Low-Cost Tesla EV To Be Dubbed Model 3

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Tesla announced the name of its low-cost EV due to arrive around 2017: Model 3.

Autoblog reports the name was announced on its Facebook page Tuesday, after Ford rebuffed CEO Elon Musk’s desire to call the $35,000 EV the Model E earlier this year. Musk adds the name will be written as a Roman numeral, and would occupy the space between the S and the X as far as now-vague sexual references go.

Beyond the new name, not much has been revealed aside from a 20-percent size reduction over the Model S, the increased use of steel in its construction, and that the 3 would go up against the BMW 3 Series.

Roadster owners, meanwhile, will receive an update that would swap the current battery pack for an improved model delivering 400 miles per charge over the former’s 245 miles.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Russycle Russycle on Jul 17, 2014

    "Roadster owners, meanwhile, will receive an update that would swap the current battery pack " Pardon my nitpicking, but "will receive" implies this is a freebie Tesla will be handing out to current owners. I doubt Tesla will be handing out new $10,000+ battery packs. Autoblog says they'll be "available", presumably to owners willing to write large checks.

  • Jacob_coulter Jacob_coulter on Jul 17, 2014

    I see under $30k being the tipping point for electric cars where consumers will adopt them in really large numbers, but it can't look like an enclosed golf car. The reason Tesla had success was because they knew the electric car was not really about saving money every month on gas, it was a high end luxury good. I really don't think range is the big issue, if you can a real world 200 miles+ per charge, that would be overkill for 99% of drivers. I know it wouldn't stop me. If somebody regularly takes long road trips, obviously you're looking at a long time before a battery powered car is going to fit your needs. But I see Musk/Tesla overpromising here, especially on price. And count me as someone who thinks it's absurd taxpayers are subsidizing toys for millionaires. It's one thing to fund research, but when you're just lining the pockets of billionaires so millionaires can have expensive luxury cars at a discount, that's what you call crony capitalism.

  • Alluster Alluster on Jul 17, 2014

    Is it any coincidence that Tesla made this announcement right about the same time numerous Model S drive units are failing? Whatever gets unwanted attention away from these premature failures I guess. A Model 3 for 35K to 40K with a 200 mile range would be great. Only problem is there will be no Model 3 nor will there be a 'gigafactory'. There never was and Tesla knows this. Such a car would be financially impossible to make but it really doesn't matter because there are no plans to make it anyway. The plan is to keep making vague promises to keep investors excited until it is time for a flip.

    • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jul 17, 2014

      So the Gigafactory job postings, 'future products' job postings, and talks with candidate states for a Gigafactory site are all just hot air? Gimme a break. The only way a Model III happens is with the Gigafactory. I guess you also don't believe the Model X is coming? I don't see Musk flipping Tesla; to me, anyway, he seems committed to make it work. As for the failing drivetrains, Tesla must get on top of it, or else they will be in real trouble.

  • Brianyates Brianyates on Jul 17, 2014

    If that picture is of the model 3 it looks very nice, I'd be interested in buying it in 2017, hope fully by then any teething problems will have been sorted.As GM,Fiatsler and Ford have proven, nearly all car manufactures have had and will have some problems.

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