Tesla - yes, the same Tesla run by the increasingly erratic Elon Musk, but let’s gloss over that and leave it to the political journalists for now, eh? - has just released an updated version of the Model 3 saloon, which uses a bigger battery but a single-motor, rear-wheel drive layout to achieve an impressive range.
Price-to-range ratio
That range, according to the WLTP test is 702km, which is a useful upgrade on the two-motor, all-wheel drive Long Range Model 3 version. Prices for this long-range version start at €44,990 in Ireland, which Tesla claims is the best price-to-range ratio in the EV market right now.
Frozen microwave meal
Indeed, Tesla claims that the Model 3 Long Range Rear Wheel Drive version is so efficient that it can travel one kilometre on the same energy used to heat a frozen meal in a microwave. Perhaps that will become a new metric in electric car efficiency - kilometres per chicken korma.
Acoustic glass
The Long Range Rear Wheel Drive Model 3 benefits from the improvements made to the entire Model 3 lineup recently, the so-called ‘Highland’ version. That includes all-round acoustic glass, suspension bushings, seals and sound-dampening materials. As standard, there’s a Tesla-designed audio system with nine speakers and an amplifier, and the big 15-inch touchscreen comes as standard with native support for streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and others. There’s also a second eight-inch screen for rear-seat passengers, allowing them to access climate controls and other functions.
Ventilated seats
The front and rear seats are heated, and the front seats are also now ventilated. Needless to say, the Model 3 also benefits from access to Tesla’s own-brand ‘Supercharger’ high-speed charging points, still the gold standard for EV charging on long journeys.
Thanks to a series of recent price cuts, the Tesla Model 3 now has a base price of €39,990 in the Irish market.