Tesla Model 3 facelift unlikely, despite recent masked cars spotted

Sweeping updates to the exterior and interior of the 2024 Tesla model 3 electric car – and its sibling Model Y SUV – seem unlikely for the foreseeable future, contrary to overseas reports, according to the company’s chief designer.

Now tesla Design chief Franz von Holzhausen appears to have poured cold water on plans for an overhaul of the company’s most affordable car, the Tesla Model 3 sedan, and its popular sister SUV, the Tesla Model Y.

“I think there are things we’re always looking at… Those vehicles are great at what they are, and we haven’t seen the need or demand for a change, so ‘don’t fix it if it is.'” ‘didn’t break’, that’s the kind of mentality.”

He added: “You look at the [Model] 3 and the [Model] They’re on the road and have a super modern feel…why mess that up?”, almost scrapping plans for an exterior facelift.

The Model 3 sedan has been on sale for five and a half years and the related Model Y SUV has been on sale for three years.

Most automakers tend to introduce minor updates at the three-year mark of a six-year model cycle (although this time can vary between makes), however, Tesla is known to not adopt the standards of the industry.

Instead, Tesla has made incremental technological changes to its cars rather than introducing significant cosmetic changes.

For example, the Tesla Model 3 (and Model Y) have been outfitted over the years with larger battery packs, more powerful electric motors and improved energy efficiency, and minor interior changes like a new center console. for Model 3. in 2020.

The larger Tesla Model S sedan is now a decade old and has gone through two minor updates, with no new generation in sight, while the related Tesla Model X SUV has been on sale in the US since 2015.

Spy photos have surfaced in recent months of a Tesla Model 3 being tested on the roads of California, heavily camouflaged on the front and rear.

It was initially believed that this could be testing an upcoming exterior facelift; however, Mr. von Holzhausen’s comments now lend more weight to the theory that the prototype was testing new driver-assist cameras or sensors, rather than new styling.

According to the news agency ReutersThe ‘Project Highland’ update for the Model 3 is due to begin production in China in September 2023, and is claimed to “reduce the number of components and complexity inside” to focus on “features that Tesla buyers value.” , including the show”.

Reuters also reported that the update to the Model 3 “could also include some exterior performance and powertrain changes”, but did not go into detail about what those might be.