American electric automaker Tesla released a new video advertisement for the new Model 3 Performance on May 19, 2024. The short video content featured two of the EV giant’s top executives who disclosed some details about the design of the new variant of the all-electric sedan.
Tesla execs spill the beans on Model 3 Performance design
Tesla published an ad on the popular video streaming platform YouTube on Sunday. In the video ad, Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and Vehicle Engineering Vice President Lars Moravy discuss some interesting details about their design choices for the new Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Chief Designer von Holzhausen tackled the overall design, from the exterior facade and rear bumpers to interior features.
“First thing you’ll notice on the Performance version of this car is that the front fascia is different, and you can see the ducks on the side here where we take the air from the front of the car and really duct it around the wheel, and it’s a different splitter across the front too so that helps with the downforce and the overall lift balance of the car. On the rear of the car, we added a spoiler, and we improved the rear diffuser. It’s a carbon fiber splitter, and you can see even the details here where we want downforce.
Let’s check out the interior. This is where there’s a lot of change for the performance version, and I think the first thing you’ll notice is the seat.”
Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen
Meanwhile, Vehicle Engineering VP Moravy discussed the forged wheels, which increase stiffness and tighten handling.
“We have these new forged wheels not only decrease the mass to keep the overall vehicle mass down but they also have a little bit more stiffness, which allows for tighter turnin feel.”
Tesla Vehicle Engineering Vice President Lars Moravy
Other Tesla engineers, including Giulio and Nathan, also provided a few words about the new Model 3 Performance’s new seats and integrated aero caps. They also talked about how the team developed the front fascia to move air around the tires.
“The new seat is supporting me now I can really go for the corner and look how the car goes over this range like we literally fly through.”
Tesla engineer Giulio
“They also come integrated with these arrow caps here. These also work with unique front and rear facias that we have on the car to move the air around these larger wheels and tires and this is where we’re balancing vehicle driving and vehicle handling and also the range and efficiency of the car we’ve also got an upgraded brake pad to take higher thermal loads and perform better.”
Tesla engineer Nathan
You can watch the full video below:
New Tesla Model 3 Performance variant launch
This new video ad comes after the official launch of the highly awaited Tesla Model 3 Performance variant last month.
It initially debuted at $52,990 before any incentives. Notably, it qualifies for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. However, recent adjustments have increased its price since then.
The Performance variant comes with the following enticing features, per the press release:
- performance-tuned chassis
- increased efficiency
- lower energy consumption
- improved driving performance
- a new track mode
- improved wheels
Key specs
Presented below are the key specifications of the new Tesla Model 3 Performance variant:
| Items | Tesla Model 3 Performance |
| Battery | Long Range |
| Range (est.) | 296 mi |
| †Acceleration | 2.9 s 0-60 mph with rollout subtracted |
| Drive | Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive |
| Output | More than 500 HP |
| Supercharging Max/Payment Type | 250 kW Max; Pay Per Use |
| Charging Speed | Up to 142 miles added in 15 minutes‡ |
