After more than a year of hiatus, Tesla is back to selling the performance model of the Model 3, the Performance version, which is based this time on the facelift version of the model. Despite early estimations that the name would change to Plaid, like the Performance version of the Model S, it remains as before.
On the menu: more power and performance, an answer to complaints about the road behavior of the previous version, and a price that will give a big headache to the competing Hyundai Ioniq 5N.
The 2024 Model 3 Performance is equipped with two engines, front and rear, creating dual propulsion. For the first time, Tesla officially announces their output - 460 horsepower. Performance: 0 to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed of 262 km/h and a combined range of 528 km. The pre-facelifted Model 3 Performance required 3.3 seconds for the same acceleration, reached 261 km/h, and had a range of 549 km.
Externally, the Performance model stands out from the Long Range with new front and rear bumpers, with additional air vents for the brakes and a carbon fiber spoiler at the rear. There are also new 20-inch rims.
In the passenger compartment there is the same 15.4-inch central multimedia screen, and an additional 8-inch screen in the rear headrest for the model. There are also carbon fiber finishes and driver and passenger seats with improved side support and new padding, both with heating and cooling. There are also 17 speakers instead of 14.
In response to criticism of the previous performance's road behavior, Tesla added adaptive dampers, alongside chassis reinforcement, suspension, damper bushings, and the addition of stabilizer bars. The driver can choose a track mode and integrate his personal tuning preferences.
The safety equipment includes as before an autonomous emergency braking system, adaptive cruise control Autopilot, and more.
The new performance will cost NIS 278,300 in Israel, of which, as Tesla Israel emphasizes, NIS 88,300 are taxes collected by the state. At its peak, in January 2023, the previous performance in Israel cost NIS 319,000, but later Tesla reduced its price to about NIS 250,000.
Any color other than white will require an additional NIS 8,000-13,000, additional white upholstery costs NIS 7,000, and you can get the upgraded Autopilot system that connects to the navigation system and can perform automatic lane changes, and in the future with driverless parking facilities, for an additional NIS 36,000. For an additional NIS 41,000, you can get Tesla's full autonomous driving system, FSD, including stopping at traffic lights, summoning, and autonomous city driving, when approved for use in Israel.
As usual, with Tesla you can order the car in exchange for a deposit of NIS 2,000, which will not be refunded in case of cancellation. The first cars will be delivered to customers in the coming months of June-July.
Since the local launch in 2021, around 13,000 Model 3 vehicles have been sold in Israel, with 1,520 of them being the performance version.