceleration Boost option to the Tesla store for owners of the 2024 Model 3 Long Range - specifically owners in Australia and China. Acceleration Boost is an upgrade that provides a significant performance boost, drastically narrowing the performance gap between the Long Range and Performance versions of the same model.
This upgrade will likely become available in Europe, Canada, and the United States in the next few days as Tesla updates its shops globally.
Acceleration Boost
This new Acceleration Boost is retailing for $3,000 AUD, or approximately $2,000 USD. That’s the same price for current owners of older Model 3 or Model Y Long Range vehicles, which all have the option to purchase Acceleration Boost through the shop.
The boost provides improved 0-100km/h (0-60mph) performance, bumping the 2024 Model 3 LR from 4.4s to 3.8s. The 2024 Performance version comes in at a blazing fast 2.9 seconds, so while it isn’t equivalent to just buying a performance variant in the first place, it is still a noticeable and significant upgrade.
Performance variants also come with a different front fascia vent for cooling, performance drive units, sport seats, adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels, and Track Mode V3. That’s a significant number of additional features in the $10,000 USD price difference between the Long Range and Performance versions.
Should You Buy It?
If you’ve purchased a Long Range model and are itching to go just that little bit faster at every red light, this is the upgrade for you. It previously came with the cost of slightly reducing vehicle range, but the Tesla store doesn’t make a note of reduced range this time around. The 2023 Model 3 and Model Y Long Range models had an efficiency loss of about 5% due to the additional always-available acceleration and cooling.
You could drive in Chill mode to mostly negate that efficiency loss, but what’s the fun in driving in Chill when you just got Acceleration Boost? Anyhow, the shop listing for the 2024 variant doesn’t include this detail, so it's possible Tesla may have worked some more engineering magic.
Overall, if you’ve got the $3,000 AUD burning a hole in your pocket, some Tesla referral credits sitting around, or just want to go faster, it's definitely an upgrade many users find valuable.
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