Tesla has officially unveiled a new Performance variant of its recently refreshed Model 3 sedan as the company tries to deal with falling demand.
The new version of the Model 3, which starts at $52,990, has a new active damping system and adaptive suspension for better handling and comfort, 296 miles of battery range and can travel from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a 510 horsepower offer.
Compared to the previous Model 3 Performance, the new version has 32% more peak power and 16% more peak torque and 5% less drag. It does all this while consuming less energy than its predecessor, according to Tesla. This is due in part to a new generation power unit and a rear diffuser and spoiler. The front and rear ends of the car have also benefited from a slight facelift, setting it apart from the other versions of the newly facelifted Model 3 revealed last year.
The Model 3 Performance still carries with it the wholesale changes made with this recent refresh. That means there’s an ambient lighting bar that wraps around the interior of the cabin, better sound deadening and upgraded materials throughout, a stemless steering wheel and a new touchscreen.
Tesla is launching the new Model 3 Performance at a time when the company is coming off one of its worst quarters for deliveries in recent memory, down 20% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The impact of this disappointing first quarter is set to will be revealed on Tuesday when the company releases its financial results after the market closes.
The company is also just a week away from announcing sweeping layoffs of more than 10% of its global workforce, with cuts affecting seemingly every corner of the company.
Orders placed on Tuesday, at least at the time of publication, show an estimated delivery window of May/June 2024 in North America.
