Photo: @Y2KColin via Twitter
Rumors hint at an imminent launch of the refreshed Tesla Model 3, with Giga Shanghai already in the trial-production phase. Recent prototypes caught on camera in California have dark windows and a covered dashboard, hinting at a significant redesign.
Tesla is expected to launch the refreshed Model 3 in the coming months, with previous information claiming that Project Highland has already started trial production. Reports from China indicated that the upgrades at the production line at Giga Shanghai are almost complete. Prototypes of the revamped Model 3 have been spotted testing on public roads in the US, but also around Giga Shanghai in China.
For the past three months, any production halt at Giga Shanghai or the Fremont factory has been suspected to have been caused by an overhaul to prepare for the refreshed Model 3 production. So far, Tesla has refrained from offering any information. However, Tesla fans have crowd-sourced a lot of information about the upcoming electric sedan. Although recent sightings of Project Highland prototypes don't seem to offer new details, they give an interesting hint.
Turns out Tesla has as many things to hide in the cabin as it has on the exterior of the Model 3. A recently spotted Model 3 prototype had the windows tinted so the car's interior could not be seen. The dashboard was also fully covered, prompting speculations about what it might hide. Usually, when carmakers take such precautionary measures, they do it to hide significant redesigns, and this might also be the case with the Model 3 interior.
In May, YouTuber Caliber197 offered the first glimpse inside the refreshed Model 3 cockpit after flying a drone over Tesla's test track at the Fremont factory. The images revealed a covered dashboard, with a notable thing missing: the steering wheel's stalks. This was further confirmed when the driver touched the screen to put the car in reverse, a move familiar to those driving a Model S or a Model X.
The Tesla Model 3 prototype in the gallery was spotted in Palo Alto, California, and eagle-eyed Tesla fans noticed an intriguing bulge at the front. It's unclear what it could hide beneath the black cladding, considering that Tesla aims for a clean aerodynamic profile. Everything other than a hermetic bumper would affect the airflow, so it's unlikely we'll see it in production vehicles.
The refreshed Model 3 is rumored to feature innovative features, such as a new steer-by-wire system, matrix LED headlights, and HW4 with more cameras. I'd take the steer-by-wire info with a grain of salt, as this would be an unnecessary complication for the Model 3. Tesla didn't offer something similar on the Cybertruck, so I think it would be overkill on the Model 3. Still, Tesla is expected to offer more glitz thanks to ventilated seats, ambient lighting, and an upgraded sound system.
For the past three months, any production halt at Giga Shanghai or the Fremont factory has been suspected to have been caused by an overhaul to prepare for the refreshed Model 3 production. So far, Tesla has refrained from offering any information. However, Tesla fans have crowd-sourced a lot of information about the upcoming electric sedan. Although recent sightings of Project Highland prototypes don't seem to offer new details, they give an interesting hint.
Turns out Tesla has as many things to hide in the cabin as it has on the exterior of the Model 3. A recently spotted Model 3 prototype had the windows tinted so the car's interior could not be seen. The dashboard was also fully covered, prompting speculations about what it might hide. Usually, when carmakers take such precautionary measures, they do it to hide significant redesigns, and this might also be the case with the Model 3 interior.
In May, YouTuber Caliber197 offered the first glimpse inside the refreshed Model 3 cockpit after flying a drone over Tesla's test track at the Fremont factory. The images revealed a covered dashboard, with a notable thing missing: the steering wheel's stalks. This was further confirmed when the driver touched the screen to put the car in reverse, a move familiar to those driving a Model S or a Model X.
The Tesla Model 3 prototype in the gallery was spotted in Palo Alto, California, and eagle-eyed Tesla fans noticed an intriguing bulge at the front. It's unclear what it could hide beneath the black cladding, considering that Tesla aims for a clean aerodynamic profile. Everything other than a hermetic bumper would affect the airflow, so it's unlikely we'll see it in production vehicles.
The refreshed Model 3 is rumored to feature innovative features, such as a new steer-by-wire system, matrix LED headlights, and HW4 with more cameras. I'd take the steer-by-wire info with a grain of salt, as this would be an unnecessary complication for the Model 3. Tesla didn't offer something similar on the Cybertruck, so I think it would be overkill on the Model 3. Still, Tesla is expected to offer more glitz thanks to ventilated seats, ambient lighting, and an upgraded sound system.
Tesla Model 3 “Project Highland” just Spotted in Palo Alto, CA. Any changes here? pic.twitter.com/wreYnI27Nx
— Colin W. (@Y2KColin) July 27, 2023
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