At least one 'Highland' Tesla Model 3 buyer will be able to park their new car under the Christmas tree, as the first customer deliveries begin.
Deliveries of the updated ‘Highland’ Tesla Model 3 were set to begin in January, but it appears at least one lucky customer will be getting theirs before Christmas.
A member of the Tesla Model 3 & Model Y Australia group on Facebook shared an image of their Model 3, which they say is the first Australian Highland delivered.
They’ve taken it straight to Lucky Five Motorsport for unspecified modifications.
If you order a Model 3 today, you’re looking at a delivery window of between January and March 2024 for the base model or February-April 2024 for the Long Range.
A new Performance flagship has yet to be revealed, though it’s coming.
The RWD is priced from $61,900 before on-roads ($4500 pricier than before), while the Long Range is $71,900 before on-roads (+$500).
Claimed WLTP range is up 22km to 513km for the RWD, and up 27km to 629km for the Long Range.
On the outside, the updated Model 3 features a slicker front design with a simpler lower section than before, while down back there are restyled tail lights.
Under the skin, the updated Model 3 features a revised suspension setup with new springs, dampers, and subframe mounting points designed to deliver a more comfortable ride.
Changes have also been made to the Michelin tyres, which are designed to offer more compliance through softer sidewalls – along with better noise suppression than is currently offered.
Inside, the new Model 3 has a new screen up front… with the same dimensions (15 inches) and processor as before.
The steering wheel is new, with no column stalks for indicators or cruise control. Instead, there are capacitive touch buttons on the wheel.
An ambient lighting strip runs along the base of the windscreen, and it’s now possible to turn off the passenger air vents.
Rear passengers get an 8.0-inch display to control media and climate, along with air vents and USB-C ports.
The updated Tesla Model 3 will face competition from not only the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2, but also the new BYD Seal. Local deliveries of this Chinese sedan started earlier this month.
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