5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

The biggest moment of Tesla's short life is here, as it is about to reveal the car that it hopes will bring electric cars to the masses. The Model 3 has a lot resting on its shoulders, so we've explained what it needs to achieve to make ordinary people buy in
5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

All variants need impressive range

5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

The Tesla Model 3 will come in a number of varying power outputs and battery capacities, with a top of the range dual motor option likely. The latter version will naturally have the longest range, with rumours suggesting it’ll achieve more than 300 miles from a full charge, but it’ll also be the most expensive.

If Tesla wants the Model 3 to become the car of choice for ordinary people, the base model must have an impressive range, too. It’ll never become the car that convinces Average Joe to ditch petrol if there’s still range anxiety, so anything less than 200 miles to a ‘tank’ will not be good enough.

It needs to be a head turner

5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

The Model S’s styling isn’t the wildest thing on the market, but it looks damn handsome and turns heads even now. With the Model X also, Tesla has nailed futuristic styling that makes it clear you’re not looking at a normal car, without creating something weird and polarising.

When it comes to the Model 3, looks will arguably be even more important. The best way to tempt people away from their gas guzzling family cars is to make something they want to be seen in - I’d wager most people who don’t care about cars and simply buy them as you and I would buy white goods aren’t even aware Tesla’s revealing a new car today. Grab their interest by making something sexy, then wow them with the facts later. Make something unexciting, and nobody’s interest will be piqued.

It needs to be inexpensive

5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

This might sound obvious, but it’s arguably the most important thing in this list. The Model 3 is the car Tesla has been working towards since it began, and is pretty much its whole reason for being. If it screws up and makes the entry level car too expensive, it will have massively jeopardised its future.

It’s not just about the bottom line price, though. For the money, the Model 3 needs to offer standard goodies and interior qualities that are at least comparable to its rivals. If you’re in the market for a base BMW 3-series, the Tesla will suddenly become a lot more appealing if it’s stacked with extras for the same price.

It needs a capable performance variant

5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

As car enthusiasts, we obviously get excited about performance variants of cars because we like it when cars go fast. We’re simple like that. But performance variants play a much more important role than just keeping petrolheads happy, they actually make marketing the normal variants easier.

You see, if you think the Ford Focus RS is cool but can’t quite afford one, you’re more likely to go for a normal Focus because it’s sort of the same thing. They also get people into showrooms, where salesmen can do their thing.

If Tesla’s go faster Model 3 has M3 performance with the running costs of a microwave, not only will that make enthusiasts sit up and take notice, it’ll make ordinary people get excited about EVs and investigate. You might not be able to afford the dual motor model, but your base-spec car will still have crazy fun acceleration thanks to the way electric motors put power to the wheels.

No gimmicks, no delays

5 Things The Tesla Model 3 Needs To Get Right In Order Not To Suck

The Model X is a marvellous feat of engineering, but it was hugely delayed as Tesla boss Elon Musk tried too hard to make it special and unique. He’s admitted that the wicked falcon doors were perhaps an unnecessary complication, and he claims to have learned his lesson, but if he hasn’t, the general public will be less forgiving than the rich Tesla fanboys that have been buying his cars so far.

The Model 3 needs to have a simple, uncomplicated launch, with nothing too revolutionary that could scupper the proposed 2017 release date. Musk already has his hands full building his Gigafactory, which is essential if Tesla is to build enough batteries to meet demand, so another ‘falcon door moment’ would be a disaster.

The Tesla Model 3 launch event begins 31 March at 8.30pm Pacific time (1 April, 4.30am British Summer Time), so stay tuned on Car Throttle as we follow it live!

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Comments

Faraaz Enveralli

I read it needs to be ‘expensive’ at first.

03/31/2016 - 14:56 |
0 | 0
Leonardus Wilhelmus de Graaf

I just hope it’s gonna be similar to the model S…

03/31/2016 - 14:56 |
4 | 1
Klockorino

I personally am not an electric type of guy, but it would be more appealing of they followed this article. My issue with electric cars is the price. It is too much for less.

