Rapid EV fans rejoice! This is the new Tesla Model 3 Performance – and it’s spoiling for a scrap with some of the fastest electric cars on the market. Tesla claims this rather unassuming-looking saloon can get from 0–60mph in less than three seconds and keep charging to a top speed of 163mph.
That’s huge speed – especially when you consider that Tesla is planning to sell the Model 3 Performance to UK customers for an incredibly reasonably £59,990. To put that figure into perspective, prices for the BMW M3 start from around £82,000 – and while the M3 has 90hp more than the Tesla, it’s around a second slower to 60mph.
Tesla has tried to make the Model 3 Performance more than just a dragster, though. The firm has re-engineered the car’s chassis with clever damper and sticky tyres to help it cope with the extra grunt – and there’s some proper aerodynamics lurking under its body, too. Scroll down to learn everything we know about the car.
Explain the mechanical changes first
Tesla says it designed the new Model 3 Performance to a better a track toy than the old car, so its underpinnings have had a serious overhaul. Its platform is stiffer than the standard car’s and there are new springs, new stabiliser bars, meatier brake pads and tougher bushings to better suppress the battering delivered by Tesla’s 460hp powertrain.
You also get a fresh set of adaptive dampers that can read the road and automatically adjust the damping force to suit the terrain. You can fine tune the settings by chopping between drive modes, too. Standard mode offers the most compliant ride and the highest level of adaption, while Sport mode improves the speed of the damping.
There’s also a Track mode, which offers the tightest level of body control – and it also dials back the level of adaption to help make the car feel more neutral and predictable.
Tesla has also updated its Track mode for the new Model 3 Performance. We’re now on generation three, with the latest update bring tweaks to the way the car snatches at its ABS and regenerative braking systems to make it quicker around a circuit. And, naturally, should Tesla decide to update the technology again, the tweaks can be loaded into the car through an over-the-air update.
What about the styling tweaks?
Is a fast car really fast if onlookers can’t tell when it’s standing still? Tesla seems to think not, so it gave the Model 3 Performance a host of subtle styling tweaks to set it apart from the standard saloon.
Changes include a new front bumper with a deeper splitter and fresh cooling ducts, along with a more aggressive rear diffuser, a set of 20-inch forged aluminium wheels and a cheeky carbon fibre ducktail spoiler poking out of the boot lid.
Tesla says the new components have trimmed the car’s drag by 5% and improved its front-to-rear stability by a whopping 55%. What’s more, the Performance’s overall efficiency has improved by 2% thanks to the aero tweaks and its new powertrain. When driven gently, Tesla reckons it’ll do 328 miles between charging stops.
There are changes on the inside, too – most notably the seats. They’re Tesla’s own sports seats, and they feature more supportive side cushions and bolsters to better hold the driver in place on the track. Happily, though, they also retain the standard Model 3’s heating and ventilation functions.
Because this is Tesla, there are also some rather silly features. Take the ludicrous speed mode for the front and rear touchscreens, which displays a graphic that looks like the hyperspace animation from Star Wars. Tesla also has replicated the same graphic on badges for the car’s rump and in the front seat backs.
What does this mean for you?
Tesla is continuing its reputation for getting up the noses of the established car brands. The new Model 3 Performance has enough poke to keep up with almost every sports saloon on sale today short of the 1,108hp Porsche Taycan Turbo GT – but it costs a fraction of the cash.
It remains to be seen whether the Model 3 Performance will manage to shake off Tesla’s slightly shonky reputation for build quality. The company tells us it’s made some huge improvements to its manufacturing methods, but the Teslas we’ve driven in recent months have been hit and miss where quality is concerned.
In any case, though, if you’re in the market for a fast saloon (and you’re ready to make the switch to an electric car), we’re struggling to think of another car that will allow you to go faster for less.
One more thing worth mentioning is that those buying a Model 3 Performance outside of Europe, the Middle East and Africa will get a car with more power. In Tesla’s home market of the US, for example, they produce a whopping 510hp.
For some reason, Tesla decided to stifle the car’s output for the EMEA region. However, the firm assures us that, despite the 70hp deficit, its headline performance figures remain unchanged.
For all the latest advice, news and finance deals, sign up to the Parkers newsletter here.
Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of Parkers. He has five years of experience as a car journalist, and spends his time writing news, reviews, features and advice pieces for both Parkers and its sister site CAR magazine.
