The mass-market EV was initially expected to offer a minimum range of 200 miles, however Tesla CEO Elon Musk told attendees at the Edison Electric Institute convention that the car will have at least 250 miles of all-electric range, according to The Times-Picayune.
The company has stuck to its price target of around $35,000, viewed as the maximum for its first high-volume model.
“There is no agenda to sell to wealthy customers only,” the executive reaffirmed.
Reflecting Tesla’s push toward longer range, the company earlier this year introduced a new entry-level Model S with a 70 kWh battery. The sedan offers an EPA estimated range of 240 miles, up from 208 miles for the 60-kWh package that previously sat at the bottom of the lineup.
Few additional details surrounding the Model 3 have been disclosed, but Musk has cautioned that its mass-market sedan won’t initially go “super crazy” with special features like the Model S and the upcoming Model X crossover. He suggested that some “adventurous” upgrades will be available further down the road, presumably for later range-toppers to follow the initial launch.
Keeping the Model 3 relatively simple could help the company avoid delays associated with new technology, such as the falcon-wing doors that have been partly blamed for stalling Model X development.
If the company keeps to its launch estimate, the Model 3 could arrive in Tesla’s boutique showrooms by the second half of 2017.
Image by Ronan Glon.
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