Tesla Model 3 Unveiled to Rave Reviews

Summary: The Tesla Model 3 unveiled during the electric sedan's world debut Thursday, March 31, generates rare reviews.

candy red Tesla Model 3 unveiled, Thursday, March 31, 2016, Hawthorne, California: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Tesla Model 3 cars are exceeding expectations and the hype regarding the convenience, the drive and the look of affordable, all-electric vehicles after the automobile’s world debut Thursday, March 31, 2016.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk brings the latest product of Tesla Motors Inc. within stage view of attendees of the hosted event in Hawthorne, California. He counts upon attendance and publicity to inspire massive orders for the sedan whose price is USD $35,000 before federal tax credits in the United States.

"Incredibly inspired by the interest in Model 3. You won't be disappointed. Also, small token of appreciation coming for those who lined up," Musk tweets on March 31.

He describes as driver-friendly selling points ranges of 215 miles (346.01 kilometers), speeds from start to 60 miles (96.56 kilometers) per hour in under six seconds. He expects that the standard feature of Supercharging will be a particularly welcome component when the sleek models are delivered to customers in 2017 or 2018.

An uncluttered dashboard adds panache to Tesla Model 3's sleek, minimalist interior. No gauges peek distractedly around the steering wheel. A 15-inch (380-millimeter) LCD screen in landscape orientation, positioned to the right of the steering wheel, offers easy visibility not only for the driver but also for all passengers.

A moving map occupies most of the instrumentation and control screen. Climate and stereo controls ribbon across the bottom of the LCD screen. The speed display occupies the upper left-hand corner.

A single, large pane of glass elegantly and smoothly transitions from rear window to roof window.

The all-electric Tesla Model 3 is constructed of a combination of aluminum and steel, with steel as the dominant metal.

Tesla Model 3 is designed by Tesla Motors' chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen. A 1992 graduate of the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, von Holzhausen has been with Tesla Motors since August 2008. His accomplishments at Tesla Motors include designing Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X.

Potential customers find their way onto Tesla Model 3 waiting lists by placing individual down payments of USD $1,000 as part of pre-orders through Tesla dealerships. Mr. Musk gives pre-order volumes at more than 115,000 before the car’s unveiling at 8:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time Monday (3:30 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time Saturday). Pre-ordering arrangements before and after the car’s world debut have the restriction of only two down payments for just two Tesla Model 3 vehicles per customer.

The volume of 130,000 pre-orders is reflected in the eight percent jump in shares of Tesla Motors Inc. to six-month highs on Friday.

Journalists have the perk of a brief ride in the Tesla Model 3 unveiled by Elon Musk on March 31. Automotive journalist Aaron Gold files an online report of the “blazingly quick” ride for Consumer Reports on Friday, April 1:
“We rode shotgun as VP of Engineering Doug Field took us for a spin in the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version. With four people on board and the accelerator pedal kissing the floorboard, our car rocketed to 60 mph, with the smooth, quiet, hurtling rush of power that is a characteristic of electric cars. In our experience, it felt like the Model 3 performed this feat in less than five seconds."

Consumer Reports tests about 70 cars annually. Gold shares that Consumer Reports has already placed an anonymous order to purchase a Tesla Model 3. Consumer Reports Auto Test Center staff members will then test the Tesla Model 3 at the center’s track and on surrounding public roads.

Tesla Model X (left) and Tesla Model 3 (right) at unveiling event, March 31, 2016; photographed from VIP Lounge: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Tesla Model 3: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/26173837075/

Tesla Model X (left) and Tesla Model 3 (right) at unveiling event, March 31, 2016; photographed from VIP Lounge: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tesla_Model_X_and_Model_3_at_the_unveiling_event.jpg

For further information:

Baldwin, Roberto. 31 March 2016. “Tesla Unveils Its $35,000 Model 3.” Microsoft News > Engadget.
Available @ http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tesla-unveils-its-dollar35000-model-3/ar-BBrcF24?ocid=ansmsnmoney11

Gold, Aaron. "2017 Tesla Model 3 Electric Car Unveiled." Consumer Reports > Cars > Hybrids-EVs. April 1, 2016.
Available @ http://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/2017-tesla-model-3-electric-car-unveiled/

Lawler, Richard. 30 March 2016. “Elon Musk Says this Is ‘Part 1’ of the Tesla Model 3 Reveal.” Engadget > Transportation.
Available @ http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/30/elon-musk-says-this-is-part-1-of-the-tesla-model-3-reveal/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000618

Musk, Elon, 2 August 2006. “The Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan (Just Between You and Me).” TESLA > Blog.
Available @ http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/21/tesla-model-3-reservations-explained/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000618

Pema, Tenzin. 1 April 2016. “Tesla Shares Surge as Model 3 Orders Speed Past Estimates.” Edited by Don Sebastian and Ted Kerr. Yahoo! News > Reuters.
Available @ https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tesla-shares-surge-model-3-112933087.html

Summers, Nick. 21 March 2016. “Tesla Explains How Model 3 Reservations Will Work.” Engadget > Transportation.
Available @ http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/21/tesla-model-3-reservations-explained/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000618

Tech Events. "Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Model 3 at Tesla Model 3 Event." YouTube. March 31, 2016. Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcWE5W3bLXU

Tesla Motors @TeslaMotors. 31 March 2016. "Meet Model 3 - Make your reservation at Tesla.com #Model3." Twitter.
Available @ https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/715749152638914560