Since taking advantage of the maximum bonus, the Model 3 propulsion has aroused great enthusiasm in France. A plebiscite that could strengthen in 2022: this electric sedan has gained 43 km of range thanks to a new battery, and has just increased its standard endowment, without changing its prices.
In recent days, the arrival of a larger battery for the entry-level Model 3 has animated discussions in the Tesla community. Today, the American brand confirms that it was not just a rumor. The autonomy of this propulsion version on the WLTP cycle gains 43 km at once, from 448 to 491 km. On the other hand, all those who had predicted a sharp increase in prices at the same time will be at their expense. For now, unlike what recently happened across the Atlantic, the French price of this Model 3 has not changed by a cent.
Stable price and enriched standard equipment
This 100% electric sedan is still displayed at € 43,800. It is therefore still eligible for the ecological bonus of € 6,000, extended until June 30, 2022. Be careful, however, not to choose options that are too expensive. If you exceed the € 45,000 mark, this tax assistance drops to € 2,000 only. Despite this still competitive price, the Model 3 Standard Plus enriches its endowment. While previously a paid upgrade was required to take advantage of the heated rear seats and steering wheel on this Access version, these two features are now standard equipment. As for delivery times, even if they are getting longer, they remain rather short on the scale of an automobile industry disrupted by the shortage of semiconductors. If you order today, you should be able to pick up your Tesla in February.
Slight decline in performance
This increase in autonomy, however, generates some counterparts. 0 to 100 km / h is now announced in 6.1 s, instead of 5.6 s previously. We are moving away from the performance of the Long Range and Performance variants, which respectively claim 4.4 s and 3.3 s to perform this exercise with the help of their two motors. The fault, in particular, with a weight which reaches today 1745 kg, whereas this variant two-wheel drive had been given for “only” 1,611 kg for a long time. The increase in battery capacity could be partly responsible for this overweight. We would go from 54 kWh to nearly 60 kWh, even if Tesla still refuses to officially communicate this characteristic. But the use of lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry for a few months had also already helped to increase this figure. If this technology is less expensive and makes it possible to recharge more often to 100% without reducing the life of the battery, it indeed offers a lower energy density than the traditional lithium-ion.
TO READ. Tesla Model 3 Performance: the full test of the 2021 version
The prices and bonuses of the Tesla Model 3
| Autonomy (km) | 0 to 100 km / h (s) | Price | Ecological bonus (1) | |
| Model 3 Standard Plus (rear-wheel drive) | 491 | 6.1 | € 43,800 | € 6,000 |
| Model 3 Large Autonomy | 614 | 4.4 | € 52,990 | € 2,000 |
| Model 3 Performance | 547 | 3.3 | € 59,990 | € 2,000 |
(1) ecological bonus until June 30, 2022.
From 1er July, count € 1,000 less.
