New Tesla Model 3 Performance hopes to retake the high-performance EV exec throne

Just as electric cars like the BMW i5 M60 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N were making waves in the performance car sector, Tesla has officially re-entered the game by giving the new-look Model 3 a series of speed-focused tweaks. The new Tesla Model 3 Performance is here.

It would appear that the brand means business, too, as the new Tesla Model 3 Performance has immediately gone on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £59,990. This price places the Model 3 Performance firmly at the top of the Model 3 line-up, with a £20,000 price gap between it and the entry-level Rear Wheel Drive variant. 

The most obvious visual changes include a new carbon-fibre spoiler and rear-diffuser, plus a unique set of 20-inch aluminium wheels. These features aren’t just there to make the Model 3 Performance look a bit angrier, though, as they all have a purpose. The spoiler and diffuser are designed to aid stability, while the lightweight wheels are staggered in order to improve traction and responsiveness. 

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As we’ve come to expect from range-topping Teslas, the Tesla Model 3 Performance’s official numbers are impressive. The dual-motor powertrain produces 460bhp and will launch the car from 0-60mph in a supercar-like 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 163mph (at least before the modifying community gets hold of it). Both of these figures are improvements on the previous model.

Tesla is yet to confirm the chosen battery for the Performance, but it’d be a safe bet to assume that it’ll share the same 78kWh as the Long Range variant. If this does happen, there’d be a healthy dose of battery range to go with the rapid acceleration, as an official figure of over 300 miles would be well within reach. 

There’s little questioning these performance figures in a straight line, but the Model 3 Performance has also been tweaked to handle itself in corners. The chassis has been upgraded with increased structural stiffness and improved suspension components, while the brakes feature new ‘high-performance’ pads.

Inside, things are mostly the same apart from a new set of sports seats. One particularly interesting party piece, though, is Tesla’s new ‘Track Mode V3’. This setup combines the Vehicle Dynamics Controller, motor controls, powertrain cooling and suspension controls into one interface. This allows the driver to customise the performance of systems such as stability control and regenerative braking.