Tesla hacker finds references to special seats for new Model 3 Performance

Recent observations from a prolific Tesla hacker have suggested that the new Model 3 Performance would feature different seats compared to its Rear Wheel Drive and Dual Motor AWD siblings. This time around, it appears that the Model 3 Performance would have seats that are worthy of the vehicle’s performance. 

Initial graphics depicting the apparent new seats were shared by veteran Tesla hacker @greentheonly on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. As noted by the Tesla hacker, the refreshed Model 3 would have two seat variants: Base and Sport. The latter, which would most likely be used for the upcoming Model 3 Performance, will feature different front seats with bolstered side supports and headrests. 

The new Model 3 Performance would definitely benefit from better seats. Inasmuch as the vehicle earned a lot of stellar reviews over the years, automotive publications such as What Car? have observed that drivers of the Model 3 Performance could find themselves sliding out of their seats when attacking fast corners during spirited driving sessions. With better seats, such issues would likely be completely addressed. 

The anticipation surrounding the new Model 3 Performance is notable. When the upgraded Tesla Model 3 was launched, electric vehicle enthusiasts immediately noticed that the all-electric sedan’s top-tier variant was absent. At the time, it appeared that the Model 3 Performance was in a limbo of sorts, thanks in no small part to Tesla’s silence on the vehicle.

But while it seemed that the Model 3 Performance has been partly forgotten by the EV maker, there have been signs that the all-electric performance car would be making a comeback. Tesla’s Parts Catalog, for one, briefly included images that referenced new sports brakes, suspension, and new wheels for the upgraded Model 3. 

The Parts Catalog even included a graphic that showed a special badge on the new Model 3’s rear. Observations from the EV community suggested that the badge looked quite a bit like the Ludicrous Mode graphic that was featured by Tesla in past vehicles like the Model S P100D. The Model 3 Performance is already Tesla’s most fun car in the track thanks to its relatively compact size and dedicated Track Mode. But with Ludicrous Mode, the Model Performance would be even more special. 

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Tesla hacker finds references to special seats for new Model 3 Performance

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A Tesla Model 3 Highland tsunami is starting in European markets

It appears that Tesla’s fourth-quarter delivery numbers would be bolstered pretty well by the updated Model 3, better known in EV circles as Project Highland. Based on social media posts from electric vehicle enthusiasts, it appears that a Model 3 Highland tsunami is starting in Europe. 

The new Tesla Model 3 is so far only being produced in Gigafactory Shanghai, the company’s primary vehicle export hub. Fortunately, the facility is also Tesla’s largest factory by output, with the EV maker listing the site with an estimated annual output of over 950,000 vehicles in its Q3 2023 Update Letter. It was then no surprise to see Giga Shanghai exporting batches of new Model 3 over the past weeks. 

Some of these vehicles have arrived in Europe, at least based on reports from Tesla watchers and EV enthusiasts. Over the past days, numerous photos and videos of the new Model 3 across Europe were shared online, from first deliveries in Germany to car carrier trucks filled with the updated Model 3 units in Paris, France. 

Following are some of the posts from European EV fans featuring the upgraded Tesla Model 3. 

Tesla delivered a total of 435,059 vehicles in the third quarter, which was 6% less than the 466,140 that the company delivered in Q2 2023. Part of this decline was due to the new Model 3, which was not delivered during the third quarter. Considering that the updated Model 3 is now seeing its deliveries in Europe, Tesla may indeed have a solid shot at meeting its ambitious target of delivering around 1.8 million vehicles this 2023. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

A Tesla Model 3 Highland tsunami is starting in European markets

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Volkswagen to stop selling gas cars in Norway in 2024: importer

Volkswagen plans to sell its last gas car in Norway by the end of this year, as shared by a major Norwegian import company last week.

Møller Mobility Group says Volkswagen will sell only electric vehicles (EVs) in Norway starting in 2024, as announced in a press release shared on Friday. The importer also notes that the announcement comes 75 years after Volkswagen was first established in Norway on October 21, and that over a million of the automaker’s cars have been sold in the country since.

“It may seem strange to mark the milestone by removing model icons from our portfolio, but this has been an ambitious and important investment over time,” said Ulf Tore Hekneby, managing director at Møller. “The purpose has been to drive forward changes that we believe are of crucial importance.”

The release states that Møller has imported around 1.1 million Volkswagen vehicles into Norway, while around 102,000 of the brand’s EVs have made it into the country. It also points out that October 21, 2013 was the first date an EV was registered in Norway, adding another anniversary to celebrate.

The final Volkswagen Golf is set to be sold in Norway in December, and the importer is encouraging customers to look into the automaker’s ID lineup, including the upcoming ID.7, expected to offer an electric replacement for the Passat.

Norway leads the world in overall EV adoption, and last year the country’s EVs surpassed 80 percent of new car sales. The country has also banned the sale of new gas cars starting in 2025, representing the world’s most ambitious EV adoption target.

Tesla leads the robust EV market in Norway on a fairly consistent basis, and according to tracker sales tracker ElbilStastikk.no, the automaker’s Model Y remains the dominant best-selling EV with 20,109 units sold through Q3. Volkswagen’s ID.4 is the second-best seller on the list, with 5,823 units sold through the quarter, while the ID.3 lands in sixth with 2,778 units.

Volkswagen BEV deliveries increase by 45% globally

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Volkswagen to stop selling gas cars in Norway in 2024: importer

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