The updated ‘Highland’ Tesla Model 3 is already on sale in RWD and Long Range AWD guise, but there’s an even more powerful model coming.
Source code found by an InsideEVs reader on Tesla’s UK website has revealed some technical details of the performance flagship, recently spied undisguised.
The Model 3 Performance is due to be unveiled in the first half of this year, with Australian deliveries likely in the second half of 2024 or early 2025.
Set to continue wearing the Performance nameplate, the high-performance Model 3 will be “the most powerful Model 3 ever” according to the source code.
It’ll offer “more than 500 horsepower [373kW]” from a pair of “all-new high-performance drive units”, though an acceleration time doesn’t appear in the code.
According to someone who attended a private presentation of the Model 3 Performance, however, it could have a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 2.9 seconds.
For context, the pre-update Model 3 Performance had a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds.
A recent South Korean government filing shared by InsideEVs revealed the Performance will use a 355V high-voltage battery with an energy capacity of 81.65kWh.
The Model 3 Performance will feature “all-new adaptive damping powered by in-house software [that] gives your enhanced body control without sacrificing daily usability or comfort”, suggesting it’ll have a different setup from lesser Model 3 models which use frequency-response dampers.
“The latest generation driving mode integrates adaptive suspension controls with a performance-optimized powertrain to deliver more response and fun behind the wheel,” the source code also reads.
It’ll also feature Track Mode V3, offering a more focused calibration for track driving. Drivers will be able to customise aspects like the stability control and regenerative braking.
According to the source code, Tesla promises “bespoke chassis and suspension hardware… tuned to provide [an] intuitive, razor-sharp response to driver inputs” plus “enhanced pedal feel and improved heat management [to] ensure consistent braking at all speeds and across a wider temperature range”.
Beyond the mechanical enhancements over regular Model 3s, the Performance will also receive various cosmetic changes as previously seen in spy shots.
There’s revised front- and rear end styling, a carbon-fibre spoiler, and lightweight, staggered wheels, while inside there’s carbon-fibre trim and an “all-new seat design with enhanced side and cushion bolsters [to] hold you in place”.
As with regular Model 3 sedans, the front seats feature ventilation.
It’s unclear how much the price will change. The pre-update Performance was priced from $83,400 before on-road costs when it was last available.
MORE: Everything Tesla Model 3
