New Tesla Model 3 Performance gets 510hp

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The previous generation Model 3 Performance certainly made an impression on people. It reached more buyers at a much quicker rate than the slow-burn Model S (thanks to Tesla's eventual mastery of mass production) and, for those who bought it as their first electric car, its 3.3-second-to-60mph performance was assuredly an eye-opener. But it wasn't perfect. Tesla avoided over-complicating the model's technical configuration while it got to grips with the thorny business of building many cars at once, so in many ways the first Performance merely did what it said on the tin.

Now, six years later, Tesla has finally put its shoulder into the job. Yes, the new dual-motor Model 3 Performance is quicker still: 0-60mph has shortened to 2.9 seconds thanks to the firm's latest generation drive unit (dubbed Performance 4DU) on the rear axle, which contributes the lion's share of 510hp and 547 lb ft of torque. Tesla says it delivers 22 per cent more continuous power and 32 per cent more peak power, and 'drivers will sense more immediate and sustained acceleration out of corners' - hardly something its predecessor lacked, but the result ought to be more rear-biased now. 

At any rate, that's not the Model 3's special sauce. Instead that has been ladled onto the chassis, which, as well as sharing the general improvements made to the latest version, also gets ultra-high strength steel springs, stiffer suspension top mounts, a 'multi-sectioned' anti-roll, and, for the first time, adaptive dampers with hollow piston rods. All are indicative of a higher level of intent, but it is the latter that Tesla calls attention to because it means the chassis response is now overseen by Tesla's in-house software in real-time (or at the flick of an on-screen switch). 

This obviously extends to its Standard and Sport settings, although it has also allowed the engineers to implement 'a top-to-bottom re-calibration of handling balance, stability assist, region braking and ABS tuning' in Track Mode V3, which now integrates motor controls, the adaptive suspension, powertrain cooling and the Vehicle Dynamics Controller under a unified system. Or, to put it another way, Tesla has joined everything up with the always-welcome intention of sending you around corners quicker - and hopefully happier, too. 

To this end, it has also fitted forged and staggered 20-inch wheels with Tesla-specific Pirelli P Zero 4 tyres, targeting better traction from the larger wheel size at the back while also improving roll stiffness. All while delivering a lower rolling resistance, which remains as important as ever - especially as the manufacturer claims to have found a 2 per cent reduction in energy consumption versus the previous Performance model. The UK customer site suggests you'll get a 328-mile range, assuming you drive it the WLTP way. 

It also says you can expect to pay £59,990 - a £10,000 premium versus the dual-motor Long Range derivative. For that money, alongside the tangible performance upgrades, you also get new sports seats on the inside and a mildly tweaked exterior design that includes a different spoiler, front splitter and rear diffuser. It speaks to Tesla's more meticulous approach this time round that even these subtle changes are said to earned the car a 5 per cent reduction in drag, a 36 per cent reduction in lift and a whopping 55 per cent improvement in front-to-rear lift balance. Assuming that hot pursuit of noticeable gains is reflected across the board, Tesla may have finally delivered a Model 3 Performance worthy of the name in more ways than one.