Photos of an upgraded and rebadged Tesla Model 3 outside a Tesla store make us think the unveiling of the anticipated Ludicrous upgrade to the Model 3 Performance is imminent.
Tesla recently refreshed the Model 3, and with it comes some improvements. However, one missing improvement was the availability of a performance model, which had been absent since the refreshed Model 3 “Highland” hit the market.
We know that Tesla is working on an excellent more efficient version of the Model 3 Performance. We do not know what it’s going to be called, nevertheless it could be “checkered” or “ridiculous” (each references to movie Space ballswhich Tesla used to name its high-performance versions of the Model S/X) – although we lean towards the absurd and think Tesla will keep the grille due to its high-end Model S designation.
We’ve spotted leaks in Tesla’s parts catalog showing recent wheels and markings, and Tesla was also spotted filming a industrial for the Model 3 with a badge on the back. The badge resembles the grille of the current Model S, but looks barely different, so the model can wear either designation.
We’ve also seen just a few other small leaks (outdated mention in Tesla’s website code, regulatory documents in Europe and Korea) that indicate to us that this update is in the works.
But now we’ve got some signs that an update may very well be coming soon, maybe even on a date as unlikely as today, April 1.
Photos (*3*)first appeared in Little Red BookChinese social media app, last night showed off several recent refreshed Model 3s in secret outside an event space, potentially in Southern California (Update: we discovered that it is a Tesla Malibu showroom, see below).
Many of the covered cars outside the event are clearly updated Model 3s, given the low front cone, although we won’t see much else under the covers. But there is one automotive inside which we’ve got seen before, namely it looks like Model 3 from the mentioned promotion.
The vehicle hidden in the event space has the same color and wheels as the promotional vehicle, and the wheels match the leaked parts catalog.
The photos were posted by user “Imtz”, who most frequently posts photos of cars and provides their location as Los Angeles/Beijing (Tesla’s design studio is situated in Los Angeles). The post is captioned as follows (machine translated from Chinese):
Know every part about the Tesla 3L
It’s anyone’s guess as to when and where the recent Model 3P, the Model 3 Ludicrous, might be launched. One can only say that it is closer than you’re thinking that. See you 1.
An actual automotive was seen, which is significantly different from the old 3p and the regular 3. The exterior and interior have modified. It’s still value the wait.
The event room seems quite small compared to a typical Tesla unveiling, nevertheless it appears to be arrange for some form of presentation. The automotive in query is covered, but not with a loose sheet as in lots of automotive reveals, but relatively with a fitted cover. The mirrors, nonetheless, haven’t been stuffed into the automotive’s hood pockets, perhaps to make it easier to remove the trim when the automotive is ready for presentation.
While we have not heard any official details about Tesla’s upcoming event, there is precedent for this. We also received no official notification of the unveiling of the refreshed Model 3 Highland, which didn’t happen on US time and was not a well-attended or live event.
Today is also the first day of the recent quarter, right after Tesla’s traditional quarter-end delivery peak and before delivery numbers are announced (which should occur inside the next day or two). This may very well be a way to gain momentum at the start of the recent quarter, especially if those numbers aren’t what you expected.
Update: An unwrapped Model 3 with recent badging and wheels was spotted in Malibu during a personal event that was allegedly held at the Malibu Tesla showroom this evening. Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen’s Cybertruck is also parked on this location, and YouTubers who previously had access to Tesla vehicles, reminiscent of Marques Brownlee and Jason Cammisa, were spotted in Malibu today.
Shot of Electrek
April 1 (or, in Voltswagen’s case, March 29) is a terrible day to write news because everyone wants to be a comedian lately. Fake ads abound, so we’re all the time on guard – even just a few days upfront (thanks VW).
This is very true once we’re talking about an organization that does not want to do anything normal when it comes to promoting. We’d love to talk to Tesla and ask if these photos are real and in the event that they’re planning an event, but there’s just no way. So possibly they’re planning an event, possibly they don’t seem to be, but if that’s the case, it hasn’t been told to the press.
Instead, we’ve got to read the tea leaves and take a look at to discover whether it is true or not.
While it could be tempting to chalk it up to an April Fool’s Day joke – and this is indeed still possible – April Fools’ Day is rarely celebrated in China, and a post written in Chinese on a Chinese social media app seems a less likely place to make an April Fool’s Day joke. So given the available evidence, we might consider it more likely than not unrealistic, but as today is today, you never know. (Update: well, it certainly seems real now, but now we just have to wait and see when the public announcement might be made)
Do you’re thinking that Tesla will unveil a brand new Model 3 Performance/Ludicrous/Plaid soon? What do you’re thinking that it’s going to be called? Let us know in the comments.
Credit : electrek.co
