Tesla Model 3 refresh adds more range and a few handy features
Continuous improvement is the name of the game at Tesla, so the appearance of a new and improved version of Model 3 is welcome news, but no great surprise. After days of rumors and sneak peeks, Tesla has officially added the refreshed Model 3 to its online configurator.
The new version includes several innovations that Tesla first introduced on Model Y, as well as (of course) more range and more acceleration.
As we reported in our recent cover story on Model Y, the crossover features a new thermal management gadget called the Octovalve, a heat pump system that’s far more efficient than the resistive heating system used in previous Tesla models. This is now included on the refreshed Model 3 uses the new system, and it’s not unreasonable to speculate that it may have enabled part of the increase in range. A source told Electrek that the range boost was enabled by a new “efficiency package.”
It’s a respectable range ramp-up: between 13 and 30 miles, depending on the variant. The Standard Range Plus now gets 263 miles, the Long Range achieves 353 miles, and the Performance reaches 315 miles.
A couple of other handy features have also appeared: a motorized trunk hatch (first seen on Model Y), a new center console, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming mirror. There are also several new wheel options and various aesthetic changes.
And now for the most useful improvement of all: faster acceleration across the board. The Performance model will now get you to 60 mph a full tenth of a second quicker!