FREMONT, Calif. — The new Tesla Model 3
sedan has impressive older siblings, the Model S and X which can run
upwards of $100,000.
But after a
short drive in this spartan yet spritely vehicle on roads surrounding
the company's massive factory
here Friday, it's clear the Model 3 has
inherited a lot of its family DNA from those machines while cutting back
on enough bells and whistles to bring the starting price down to
$35,000.
Stab the accelerator and the car sprints
like an Olympic 100-meter champion, thanks to the instant torque
provided by its battery-powered electric motor. Launch into a turn and
the steering feedback provided by the thick, sporty wheel is direct and
measured. Lift off the throttle and that familiar regenerative braking
starts slowing the car before you hit the brakes.
Visibility fore, aft, and up is ample, thanks to a massive two-pane glass roof that also serves to make the more compact rear seating area feel larger.
The
Model 3's center console has modernist touches, smooth surfaces that
pivot and pop, revealing a variety of storage areas as well as a place
for two smartphones to charge side by side.
The
trunk is conventional — no massive automatic lift-gate that reveals
optional rear-facing seating as in the S — but large enough to stow the
luggage of your best friend and his family after picking them up at the
airport.
The exterior is not a surprise, since
Tesla long ago teased the car. But while it largely borrows successfully
from the svelte Model S, there's something a bit off with the front
grille. Whereas the S and X offer a serious and simple face, the Model
3's divoted front end seems to be trying to smile.
The car shouldn't try to be cute. it's not its vibe.
Self-driving
car enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the Model 3 will come
packed with the same dense array of cameras, radar and other sensors
that are critical to autonomous driving, but activating them requires
purchasing the Autopilot package.
The fit and finish of this Model 3, which was among a
few dozen handed over to employees at a ceremony Friday led by CEO Elon
Musk, was tight. Panel gaps were perfect. Doors open and closed with a
solid thunk. Now, Musk just needs to, as promised, make 499,999 more a
year to the same standards.
So where are the compromises? If the Model S and X scream high-tech science experiment, Model 3 whispers it.
The
dashboard highlights this difference the most. Unlike the S and X,
there is no instrument gauge of any kind in front of the driver.
Instead, a lone 15-inch horizontally arrayed display seems to hover in
front of the long wooden dash.
One
of the most ingenious parts of the Model 3 that represents a true
departure from automotive tradition is the inclusion of a single thin
opening in the dash. That's for air, hot or cold, to blast into the
cabin (no more individual vents) and it's all rather simply and
ingeniously controlled by touching your fingers to the screen and
swiping over the part of the car where you want most of the AC or heat
to be directed.
There's another bonus of the
single screen for Tesla. Engineers explained that beyond simplifying the
driver experience — all of the car's functions are accessed here, with
some features controllable by thumb-dials on the steering wheel —
this solution also simplifies assembly. It makes producing left- and
right-hand drive versions of the Model 3 easier.
The
Model S and X's snazzy door handles are small blades that anticipate
your arrival (thanks to an app on your smartphone) and greet you by
automatically extending outward. You're on your own with the Model 3,
whose cleverly flush handles manually lift out when you press down on
one end.
The test model we drove actually was
sticker priced at half of a plusher Model S, or $49,000 — $44,000 for a
Model 3 with a 310-mile battery range and zero-to-60 mile-per-hour time
of 5.1 seconds, plus extra for aero style wheels, an upgraded sound
system and a few other goodies (the $35,000 base model comes with a
220-mile range). Those seem like logical upgrades, ones that help ease
range anxiety and offer a slighter more enjoyable ride.
While the Model 3 may be an entry-level Tesla, there remain a few tech features that make you feel part of a hip club.
Once
your smartphone is connected to the car, your Model 3 will be alerted
to your arrival or departure, unlocking or locking the car accordingly.
If your phone isn't on you, a custom credit card touched to the car's
center roof pillar does the honors.
Ultimately,
the success of the Model 3 will not rely on the whiz-bang factor. This
is a car that Musk wants to use to convince the mass market that
electric cars are viable and in fact superior, no-compromise
alternatives despite the continued presence of low-cost gas.
Can
he do it? Nearly 500,000 early adopters have put down $1,000 deposits.
That's a good start, but true success will require a zero to be added to
that figure. At first glance at least, the Model 3 could have a shot
where the Chevy Bolt and BMW i3 tried and failed. Make mine silver.
Tesla Model 3
What stands out
Design: Derivative, in a good way
Dashboard: Ultra-minimalist
Price: Right on target
Challenge: To build them well, and fast
Comments
Post a Comment