03/31/2016 - 14:57 |
3 | 0

As people have mentioned above, the problem with EVs at the moment is that mass produced electric cars are in their infancy, therefore you’re paying for development costs. If you’re committed to EVs and don’t mind paying more to be an early adopter then that’s fine, but Tesla wants the Model 3 to be the first viable EV that doesn’t cost a premium. Intrigued to see if they pull it off.

03/31/2016 - 16:03 |
1 | 0
bcrm

People are camping outside the launch event like it’s black Friday 😢

03/31/2016 - 14:58 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Sorry to burst people’s bubbles. But the technology going into it cost a lot to produce. So it won’t be cheap to buy. That means you are paying for top quality not Chevy Volt quality.

03/31/2016 - 14:59 |
44 | 3
Jordan Mellinger

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

This 100%. A new technology is always going to cost more, they have development costs to pay off. As more are produced that overhead will reduce but at launch expect to pay a premium.

03/31/2016 - 15:14 |
7 | 1
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It’s been said to cost $35k USD. They’ve said this for years.

03/31/2016 - 15:19 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Or it will be as plane as a cobalt and as cheap as a new one :p

03/31/2016 - 15:51 |
0 | 4
DeLeon

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well a new 3 series isnt cheap as well

03/31/2016 - 16:23 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

it’s base price is 35k before tax incentives so you’re kinda wrong.

03/31/2016 - 21:42 |
0 | 0
DannyWRX

If it’s more than $30,000 (USD) I will be highly disappointed. Because in my book, $30k + is not cheap. For that price there are so many really good cars I’d rather buy.

03/31/2016 - 15:01 |
7 | 0

I’d say the price should be competable with the Audi A4 and Jaguar XE for it to be worth considering

03/31/2016 - 15:05 |
5 | 0

It’s going to be 35k but after insentives it will be around 20-25k.

03/31/2016 - 15:06 |
5 | 0

The average price of a new car in the US is over $40,000. So by comparison of the average, it is “cheap”

03/31/2016 - 16:12 |
2 | 0
Mr Mazda

This is a leaked photo. It looks fast.

03/31/2016 - 15:18 |
211 | 1

This is the best comment

03/31/2016 - 15:28 |
4 | 2

It took my phone a while to load that image, and I was 100% sure you were serious, only to recieve this…

The sjngle greatest car to have been created.

03/31/2016 - 17:47 |
30 | 0

Of course it does 😂

03/31/2016 - 19:21 |
0 | 0

Sick aero!

03/31/2016 - 20:17 |
0 | 0

The designs and styling Tesla makes for their cars isn’t bad at all. Why are you comparing it to this?

04/01/2016 - 02:30 |
0 | 8
Gurminder Bains

It sounds great!! Oh wait…

03/31/2016 - 15:30 |
7 | 0
Adam Hopton

They should make a supercar next

03/31/2016 - 15:34 |
2 | 0

I think you can say that the model S P90D is a supercar with over 700hp dont you think?

03/31/2016 - 18:34 |
0 | 0
aaaa

Every non-car enthusiast will be like “Have you seen that new Tesla Mazda 3??” All their R&D and they couldn’t have chosen a more memorable name?

03/31/2016 - 15:44 |
1 | 3
essequattro

In reply to by aaaa

Where have you been for the past two centuries? The first mass-produced cars had the same exact naming scheme. And the Germans have their A-class, B-class, C-class, E-class, G-class, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8… should I go on? Everyone has generic names these days.

03/31/2016 - 16:07 |
1 | 0
Unknown

In reply to by aaaa

They were trying to call it the Model E but Ford filled a copyright infringement suit against them because it “sounded” like Model T. There was an article I read called “Ford ruins SEX” or something like that

03/31/2016 - 16:10 |
0 | 0
Turboghini

In reply to by aaaa

Tesla S.3.X.Y Do you get it yet?

04/01/2016 - 03:55 |
0 | 0