Tesla Model 3 Info Leaks Online

Tesla Motors logo (Credit: Tesla Motors)

With the Model X out of development, Tesla Motors’ designers and engineers are working full-tilt on the Model 3. The upcoming electric car promises to be incredibly affordable, putting it within reach of the average consumer. That fact also could mean the Model 3 is the big turning point for the niche automaker, bringing it finally into the mainstream portion of the auto market. Certain details about the car have leaked from various sources, giving hints about what to expect.

According to a report from Value Walk, Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel spilled some details while giving a presentation at the University of Nevada. Apparently, the car will use completely new battery and motor tech, shocking some experts. The car also rides on a completely new platform, which is causing the company to work overtime to create. Straubel revealed that development for the Model 3’s architecture actually began “a few years ago.”

This isn’t too shocking, considering that Tesla has been at the forefront of cutting-edge tech, which changes constantly. The move is also probably one designed to cut costs, because the Model 3 is supposed to be an everyman’s car. After all, it likely will sell for a fraction of the Model S and Model X’s price points.

Thanks to a recent Tesla Motors Club forum post, some are reporting that the Model 3 will be priced somewhere around $36,000 when it launches. Apparently a member of the forum was at a presentation in the United Kingdom where he asked a Tesla rep point-blank about pricing and was given that figure, saying that it didn’t include any government incentives. Some think this figure is high and that Tesla could go as low as $30,000.

Equally as impressive is an anonymous tip given to electric car site Electrek, which claims the drag coefficient for the Model 3 will be under 0.20. The Model S boasts a respectable 0.24 Cd. If this rumor is true, the Model 3 will be one of the most aerodynamic production vehicles ever. Considering that Tesla is rumored to be aiming for a 200-mile range while using a smaller battery than on any version of the Model S, cutting down on wind resistance will be critical.

The public reveal for the Tesla Model 3 has been set for March 2016. Production should fire up in 2017, but Tesla Motors is known for delays.