What Kind of Performance Can We Expect From The Tesla Model 3?

While the Detroit Auto Show was beaming with high power debuts, Chevy took the show as an opportunity to go beyond its second generation Volt and present its Bolt concept with the promise of 200 miles of all electric range for only thirty (gov. assisted) thousand dollars. This works out to be about four times the range of the second generation Volt for the same money. While impressive, Elon Musk made a promise of his own that the eventual Tesla Model 3 will be even cheaper than the Bolt with a starting price of 35,000 before any incentives. With Chevy throwing down the gauntlet and following previous forecasting fun let's see what an eventual Tesla Model 3 might bring to the table power and performance wise. Range is king for EVs and with Chevy hoping for hoping for 200 miles of range and Nissan mentioning 240 for its next Leaf there is no way that Tesla will go under 200 as the Model S is EPA rated at 208 in its base form. As a performance brand the Model 3 should easily dispatch the Bolt, Volt and Leaf from a stop but how well will it compare to other EVs and can an eventual high performance version battle the likes of AMG, F, M, RS and V models?

What kind of performance are you expecting from the Model 3? Something closer to the Volt or more along the line of a sport sedan? Can its eventual performance version compete with the likes of the M3?
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SanJoseDriver - 1/20/2015 4:40:46 PM

+1 Boost

Definitely closer to the M3 in terms of performance. Elon has already announced that the performance will be exceptional and it will look unlike any car today (hopefully in a good way).

chewy - 1/20/2015 5:41:14 PM

+1 Boost

The dual motor version should be M3 level performance but not for 35k I would imagine. If it's really 20% smaller than the Model S that would make it around i3 size and you can't really make a good looking sedan that size so it would have to be something along the lines of a Bolt which doesn't look as good. But if he really meant 20 inches shorter than that would give you way more options.

MDarringer - 1/20/2015 10:40:16 PM

0 Boost

More "all hype no substance" is my guess.

chewy - 1/21/2015 1:33:07 AM

+3 Boost

Well the Model S has delivered some real substantial performance in single and dual motor forms. The Model X is essentially the same powertrain in a slightly different wrapper so it's hard to see it not following essentially the same script. The Model 3 is much more of an unknown but could deliver some good performance. Can Tesla make a true profit on any of them, now that's a completely different question altogether.