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Tesla Model 3: Elon Musk Finally Unveils New $35K Luxury Electric Car

By Val Powell
Published on: 22:58 PST, Mar 31, 2016

After years of waiting and making promises, luxury carmaker Tesla Motors finally unveiled Model 3, which could bring electric cars to the masses and the streets.

According to a report, the new Tesla car was revealed on Thursday evening at the company’s design studio in Hawthorne, California. Company CEO Elon Musk claims that the new electric sedan can deliver 215 miles of range with a price tag starting at $35,000.

“It’s very important to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport,” Musk said during the launch. “This is really important for the future of the world.”

Tesla Motors’ chief executive said during the launch that he is pretty confident that the Model 3 vehicles will start rolling out by the end of 2017. He added that “you will not be able to buy a better car for $35,000, even with no options.”

Reports say that there are already about 130,000 pre-orders for the vehicle, and each buyer is required to pay a minimum down payment of $1,000. Musk believes that the number of pre-orders will continue to rise as consumers continue to recognize the benefits of an electric vehicle.

Tesla Model 3’s Features

The base model of the Tesla Model 3 car can go from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds, which is already impressive, considering it is powered by electricity. For consumers who want to get faster acceleration, they can also opt for the add-ons.

The Model 3 will also support the company’s high-speed Supercharging network. Currently, there are less than 4,000 Superchargers, but that number will double once the affordable electric vehicles hit the market.

Also, the sedan will also have a 15-inch landscape touchscreen inside to help with autopilot and other features. The Tesla car is said to fit five people comfortably, with emphasis given to the word “comfortably.”

Because the electric vehicle won’t have a typical engine, it will have a front and back trunk for storage, making it a perfect vehicle for small family vacations and trips.

“More cargo capacity than any gasoline car of the same external dimensions,” said Musk, who is proud of the Model 3’s spacious trunks.

Like other models from the company, Tesla Model 3 will come in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions. Of course, the higher-end model will have a somewhat higher price tag.

Model 3 has been Tesla’s ultimate goal for a long time. Several years ago, the company unveiled a luxury sports car, the Tesla Roadster, and then unleashed the Model X. The profits from these two cars were then used to manufacture Model S.

Finally, the profits from Model S were used to develop the Model 3, which the company aims to bring to the working classes. Musk is betting hard that the Model 3 will sell well and become the company’s main product moving forward.

Meanwhile, another electric vehicle that has similar dimensions to the Tesla Model 3 is the Chevy Bolt by Chevrolet, which is reportedly capable of more than 200 miles in range. It costs about $30,000 after tax incentives.

Moving Forward

The Tesla Model 3 is one step in moving forward toward carbon-free and environment-friendly highways and streets. The fact that it is aimed at the masses is already proof that Tesla wants to begin a revolution, although they will have many challenges to overcome.

[Image by Scott Olson, Getty Images]

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