Skip advert
Advertisement

New Tesla Model 3 Performance hopes to retake the high-performance EV exec throne

The new fast Model 3 has been treated to a revised chassis, performance-focused tech and, of course, more power

Just as electric cars like the BMW i5 M60 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N were making waves in the performance car sector, Tesla has officially re-entered the game by giving the new-look Model 3 a series of speed-focused tweaks. The new Tesla Model 3 Performance is here.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It would appear that the brand means business, too, as the new Tesla Model 3 Performance has immediately gone on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £59,990. This price places the Model 3 Performance firmly at the top of the Model 3 line-up, with a £20,000 price gap between it and the entry-level Rear Wheel Drive variant. 

The most obvious visual changes include a new carbon-fibre spoiler and rear-diffuser, plus a unique set of 20-inch aluminium wheels. These features aren’t just there to make the Model 3 Performance look a bit angrier, though, as they all have a purpose. The spoiler and diffuser are designed to aid stability, while the lightweight wheels are staggered in order to improve traction and responsiveness. 

As we’ve come to expect from range-topping Teslas, the Tesla Model 3 Performance’s official numbers are impressive. The dual-motor powertrain produces 460bhp and will launch the car from 0-60mph in a supercar-like 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 163mph (at least before the modifying community gets hold of it). Both of these figures are improvements on the previous model.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Tesla is yet to confirm the chosen battery for the Performance, but it’d be a safe bet to assume that it’ll share the same 78kWh as the Long Range variant. If this does happen, there’d be a healthy dose of battery range to go with the rapid acceleration, as an official figure of over 300 miles would be well within reach. 

There’s little questioning these performance figures in a straight line, but the Model 3 Performance has also been tweaked to handle itself in corners. The chassis has been upgraded with increased structural stiffness and improved suspension components, while the brakes feature new ‘high-performance’ pads.

Inside, things are mostly the same apart from a new set of sports seats. One particularly interesting party piece, though, is Tesla’s new ‘Track Mode V3’. This setup combines the Vehicle Dynamics Controller, motor controls, powertrain cooling and suspension controls into one interface. This allows the driver to customise the performance of systems such as stability control and regenerative braking.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Hello, I’m Shane and I’m the senior content editor both here at DrivingElectric and at our sister title Auto Express. Although I can trace my professional roots back to the radio and podcasting world, my passion (or borderline obsession) with cars saw me switch over to motoring journalism in 2021. From the very start I have been fortunate enough to try out the latest and greatest electric cars on the market, and I’m proud to help people like you make the right EV buying decisions.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

EV Deal of the Day: budget-friendly Ford Capri for just £234 a month
Ford Capri - front cornering
News

EV Deal of the Day: budget-friendly Ford Capri for just £234 a month

3 Apr 2025
Polestar 4 review
Polestar 4 - front tracking
Reviews

Polestar 4 review

31 Mar 2025
Polestar 3 review
Polestar 3 - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Polestar 3 review

31 Mar 2025
EV Deal of the Day: practical Vauxhall Grandland Electric for only £199 per month
Vauxhall Grandland Electric
News

EV Deal of the Day: practical Vauxhall Grandland Electric for only £199 per month

26 Mar 2025

Most Popular

Polestar 4 review
Polestar 4 - front tracking
Reviews

Polestar 4 review

The Polestar 4 is a premium mid-size SUV that's well known for not having a rear window. But there's far more to the car than that
31 Mar 2025
Polestar 3 review
Polestar 3 - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Polestar 3 review

Good-looking, spacious, and plush, the Polestar 3 is an impressive big SUV. But it’s an expensive choice and the tech grates
31 Mar 2025
Skoda Elroq review
Skoda Elroq - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Skoda Elroq review

This family SUV is like a shrunken Skoda Enyaq – and that’s a very good thing
18 Mar 2025