Wait, Did the New Tesla Model 3 Just Appear on Reddit?
After going unchanged for years since its launch, Tesla's most affordable model adopts a new look.
Since its launch in 2017, the Tesla Model 3 hasn't received any major aesthetic updates, but that could be changing soon. A Reddit user posted a picture of what looks like the refreshed Model 3, with new headlights, front bumper, and wheels. While it might not be a leak on the same level as the recent intelligence dump on the Ukraine war, it's a big deal—Tesla's Model 3 has gone essentially unchanged visually since it first went on sale years ago.
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A few caveats: While the car pictured on Reddit (and posted by user ffiarpg to the r/teslamotors thread, embedded below) doesn't have a Tesla badge, the Tesla design language is clear, as it has some resemblance with the new Roadster prototype, and other details such as the door mirrors give it away as a massaged, current-generation Model 3.
Back in November, we wrote about "Project Highland," a codename for the refreshed Model 3. While the picture on Reddit only shows the front end of the vehicle, and that's change enough, Tesla could be making improvements to the Model 3's underpinnings as it finds ways to simplify production. (Think of new mega-castings such as those employed on the Model Ys built in the new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.) We also expect changes inside, as the Model 3's minimalistic design has fallen behind other electric vehicles, luxury or otherwise.
If this really is the new Model 3, the updated sedan is adopting a slightly more aerodynamic look, one that we've seen in the Roadster prototype. The smaller headlights have a swoopier design, while the front bumper loses the upright nose current models have and is entirely featureless from the bumper down. The new wheel designs will also sharpen the look with a more technical design.
Tesla has been quiet about the changes coming to Model 3, and there's no official launch date. However, we expect to see these changes towards the end of the year, with the Model Y SUV likely getting similarly updated styling soon. A couple of years ago, the electric sedan got more range, and a few aesthetic tweaks, but they were minimal.
Earlier this year we chatted with Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's design chief, and while he didn't share any details of the upcoming changes, he was excited for what's happening at his design studio. We'll have to wait a bit longer until we officially hear from Tesla. While this picture only shows the front end of the vehicle, the Model 3 could arrive with bigger changes, including updates to its powertrain, range, and safety features.
Update, May 31, 2023: Bloomberg reports an updated version of the Model 3 that is "longer and sportier" was previewed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the U.S. EV automaker's Shanghai Gigafactory in China during a visit from the executive.
Miguel Cortina is Mexico Editor at MotorTrend, covering the auto industry in the U.S. and south of the border. He joined MotorTrend in January 2015 and is an avid automotive enthusiast who enjoys playing golf, surfing, and running in his free time.
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