Even a Tesla can't escape the tradition of mid-career revamping. Launched in France in 2019, the Model 3, which prided itself on its preference for remote updates and incremental enhancements, must bow to this enduring automotive commercial ritual. With 2 million units produced, and having enabled the brand to break through on every continent, it was in need of a facelift, judging by the downward slope of sales in recent months.
The aesthetic changes give off a slight whiff of conformity, with slimmer headlights and boomerang-shaped taillights, as on many other recent electric cars. Small cosmetic alterations to the front bumper improve the car's air penetration coefficient (the Cx drops from 0.23 to 0.21, according to the manufacturer). With the installation of low-rolling-resistance tires and new rims, fuel consumption figures are further reduced.
Over a distance of 180 km outside highways, consumption did not exceed 13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 km. A fast highway journey did not exceed 17 kWh per 100 km. This enviable performance means a theoretical range of 513 km between charges, which can be completed in a relatively short time thanks to the 170 kW DC charging capacity.
The changes are most visible in the cabin, where materials and assembly quality have improved – which wasn't very difficult – and sound insulation has been tightened. The last levers have been replaced by digital controls on the huge central screen, which must be swiped to start the engine. You now have to use your left thumb to operate the indicators or windscreen wipers. Driving a Tesla also means adopting a particular set of gestures.
The "improved" Tesla Model 3 starts at €42,990, an increase limited to €1,000. This refresh comes at just the right time to revive the fortunes of a model that, produced at the Shanghai plant in China, is likely to miss out on the €5,000 purchase bonus in 2024 (a French Finance Ministry incentive for electric cars made in France).
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.