New Tesla Model 3. Coming in 2023
The new Tesla Model 3, which we expect in 2023, was seen on the streets of California, in the city of Santa Cruz. The start of production of the updated electric sedan will begin in the third quarter of 2023. It is already known that it will receive a more modern interior and a more technologically advanced body structure. Engineers intend to reduce the number of interior parts and simplify car assembly. According to witnesses, the prototype could have new cameras installed in the headlights. This is reported by Electrek.
The Israeli market currently offers the first generation Tesla Model 3. Prices for the electric sedan start at 225,719 shekels (as of the end of 2022), which is the price of the entry-level version with a 258 hp (190 kW) electric motor and a battery with a capacity of 60 kWh. The driving range is 491 km. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, developing the maximum speed of 225 km/h.
What can we expect from the new Model 3?
Of course, the car is covered with special camouflage on the front end, rear fenders, bumper and trunk lid, but the contours of the Tesla Model 3 are clearly visible. Apparently, the electric car will receive an updated hood, headlights and the rear end. It is assumed that the main design change will be the use of a monolithic stamping of the rear of the body base, which is already implemented in the production of the Tesla Model Y. The reduction in the number of body parts reduces the number of technological steps in assembling an electric car and improves precision, but at the same time requires serious investment in press and tooling equipment.
Another suggestion is that the headlights of the new 2023 Tesla Model 3 have cameras responsible for the operation of active driver assistance systems. The current version has small blind spots on the sides of the front bumper, so additional cameras will not only make maneuvering in tight spaces easier, but will also increase safety when cornering, as they will provide a better view of the road in a perpendicular direction. Tesla has repeatedly stated the need to improve the Autopilot system: it is likely that a significant upgrade will be possible thanks to new sensors.
The Tesla Model 3 occupies an honorable 5th place in the global ranking of the most popular cars of 2021. Moreover, it topped the list of 2021's most popular electric vehicles (according to JATO Dynamics).
Tesla aims to prioritize cameras over other types of sensors when implementing the Autopilot system, so this change is in line with the established course. An additional camera may appear on production Tesla Model 3 even before the appearance of an updated version of the electric car, so this innovation cannot be linked to the corresponding modification of the car. But it is also possible that a new generation radar was also tested on the prototype. According to some reports, the new radar will have twice the resolution of its predecessor. Perhaps, despite all the previous statements about the refusal to use radars, the company intends to improve the operation of the autopilot system this way.
