July 28, 2017, Tesla Inc. revealed the new Tesla Model 3. During the “handover” event, 2,000 employees, press, and other guests waited for the unveiling of Tesla’s first mass-market electric vehicle. Employees from different departments discussed their contribution to the creation of the car and shared behind the scenes information. It was also announced that 30 select employees would be receiving a production-ready vehicle before the car’s official launch.
A 10-second countdown was initiated shortly after 9:00 pm concluded by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, driving onstage in a red Model 3. Musk gave a presentation discussing things like the time and energy put into the design, the challenges of mass production, and the love and appreciation he and his company have for all of their wonderful customers, some of whom have already pre-purchased a Model 3. After his presentation, servers offered decadent desserts while members of the press were offered short test rides in the new model.
Since the beginning of Tesla Inc. 13 years ago, Elon Musk has envisioned affordable electric vehicles (EV). The company’s first shipped EV cost the consumer approximately $109,000, a price that exceeded Musk’s dream. Over the next nine years, Tesla took strides to evolve into the world’s first mass producer of electric vehicles.
The brand new Model 3 can be purchased at a base price of $35,000. While there are many features for individual customization, the price will change with each new addition. Although the term ‘basic’ seems a little drab, the Model 3 has plenty of features to get you excited. For starters, the EV’s range is approximately 220 miles. This means a typical driver can go multiple days before needing to recharge. The EV’s speed is also quite impressive. It can get up to 60 miles per hour in about 5.6 seconds reaching its top speed at 130 to 140 miles per hour. Another enthralling feature of this model is the digital display. At the handover event, Elon Musk noted that a goal of the company was to create a simplistic yet effective display for Model 3. Instead of multiple knobs and buttons, one 15 inch center touchscreen will control any changes need, as well as the car information.
For those with pockets a little deeper, Tesla offers different ways to customize individual models. For an extra $1,000, consumers can choose between a few colors outside of the default black for their car. Consumers can also elect to upgrade from rear wheel drive to dual motor all-wheel drive. The Ludicrous mode featured in older versions is offered as an option in Tesla’s new model. For around $8,000, the Model 3 offers premium options such as autopilot, self-driving, a premium audio system, and much more.
Robert Taurosa 