Tesla has officially released the much-anticipated new Model 3 in North America. This launch follows its successful debut in several global markets, including Europe, China, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region, in late 2023. Before you run out and buy one, you should know that this vehicle does not quality for any tax incentives in the U.S. Also, Tesla is not accepting referral codes, meaning no discounts or credits for the Model 3.
The new Model 3, also referred to as the Highland and the refreshed 3, appeared on the company’s website late Tuesday night. It is currently available in two variants: Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range (LR). Notably, the Performance model, which has been a popular choice in previous versions, is missing from the lineup, and the “old” version is no longer available for order.
Competitive Pricing Strategy
Despite several upgrades, Tesla has set competitive prices for the new Model 3 variants, not changing the price for the new edition. The RWD remains at $38,990 USD and the LR is $45,990 USD. For those keeping score, the price of the old Model 3 Performance was $50,990. The first deliveries of the Model 3 Highland are scheduled for this month.
The new Model 3 is available in five colors, including Stealth Gray and Ultra Red, adding a fresh aesthetic appeal to the range. Despite the excitement surrounding the new model, it is noteworthy that the front bumper camera, anticipated by many, has not been included yet. This feature was expected to align with the technology seen in Tesla's Cybertruck.
In terms of performance, the EPA-rated range for the RWD variant remains unchanged, while the LR variant sees a modest increase, going from 333 to 341 miles.
Anticipating the Performance Model
While the Performance variant is currently absent, there is growing anticipation for its eventual release. Rumors suggest that this model might debut in North America, boasting unique features that set it apart from its Long Range counterpart. This includes advanced motors, improved suspension, enhanced brakes, and a possible Ludicrous mode, making it a highly anticipated addition to the Tesla lineup.
We may find out more about the Performance Model 3 during Tesla’s Q4 and Full Year 2023 earnings call on January 24th.
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Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Not a Tesla App
Tesla update 2024.38 has started rolling out to several regions and vehicles. Thanks to Tesla hacker Greentheonly, we have a behind-the-scenes look at some new features coming to Teslas.
License Plate Display
According to Greentheonly, it looks like Tesla may soon let you display your actual license plate in the vehicle’s visualization on the screen. In our article, The Most Request Tesla Features, several readers suggested displaying the vehicle’s license plate in the visualization instead of a blank, white plate.
It looks like Tesla will be doing just that, at least in China. Green found references that appear to conclude that you’ll be able to display your vehicle’s plate on screen. This will likely be user input, so you could have it say anything you’d like, and it doesn’t have to be your actual license plate.
For many owners, who may find it difficult to remember their license plate, this could serve a practical purpose in addition to adding to the visualization's realism.
While Green was only able to say it’ll be available in China, we expect this is due to China’s software development team working on it and that it’ll eventually be released worldwide.
While code for this feature was found in update 2024.38, we may not be turned on in China yet. We suspect this feature may be a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.
FSD Hardware Version Display
As part of the 2024.38 update, Tesla has now made it easy to determine whether your vehicle includes Hardware 3 or Hardware 4. You can now simply navigate to Controls > Software and tap Additional Vehicle Information. In addition to other hardware information about your vehicle, your Autopilot hardware version will now be listed as well.
You can see whether your vehicle has HW2.5, HW3, or AI4. This in-car display is useful, but if you don’t have access to the vehicle, you can always use our guide on how to determine the hardware version of a Tesla.
New Battery Health Test & Service Mode Improvements
Green found some additional things as well. There’s a new and improved Battery Health Test. The new test will show you how your car scores compared to similar vehicles in the Tesla fleet.
In addition, maintenance records can now be permanently stored “in the car.” It doesn’t appear that this feature is activated yet, but it’s likely in active development with some parts leaking out in the 2024.38 update.
Tesla has included various Service Mode improvements and new visualizations in this update.
Mr Li on X came across some covered-up Project Juniper vehicles recently and he managed to get various shots of the vehicle.
Juniper Images
This front image reveals what looks like two rows of lights, possibly confirming the front light bar for the Model Y refresh — similar to the one on the Cybercab.
The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
Mr Li on X
The rear side shows a ton of brake lights, but it’s not clear why. While it looks like the Model Y refresh will also feature a rear light bar similar to the Cybertruck, there isn’t strong evidence of that in this photo.
Mr Li on X
There's an obvious set of lights at the bottom, so it looks like the Model Y refresh will be similar to the new Model 3 where the bottom lights can operate as brake lights when the one-piece tail lights and trunk are up.
Mr Li on X
In the last photo, we see that the overall form factor of the refreshed Model Y will remain unchanged, and Tesla is focusing the changes on the front and rear ends of the vehicle, much like the Model 3 refresh. However, in this one shot, we can also see what appears to be red light leaking out of the rear camera cover opening, possibly due to the rear light bar.
The Model Y is not only Tesla’s best-selling vehicle but also the world’s best-selling car in 2023. This year, it’s expected to be the best-selling vehicle in the United States and again in the world, so this refresh will be huge for Tesla.
@DominicBRNKMN made another fantastic set of concepts based on these new images. Given he had the most accurate Model 3 Highland concept before the official launch, we’re pretty sure his latest work be close here as well.
@DominicBRNKMN
We’re super excited to see the eventual reveal of Project Juniper, which is expected in the first half of 2025. However, expect to see a few more leaks before production kicks off at Giga Shanghai.
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