In September 2023, Tesla launched an updated version of its Model 3 worldwide, initiating orders in Australia on the same day. Initially, the highly popular electric sedan was only available in two variants, lacking a top-tier performance version.
Now, nearly 8 months later, Tesla has finally introduced the new Model 3 Performance, making it the most powerful and fastest electric car offered by the company in Australia.
Priced at $52,990 USD in the US, equivalent to around $82,000 AUD in Australia, the locally revealed pricing is $80,900 USD before on-road costs. This pricing makes it the most affordable Model 3 Performance variant Tesla has offered in the country to date. This pricing is very close to that of the Model Y Performance in Australia, which, after recent significant price reductions, starts at $82,990 USD on-road. The improvements indicated by the local configurator will make this model the fastest Model 3 ever offered by Tesla, thanks to upgrades in powertrain and aerodynamics. The new powertrain is capable of delivering 500+ horsepower or 365+ kW, seemingly conservative compared to the previous version. It may far exceed this figure, as Tesla has traditionally kept the actual specifications of new cars confidential until owners receive the vehicles and conduct dyno testing.
Regardless, it will be able to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration in 2.9 seconds, down from the previous Performance model's 3.1 seconds. This will result in a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.1 seconds. Most importantly, the top speed has also slightly increased to 163 mph or 262 km/h, up by 1 km/h compared to the previous generation. The primary area of improvement is the inclusion of adaptive suspension, unique to the new Performance variant and controlled by software. This will ensure that daily driving comfort is not compromised while still providing enhanced body control necessary for track use.
This car comes equipped with Tesla's powerful third version of "Track Mode," calibrated to seamlessly complement the new high-output powertrain and adaptive suspension settings.
To help manage all this power, Tesla has introduced new high-performance forged "20-inch Warp" staggered wheels. The new wheel and tire setup will improve the car's dynamics during daily driving, but will be even more effective when cornering on the track.
With the wheel size considered, the WLTP cycle range is currently set at 528 kilometers. This is only slightly higher than the RWD version using a smaller battery and 18-inch wheels.
Behind the new wheels are new high-performance brakes, offering better thermal performance and minimizing brake disc overheating.
The exterior design has also been enhanced, featuring a new front bumper with vents, rear carbon fiber lip spoiler, and rear diffuser. Additionally, at the rear, Tesla has added a Ludicrous badge, highlighting the new Performance Model 3's position just below Tesla's Plaid performance series in the US market, comprising the Model S and Model X.
In addition to the dashboard, the interior now comes with new ventilated sport seats, appearing closer to bucket seats in high-performance cars. These new seats will provide additional support for the driver and passengers during high-speed cornering on the track.
The performance of the new Model 3 has seen significant improvements over its predecessor, particularly if the pricing of the new model is similar to its predecessor. The pricing for Australia may be announced in the coming days.
