Elon Musk declares dual-motor Tesla Model 3 a BMW M3 rival
All-wheel drive pure-electric sedan claimed to be quicker and unbeatable on track by car-maker's billionaire founderElon Musk has detailed a pair of new dual-motor all-wheel drive versions of the Tesla Model 3.
Posting a string of Tweets over the weekend, Musk revealed the most powerful of the two twin-motor Model 3s would be capable of hitting 60mph (97km/h) in just 3.5 seconds and topping out at 155mph (250km/h), while offering a driving range of up to 310 miles (498.9km).
Tesla dual motor, all-wheel drive performance Model 3:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2018
3.5 sec 0-60mph
155 mph Top Speed
310 mile Range
Not content leaving it there, Musk followed up his post on stats with a Tweet that claimed that not only will the dual-motor Model 3 be "15 per cent" quicker than BMW's M3, it would come with better handling than the German sports sedan.
Perhaps even more surprising is the fast Model 3's cost. Priced at $US78,000 ($A103,038) in North America, the pure-electric performance sedan costs more than double the base car's $US35,000 list price ($A46,300).
Cost of all options, wheels, paint, etc is included (apart from Autopilot). Cost is $78k. About same as BMW M3, but 15% quicker & with better handling. Will beat anything in its class on the track.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2018
A third Model 3-related Tweet went on to explain that the mid-sized battery-powered sedan would come with an electric motor driving the front pair of wheels and another sending power to the rear axle.
According to Musk, one motor is optimised for power, the other for range, and if one of the two motors suffers a failure the other one kicks in to drive you home.
Tesla dual motor means there is a motor in front & a motor in rear. One is optimized for power & one for range. Car drives fine even if a motor breaks down. Helps ensure you make it to your destination & don’t get stuck on side of road in potentially unsafe conditions.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2018
As well as the M3-rivalling Performance version, another all-wheel drive Model 3 will be offered that is claimed to command a premium of just $US5000 ($A6600) over the single-motor car.
Featuring less powerful motors, the all-wheel drive Model 3 is still capable of hitting 60mph (97km/h) in a rapid 4.5 seconds before topping out at 140mph (225km/h). Range remains 310 miles (500km).
Following the Model 3 Tweets positioning the mid-size Tesla as an M3 rival and boasting it will beat anything in its class on track, many senior commentators have accused the US car-maker's owner of hyperbole – suggesting an M3 would still have the upper hand on most circuits.
Deliveries for the dual-motor Model 3 will begin in July in the US, said Musk in the Tweets posted on Sunday.
Production remains the biggest hurdle for the US car maker in recent years, with Tesla struggling to keep up with the hundreds of thousands of reservations for the Model 3.
Repeatedly missing production and sales targets, Tesla has also struggled to ramp up production at its Freemont, California, manufacturing facility.
Expect the full range of Tesla Model 3 variants to be available by the time Australian deliveries start in 2019.
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