Tesla are without a doubt one of the classiest brands out there, from the moment you sit in the driver seat of one of its cars, it doesn’t take long until you recognise the care that has gone into manufacturing. So how would you feel if I told you that you could soon be behind the wheel of one of these beauties?
Thankfully, this isn’t a dream, and we may actually see the world of electric cars grow ever-closer, thanks to the recent announcement of an ‘affordable’ Tesla, the Model 3.
Seeing Tesla attempt to enter the mass-market may be a strong indication that the demand is now there – the brand is highly regarded as an electric car manufacturer, so this is kind of a big deal. Chief executive and all-round inspiration Elon Musk has stated the company’s goal is to produce around 500,000 vehicles per year once production takes off.
With that said, this could easily be seen as a last throw at the dice for Tesla if it is to stay in business; niche products such as the Model X and Model S haven’t been hitting sales targets, meaning the company posted a £620 million net loss in 2015. However, with 325,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within a week of the cars unveiling, early signs suggest this latest move could pay off.
Speaking personally, this is the sort of electric-only car I’ve been waiting to see, it looks fantastic, has a rather impressive range of 215 miles per charge and can achieve 0-60 in under sex second. I’m a huge fan of everything Tesla does, but whether or not the Model 3 has enough to convert diehard petrol heads is another matter, it’s certainly worth a look regardless.
There will always be people that prefer a classic petrol engine; it’s what we’re all familiar with. Still, an increasing number of charging stations, and some genuinely suburb electric cars on the way or even already out there, you have to wonder if this could finally be the moment we stand up and take notice.
Initial deliveries of the Model 3 are schedule to begin late 2017, with advanced orders being available in selected countries including the UK. The basic model will start at just under £25,000.
