Recent Focus Questions on Model 3:

Translation

Recently, Tesla Model 3 won the 2018 Best Design Model Award from Automobile magazine and was praised as a pioneer in electric car design and modeling.

Let’s appreciate the beautiful pictures of Model 3 taken by Automobile magazine.

As the most popular car model in 2017, Model 3 not only won the award in the first month of the new year, but also the various configurations and technological updates have always been the focus of attention.

Let’s review.

Focus 1: Will the energy efficiency of Model 3 be higher in 2018?

According to the updated data from the US Energy Agency (EPA), the energy consumption of the 2018 Model 3 in city driving is 136 MPGe, 123 MPGe on the highway, and 130 MPGe in combined conditions (MPG is the fuel consumption rating unit of gasoline vehicles, and MPGe is the “equivalent fuel consumption value” conversion of electric vehicles to MPG).

▲ Data from the US EPA

MPG is a commonly-used fuel consumption rating unit in the United States, which means the mileage travelled per gallon of fuel (1 US gallon is approximately equal to 3.8 liters).

That is to say, for the 2018 Model 3, the electricity consumption can be converted into fuel unit, and it can travel 130 miles (approximately 209 kilometers) per gallon of fuel under combined conditions.

Translated into our conventional unit, the energy efficiency of Model 3 in combined conditions is equivalent to traveling 55 kilometers per liter of fuel.

You can silently compare the energy efficiency of your own gasoline or electric cars.Translated English Markdown:

This is slightly higher than the evaluation data disclosed by the EPA in November last year. The Model 3’s energy consumption in city driving conditions last year was 131 MPGe, 120 MPGe in highway conditions, and 126 MPGe in combined driving conditions, according to EPA’s data chart. The electric vehicle’s own energy consumption measurement standard “kilowatt-hours per kilometer or mile” can also be seen from the chart. The 2018 Model 3 is rated at 26 kWh/100 ml, which means it consumes 26 kWh when driving 100 miles (161 kilometers), or 6.2 kWh per kilometer.

Are you satisfied with the energy efficiency of Model 3 now?

Focus 2: Is Model 3 Software Really Close to Completion? Rumor Has It There Will Be New Voice Commands on the Way.

Don’t know if the Model 3 owners who have already started driving it are satisfied with its software. A Chinese Model 3 owner’s experience report we just republished criticized the Model 3 software.

Tesla also thinks there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the user interface of the Model 3, because Musk himself tweeted that this is currently the focus of the software department. However, it is almost completed now, and the voice command function will be launched soon.

During the past few weeks, Musk talked about some of Tesla’s new updates and features that came from owner suggestions. The voice command function was also asked by an owner on Twitter a few days ago, and Musk replied: “Almost all functions can be done by voice command. The software department is currently focusing on the core functions of the Model 3, which are almost complete. We will then add more features.”

▲ From Musk's Twitter

In fact, Tesla already has voice commands in some areas, such as phone, navigation, and media, and they work well in Model S and Model X. However, some media have pointed out that Tesla’s goal is to “maximize safety while driving”.

It seems that the improvement of the software on the Model 3 can still be expected?

Focus 3: If You are in California, Would You Wait Two Hours in Line to See Model 3 in the Showroom?

Last week, after Tesla displayed Model 3 in its two showrooms in California (Los Angeles and Palo Alto in the Bay Area), there was a huge turnout.

Only Model 3 could have this popularity. That’s why I have always regarded Tesla as the Apple of the automotive industry.

Look, even before the showroom opened, dozens to hundreds of people had already waited outside the showroom half an hour early. Usually, it requires queuing for one and a half to two hours to have a glimpse of Model 3’s style.

And over the past week, the number of people only kept increasing.

Let’s take a look at some photos taken by the media in the Los Angeles showroom:

If you were in Los Angeles, would you specifically queue up to catch a glimpse of Model 3?

I really want to see what the scene will be like when the first Model 3 appears in a Chinese Tesla showroom.

Highlight 4: Do you like the new interior material of Model 3 after it was updated?

Only Model 3 can cause a stir when changing its interior material.

In short, the material of the top has been changed from suede leather to fabric, and the colors are very similar.

Below are photos taken by customers who visited Tesla’s showroom in the Bay Area, where you can see the texture of the fabric:

The material on the door also has some changes that look upscale. Look at the picture below, doesn’t it look a bit like Alcantara material?

It seems that imitating Alcantara is an effective way to improve the interior material of the car at low cost.

PS: Alcantara is a high-end synthetic material that looks and feels like suede leather and is commonly used to make luxury goods.

So, do you like this material change?

This is the focal update for the turn of the year.

Finally, one more thing, yesterday, Model 3 started to be delivered in almost all regions across the United States.

* Breaking News! The First Domestic Tesla Model 3 Delivery Test Drive Report is Out

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.