India-Bound Tesla Model 3’s AWD & Performance Versions Announced
The Tesla Model 3 All-Wheel-Drive Performance sprints from nought to 60mph (96.5kmph) in 3.5 seconds and will hit an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250kmph)!
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently tweeted details about the much awaited all-wheel-drive and go-fast versions of the electric carmaker’s most affordable model, the India-bound Model 3. The Model 3 sedan was revealed two years ago on 1 April 2016 and its sales began in the U.S.A from mid-2017. Until now, the Model 3 was available in two versions: Standard Battery and Long Range Battery.
While both the Standard Battery and Long Range Battery are rear-wheel-driven (RWD), Tesla has now finally introduced the all-wheel-drive version of the Model S. The all-wheel-drive features the Long Range Battery pack and even offers an identical range of 310 miles (~500km).
The Model 3 AWD hits 60mph from standstill in 4.5-seconds compared to 5.1 seconds for the regular RWD Long Range Battery model. Tesla is charging an additional $5000 for the Model 3 AWD over the regular RWD version, which cost $44,000 ($9,000 extra over the Standard Battery model; ~ Rs 29 lakh). The AWD model has a top speed of 140mph (~ 225kmph).
The much awaited go-fast version of the 3, the All-Wheel-Drive Performance, breaks the 3-second barrier as its claimed 0-60mph sprint time is 3.5 seconds, a whole 1 second quicker than the standard AWD model. The Model 3 Performance too is rated at 310 miles (~ 500km) range on a single charge like the Long Range Battery and the AWD models. It has a retail price of $78,000 (~ Rs 53 lakh), around $29,000 more than the Model 3 AWD.
Tesla is currently facing production issues with the Model 3 as the demand for this vehicle, which is up for preorder from India as well, is extremely high. The waiting period, however, for some variants have come down compared to last year from over 12 months to an average of 6 months now. The Model 3 Long Range Battery, for instance, is attracting a minimum waiting period of 4 months. The standard Battery, on the other hand, still has a waiting period of up to 12 months. Production of the right-hand-drive version of the Model 3 will begin next year and it is likely to enter the Indian market in a couple of years from now.
Here’s what the Tesla Model 3 packs: Tesla Model 3: All You Need To Know