Model 3 Refresh Launches in North America
In a January 9th post on X.com, Tesla announced that the new Model 3 refresh has made it to North America.
The new 2024 version of the company’s electric sedan had been spotted at the Fremont plant in California as early as December - and now that it’s officially in production for Canada and the US, we can compare all the things that are changing with this year’s model.
First off, don’t worry, despite 50% of the car’s components being changed, pricing appears to have remained the same - which means that the Long Range and Rear Wheel Drive models can still get Canada’s $5,000 federal rebate - but not America’s $7,500 EV credit, unless you lease. There’s been no word yet on when we’ll see a Performance variant, but Tesla is reportedly working on it.
The Long Range trim seems to have a slightly boosted range - about 2.4% higher than before - but the other versions appear to be the same as before. This might be because of the newly designed wheels, or because the Long Range is now 4lbs lighter, while the RWD is 29 lbs heavier than the precious Model 3 was.
The weight change comes with a completely overhauled suspension - right down to a new layout that changes the old geometry, and a new mounting style to attach the subframe. All the new springs and dampers reportedly shave 0.1” off the ride height, and make for a smoother, quieter ride.
In fact one of the big features is a 30% decrease in ambient noise from outside the vehicle. This was achieved with pieces like the hood being reshaped to specifically lower wind noise, new tires designed with extra cushioning to lower road noise by up to 20% over last year’s model, and more general sound insulation to take care of the rest.
The company also gave this Model 3 acoustic glass on the rear windows to match the front windows that were already installed on older Model 3s.
The car’s body was given a few changes as well. Stiffer overall construction has led to better handling, the bumper has been redesigned, and a sharp, streamlined new headlight shape was added - while bringing the taillights into a single-unit design for easier production and reliability. They also took the opportunity to eliminate the fog lights entirely, so those are gone.
Storage space overall has been reportedly increased by 4.4%, and the trunk has been upgraded with a second motor - making it close easier and quieter.
But all the body changes have resulted in a 1” longer profile, and a reported 8 percent increased efficiency entirely due to the better aerodynamics - while adding new safety features like a new latch at the bottom of the doors, which increases protection from door impacts.
And while it doesn’t help with safety, we should mention that the exterior has two new colours available for the 2024’s finish: Stealth Grey at no extra cost, and Ultra Red at $2,000.
Moving into the redesigned interior, Tesla upgraded the whole car with what they’re calling “Premium” materials. The fabric used is reportedly soft and uses a higher quality sewing process that makes for a better texture.
This goes with the swooping lines of the new doors - and the new dash, which continues the textured trend with a woven material.
The rear seats have had an update to their material to match the perforated design of the front - as well as just generally being more comfortable. The front seats are the only ones ventilated and heated right now though, so call shotgun quickly.
The center Infotainment touchscreen was upgraded - taking the old chunky look and slimming it down, and fine tuning the screen to be more responsive, brighter, and show higher contrast. They even added a little 8 inch touchscreen for people riding in the backseats which can hook up two headphones at once, and it gives them their own climate controls - which have also been redesigned.
Aside from the seat options we mentioned earlier, the new 2.0 ventilation system can now separately turn off the passenger side air vents.
The steering wheel is now where you’ll be finding your turn signals, lights, a new camera button, microphone control, and wiper controls - no more stalks for the Model 3.
The car now has 5G connectivity, and boasts 50% improved cell connection over the 2023 model. The WiFi also received a range boost to double the old capacity - improving the connectivity with your phone so the vehicle can connect from further away.
An improved Bluetooth setup matches that, and the upgraded microphones - one for each side of the car. The sound system got an upgrade as well, and includes 17 speakers, 2 subwoofers and 2 amplifiers.
Adding metal handles and a 65 watt USB-C charger in the center console finishes off the new textures and utility - while a new multicolour LED strip around the dash and doors of the interior gives a soft ambience to the whole thing.
Deliveries for this refreshed Model 3 will be starting around the end of January.