TESLA 3. THE FUTURE IS HERE!

The finalized Tesla Model 3 hasn't been officially unveiled, yet it's already one of the most eagerly anticipated vehicles of all time. The California-based company received nearly 400,000 pre-orders worth upwards of $10 billion simply by showing off a close-to-production prototype. No other automaker has ever pulled off such a feat.

That's because the all-electric Model 3 is the car motorists all over the globe have been waiting for since the launch of the original Roadster — a Tesla designed and built for the masses. From its range, its features, and its launch date, here's everything we know about it.

DESIGN

Built atop a new platform, the Model 3 is a compact four-door sedan aimed at well-established players in the luxury segment like the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Visually, it takes Tesla’s striking design language in a new direction.

Its front end is characterized by a low hood, a feature made possible because an electric motor is markedly smaller than a gasoline- or diesel-burning engine. A tall, arched roof line clears up a generous amount of space for five passengers inside. The back end borrows styling cues such as horizontal lights connected by a strip of chrome trim from the bigger Model S and Model X, but it’s not a carbon copy of either. Tesla has avoided the Russian doll-type approach to drawing cars that its German competitors are stuck in.

The finalized exterior and interior have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned for more updates on this front. However, a brief video of a release candidate model sprinting through a parking lot suggests the 3's design hasn't changed much in its transition from a concept to a production car. It stretches 184 inches from bumper to bumper, a figure that makes it about a foot shorter than the Model S.

A 15-inch, TV-like touchscreen on the dashboard will group all of the car’s key functions into a single unit in order to reduce distraction to the strict minimum. Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk recently announced the 3 will only have a single screen; that means it won’t come with a digital instrument cluster like the S and the X. It could have a simpler analog instrument cluster, but that’s unlikely for a brand like Tesla that prides itself on being ahead of the curve. Musk also shot down rumors that claim the 3 will have a heads-up display, so it sounds like the 3 will inaugurate a new way of presenting the driver with information.

Additionally, the 3 will come with Tesla’s Autopilot suite of electronic driving aids, meaning it will be able to change lanes, read speed limit signs, navigate freeway off-ramps, and brake if it detects a collision is imminent without any input from the driver. However, users will need to remain alert at all times. More features -- and a handful of Easter eggs -- will be added over the course of the production run thanks to Tesla’s ingenious over-the-air updating system.

DRIVETRAIN & PERFORMANCE

Full specifications haven’t been announced, so it’s too early to provide juicy details like what kind of electric motor(s) the 3 will come with, and which battery packs will be available.

We know that it will offer at least 215 miles of range in its most basic configuration. Variants with a bigger battery could go over 300 miles on a single charge, but the 3’s range will be limited by its relatively small footprint. Tesla has confirmed the P100D’s 100-kWh pack will not be available in the 3 because its wheelbase is too short.

The 3 is set to benefit from advances in battery technology that were recently inaugurated by the ultra-quick P100D versions of the Model S and the Model X. The company’s newest battery pack is much denser than its predecessor, and it gets a comprehensively updated cooling system. Production is already underway in the Gigafactory, a massive complex located on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada.

Model 3 owners will be able to use Tesla's network of Supercharger stations, but there's a catch. Unlike Model S and Model X owners, they'll need to pay every time they plug their car into a Supercharger station. Tesla says the service will "cost less than the price of filling up a comparable gas car," though rates haven't been announced yet.

When it comes to performance, the Model 3 will easily keep up with the BMW 3 Series. The base model will hit 60 mph from a standstill in less than 5.6 seconds, while more powerful variants will perform the same task in under four seconds. Tesla has also confirmed the 3 will be available with the Ludicrous mode that cemented the car’s spot as the quickest series-produced vehicle on the planet.

Source: digital trends.