

Tesla will unveil the production version of the Model 3, its first mass-market car, in July. Here's everything we know about the sedan so far.
Tesla is gearing up for the big reveal of the Model 3, its first mass-market car.
CEO Elon Musk unveiled the car for the very first time last March, but Tesla will show off the production version of the sedan in July. The summer show will allow the roughly 400,000 customers who pre-ordered the vehicle a chance to see the final version before deliveries begin at the end of the year.
We broke down everything you need to know about the Model 3 — scroll down for a closer look:
First, the basics. Tesla will offer at least four different color options for the Model 3: red, silver, metallic gray, and black.
Tesla's big selling point for the Model 3 is it's affordable with a starting price $35,000 before tax incentives. But to get the full Tesla experience, however, the final price will likely surpass $40,000.
It's unclear whether customers who buy the Tesla Model 3 will be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax incentive; that credit only applies to the first 200,000 cars a manufacturer sells.
Tesla sold roughly 80,000 vehicles in 2016 and around 50,000 vehicles in 2015. Tesla will be cutting it close to 200,000 vehicles by the time deliveries begin at the end of the year.
Tesla doesn't make any guarantees about the federal tax incentive on its website.
"We are committed to providing you with the most current information about incentives at the time of purchase, we'll do the same when it's time for confirming your Model 3 order," the website reads.
Purchasing Tesla's new Autopilot system will also cost at least $5,000, but more on that later.
The car will be able to drive at least 215 miles on a single charge. That's pretty darn good for a $35,000 car!
The latest models of the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric cost roughly $30,000 but have more limited ranges at 107 miles and 124 miles, respectively.
The Model 3 will compete more closely with the Chevy Bolt, which can drive 238 miles on a single charge and starts at $37,495.
The Model 3 can accelerate to 60 mph in just 6 seconds.
That edges out the Chevy Bolt, which can do 0-60 mph in roughly 7 seconds. Musk has said that more expensive version of the car will have longer ranges and faster acceleration times.
It comes equipped with a new suite of sensors that can support full autonomy.
The Model 3 comes with eight cameras, one radar sensor, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a new Nvidia Drive PX2 supercomputer to support Tesla's second-generation Autopilot system, dubbed Enhanced Autopilot.
Enhanced Autopilot will eventually allow the car to match its speed to traffic conditions, automatically change lanes without driver input, merge on and off highways, and park itself. Tesla owners can also summon the car in more complex environments, like a crowded parking lot.
It costs an extra $5,000 to activate Enhanced Autopilot features, but standard safety features will come free.
Tesla says the new hardware will eventually allow the cars to completely drive themselves. But the Self-Driving feature will cost an additional $5,000 ($10,000 total, including the price of Enhanced Autopilot) to activate. The regulatory environment will determine when Tesla can release the fully driverless system.
Tesla said the Model 3 is designed to achieve a 5-star safety rating.
Tesla has been a leader when it comes to safety. The government recently dubbed the Model X the safest SUV ever after it earned a 5-star rating in every safety category and sub-category.
The Model S has also secured a 5-star rating in every category.
Model 3 owners get access to Tesla's massive Supercharger network.
Tesla's Supercharger network is nothing to sniff at. A Supercharger can restore 170 miles of range in just 30 minutes. That's much faster than a Tesla partner station or a wall socket.
Better yet, Tesla is doubling the number of Superchargers worldwide by the end of 2017. The gray dots in the map above show the new Superchargers coming online by the end of the year.
The perk, unfortunately, is no longer free. Unless you can snag a referral code from a friend, you will have to pay for access once you've reached 1,000 miles. Thankfully, it's a very small fee.
The Model 3 offers a ton of space for a passenger sedan.
The car, which seats five, can even fit a 7-foot surfbord, Musk said last year.
Tesla may offer a glass roof as an option on the Model 3.
Just like the Model S, Tesla will offer an array of premium features for its Model 3, Electrek reported. In addition to the glass roof, Tesla will also allow customers to purchase 18-inch or 19-inch wheels.
Tesla opened its own glass division last October for its solar roof division. The group is developing glass that can use heating elements to clear snow while still generating energy. Musk said this kind of glass can be used as a rear defroster on cars, but it's still not clear whether we will see this technology on the Model 3.
The sedan features a totally clean design.
See how there's no grille? The car is completely smooth.
Like the Model X, the handles are flush against the door.
It also comes with a massive, 15-inch tablet. But unlike the tablet in the Model S and Model X, the tablet sits horizontally.
Re-orienting the touchscreen might make it easier to access the different features while driving.
There's a lot riding on Tesla's big Model 3 reveal. We will be watching in July to see what else is new!
Tesla will unveil the production version of the Model 3, its first mass-market car, in July. Here's everything we know about the sedan so far. Read Full Story
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