Tesla is once again making some changes to the delivery range. This time it concerns the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The entry-level version of the cheapest Tesla loses that name, becomes slightly slower but also comes 491 km far on a charge of current.
The first thing that stands out is the name change. Instead of ‘Standard Range Plus’, the base Model 3 is now simply called ‘Model 3’, under the heading ‘rear-wheel drive’. That seems smart, because the ‘Plus’ in the name is a bit confusing and only relevant if you know that in the US, and only by special order, there was also a Standard Range without ‘Plus’.
However, it doesn’t stop there. Tesla now promises a range of 491 km WLTP for this version of the Model 3, while that was previously 448 km. At the same time, the 0-100 time goes from 5.6 to 6.1 seconds, which means we have the rare situation where a Tesla slows down instead of faster. Tesla itself does not communicate battery capacities, but does confirm that a new, larger and more efficient battery pack is being mounted. Unofficial sources report that it would be an increase from (gross) 55 kWh to 60 kWh, but the most important thing is that the car is moving forward. 491 km for an entry-level model is also simply impressive.
China
For the time being, the changes only concern the Chinese-built version of the rear-wheel drive Model 3, because it already had so-called LFP batteries. That is the battery that has been changed, but Tesla would have plans to supply those LFP batteries worldwide in this version. All this is not important for Europe, because here the entry-level version of the Model 3 has been coming from China for some time and the changes apply immediately.
The extra range does come at a price, though. A new Tesla Model 3 now costs €50,990 including delivery, exactly €1,000 more than before. The episodes of the renewed slip-on start in February, so 12 percent addition is no longer in it.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl