Tesla unveils longest-range Model 3

Tesla has launched a new addition to its Model 3 line-up for Europe, the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive available in Ireland from €39,990, writes Trish Whelan. Offering a range of 700km (WLTP) and a consumption of 12.5kWh per 100km, it is the longest-range Model 3 ever and the most efficient Tesla vehicle built to date. Tesla also claim it is the most efficient EV available in Europe at the moment. 

Tesla say with the new 700km range, a single charge will sustain more than a week of commutes and point out that the Model 3 L/R RWD can travel a full kilometre on the energy it takes to heat a frozen meal in a microwave. This means that future owners will be able to drive further per euro spent on charging. It is capable of a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 secs; has a top speed of 210km/h, and a claimed energy consumption of from 20.1 kWh/100km. 

Customer deliveries begin in November.

 

Tesla Model Y review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

It's six years since I drove a Tesla seriously, writes Brian Byrne, which seems an awful long time to not have reviewed something from a brand that last year was globally the 11th biggest car company by revenue and is acknowledged as the company leading the change to electric cars. A few short spins in a number of Tesla models in between didn't really count for review purposes.

The car I drove in 2018 was a Model S, at a time when the company only had two nameplates. It was a decent drive, when with colleague Trish Whelan we took an S from the snowy valley of Alpbach in Austria to the February damp of Dublin, via the EuroTunnel and the UK and across from Holyhead in Wales. The idea was to show that an electric car, particularly a Tesla, could be used for a long road trip. The total journey was over 1,900km, of which 1,750km was actual driving. Thanks to the Tesla network of Superchargers across Europe even then, it was an easy and range anxiety-free trip. The journey's point was well proved.

My most recent experience was in the Model Y, which I coincidentally had out in the week that it was provisionally accorded the title of best-selling car in the world for 2023. So, interesting to see where the Tesla cars are with so many other EVs on the market now accelerating their own electric market ambition.

Visually, Teslas have a sameness. Smooth and streamlined curvy, it can be difficult to separate one moving model from the other on a quick glance. On the other hand, the brand as a whole is very easy to recognise. The style of my Model Y review car was nicely proportioned, looking like a very smart coupe saloon. A look that was deceptive, because in dimensions and interior measurements, it gets classed as a mid-size SUV at the larger end of the space. Though it doesn't appear so, it is for instance significantly larger than Ford's Mustang Mach-E and Volvo's XC60 and is wider than the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Mild side-panel sculpting and a long rear window sloping to an integrated spoiler on the hatch all help to make it seem a more compact car. 

In technical terms, the Y is the SUV variant of the Model 3, currently the bread and butter of Tesla's not insignificant profits, and built on that car's basic platform. There are structural differences, though, with the Y inaugurating a new manufacturing technique of a single casting for the whole rear body of the car. This is saving in manufacturing costs, though there are fears that for consumers it could result in higher repair costs.

The exterior of the Tesla Y is a very clean shape, and that sense is brought through also to the interior. It's minimalist to a degree that is almost spartan. The only instrumentation is the large centre infotainment screen, and the only physical buttons are two on the steering wheel, which do multiple duties depending on what kind of adjustment you select on the screen. The same screen is divided, the side closest to the driver showing speed, location and whether or not there's other traffic nearby. The farther half is for managing everything else. Regular readers will know well my feelings on the distraction of having to manage running changes by screen, and the Tesla thinking does not change these. The positive is that the inbuilt navigation system is by Google.

The car is comfortable, and roomy for all five potential occupants — a 7-seat version is available only in the US. All materials used inside are said to be vegan-friendly, and the touch-test to any surfaces gave a positive result. Opening the door from inside is by electric button, but there's also a manual release in the event of power failure.

The powertrain is dual motors, giving all wheel drive and a very sporty 3.7 seconds sprint to 100km/h. I have long since become blasé about the capabilities of electric cars offering performances previously only possible from exotic supercars. Using that capability will munch through the battery range, though, rated at 514km but in real life probably around 460km on my experience. The handling of the Y while I had it was an impressive surprise. It is a sweet car to drive, and a really spot-on driving position and forward visibility helped no end to enjoy it.

The usual driver assistance tech is on board. The controversy over Tesla's idea of autonomous driving I avoided by simply not using it — whatever the car, I still like to drive it myself.

The best selling car in the world? Yes, I can see reasons why.

LOOK & LISTEN — Tesla Model Y: Driven in Two Minutes 

PRICE:  From €42,990. WHAT I LIKED: The smooth and surprising experience. 

Tesla Model Y, driven in two minutes

Brian Byrne drives the Tesla Model Y and gives a two-minute view of it. A Rough & Ready Production for Irish Car.

Tesla opens country's second centre, in Cork

A new Tesla Centre has been opened in Cork to support the electric car brand's sales and marketing and aftercare in the south and west of the country, writes Brian Byrne.

The 17,000 sq ft facility at Fota Junction Retail Park will facilitate test drives for potential customers, and has space to service five Teslas at once.

It's the second Tesla Centre in the country after the one opened in 2017 in Sandyford, Dublin. 

Revisions to Tesla Model 3

Tesla has upgraded its Model 3 breadwinner six years after launching the car, writes Brian Byrne.

Subtle changes to the body lines have improved aerodynamics, trimming wind noise and helping to increase the car's range, as have changes also to the wheel design. 

Styling of the front and rear lights has also improved the overall look of the car.

The interior materials are claimed to be of better quality, while acoustic glass and ventilated seats add to the comfort levels. There are also controls changes, eliminating stalks. 

Tesla trims prices on key models

Tesla has cut prices of its Model Y in Ireland by up to 24pc, writes Brian Byrne. The company has also reduced the price of its main seller, the Model 3.

This means that at a starting price of €46,990, two versions of the model Y now qualify for the SEAI €5,000 EV incentive grant. The previous price of the entry RWD car was €59,450.

The top grade, the Model Y AWD Performance, has had its price cut from €72,990 to €63,990. The new starting price of the Model 3 is €44,490, with the Performance version now topping the model range at €59,990.

Tesla says the reductions are because of a 'normalisation' of some cost inflation and economies of scale due to localisation of production globally. The move follows price cuts announced in the US market on Thursday.

Tesla sold 1,112 cars in Ireland last year and was in 18th place in the overall sales table. It was the fourth biggest selling EV in Ireland for 2022, with an 8.4pc EV share behind Volkswagen (26.4pc), Hyundai (12.6pc), and Kia (10.7pc). 

Tesla Y Europe's best seller in September

Tesla'a Model Y electric SUV, now being built in Germany, was the biggest selling car in Europe in September, according to the latest figures from automotive industry monitors Jato Dynamics, writes Brian Byrne.

It was followed up by the Peugeot 208, the Dacia Sandero, Skoda's Octavia and the Toyota Yaris.

Ford's Kuga was the best selling plug-in hybrid vehicle, ahead of the Kia Niro, the Kia Sportage and the BMW X5.

The three biggest markets for EVs in the month were Germany, the UK and France, which combined represented 60pc of the battery-electric car market. 

Tesla opens orders for 2022 Model Y

Tesla Ireland has opened its online Design Studio for its Model Y SUV, where customers can select model options and pay for their car, writes Brian Byrne.

The Model Y is available in two versions, Long Range and Performance, at €63,990 and €72,990 respectively. Features which can be added include an enhanced autopilot, and a 'full self-driving capability' that includes traffic light and stop sign control — these features still require driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.

The rated range of the Model Y is 507km for the Long Range and 480km for the Performance version.

Orders placed now have an estimated delivery of mid-2022.

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Tesla Model 3 second-biggest seller in June in Europe

The Tesla Model 3 was the second-best selling car in Europe in June, behind the Volkswagen Golf, writes Brian Byrne.

According to automotive data specialists JATO Dynamics, the electric car's sales performance in the month brought it to the top space of electric vehicles this year, with 66,350 units.

The Model 3 was the top-seller in Austria, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, and hit the top 10 in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden.

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Irish customers take delivery of Tesla Model 3

Peter Harte gets keys to his new Tesla Model 3

First deliveries of the new and more affordable Tesla Model 3 family saloon have begun in Ireland, writes Trish Whelan.

Two of the first Irish customers were John Burke, managing director and owner of Burke’s Hardware & DIY, who lives in Wicklow Town. A self-confessed petrol head, motor racing enthusiast who has made the shift to electric, and Peter Harte, original Roadster owner who has added a Model 3 to his EV family. 

Model 3 is Tesla’s smaller, simpler, more affordable car. Designed and built as the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, it is a critical step in Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Model 3 combines industry-leading powertrain efficiency, aerodynamics and chassis technology to deliver the longest range of any comparable electric saloon. The car’s powertrain technology has been designed for ultra-high endurance and Tesla has proven its technology over more than 16 billion kms of real-world driving across its global fleet of vehicles.

John Burke pictured with his new Tesla 3

Specs include Standard Range Plus (from €48,900), Long Range AWD (from €57,990) and Performance (from €61,990). Price includes destination and documentation fee of €980, VAT, Vehicle Registration Tax and SEAI grant.

Autopilot is included as standard which, under active driver supervision, enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane.

A 4 year/80,000 km warranty is standard across all three specs. The battery in the Standard Range Plus has an 8 year/160,000 km warranty while the top two specs get an 8 year/192,000km warranty.

Model 3 Performance is the quickest car in its class, capable of achieving 0-100km/h in 3.4 secs. 

Tesla 3 has a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive for enhanced performance and traction in any weather. The Performance version has an increased top speed of 261 km/h along with 20-inch performance wheels, and aluminum alloy pedals for maximum handling and improved stability. The Performance also includes red performance brake calipers and the exclusive feature, Track Mode.

Model 3 has a range of up to 560km WLTP with the Long Range variant. For most owners, home charging provides plenty of range for daily travel but for long distance travel, the Supercharger network allows Tesla owners to conveniently charge on major routes across Europe. All Model 3 owners have pay-per-use access to Tesla’s Supercharger network which is reserved exclusively for Tesla owners - there are more than 430 Supercharger locations with over 3,600 Superchargers in Europe, and growing constantly. With the Designation Charging programme, Tesla owners have access to an additional network of charges at business, travel and leisure destinations. In Europe, Model 3 also comes with a built-in CCS Charge Port for compatibility with third part fast charging networks giving customers the most charging flexibility compared to any EV on the market.

There are 542 litres of luggage space divided between the front truck, rear boot and underfloor storage.

The 15-inch centre touchscreen seamlessly integrates media, navigation, communications, cabin control and vehicle data into one intuitive interface. Over-the-air software updates add functionality, enhance performance and improve the driving experience of these vehicles. Like people receive updates to their smartphone, Model 3 owners receive updates to their car remotely without visiting a service centre. 

Model 3 is built for safety with standard active safety features and hardware built to provide visibility that a driver can’t access alone. Eight surround cameras allow for 360-degree vision, while twelve ultrasonic sensors provide detection of surrounding objects. Forward-facing radar see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and beyond the vehicle ahead helping to prevent accidents by providing simultaneous visibility in every direction.

Model 3 achieved 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating in every category with the highest ever score in the latest Safety Assist tests.

Electric vehicles are also less expensive to fuel than petrol powered vehicles, with the cost of electricity up to seven times lower than petrol. They also require a lot less maintenance than traditional vehicles due to their reduced mechanical complexity and fewer moving parts. With no annual service needed, owners only need to bring their cars in to check certain components at specific intervals, keeping vehicle son the road for longer and eliminating the need for annual service checkups.

With over 16 billion kms driven by Tesla vehicles, over 3.9 million tons of C02 have been saved by Tesla vehicle owners.

Tesla has delivered over 500,000 cars worldwide and with nearly 140,000 units sold, Model 3 was the best-selling premium vehicle (including SUVs) in the US for 2018 - the first time in decades an American carmaker has been able to secure the top spot.

Tesla’s executive saloon Model S and Model X SUV first came to Ireland in 2017 when Tesla opened its store and service centre in Sandyford, Dublin. There are three Supercharger locations in Ireland with further sites planned and a network of over 40 Destination Charging locations. Tesla’s charging networks allow owners to travel from Ireland to all over Europe.

Tesla has recently added a mobile service offering to Ireland which saves customers the time of travelling to and from a service centre, and help remove 80 per cent of the volume from service centres. 

Streaming into your Tesla on the way

Tesla screen could 'soon' show streaming movies.

Can't wait until you get home to get your next Netflix hit? That's OK, just pull over and put your car into Park, writes Brian Byrne.

That's the substance of the latest tweets from Tesla founder Elon Musk. Apparently, in an unspecified time-frame, both Netflix and Youtube will be available to stream onto the electric car's big centre screen. But only when the car's transmission is in Park position.

He suggests inbuilt sound systems in cars are the best places to enjoy a 'fully immersive' surround sound experience.

TV reception has been available in many luxury cars for many years, but not in the front while the car is being driven.

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Tesla Model 3 scores top marks from EuroNCAP

Tesla’s Model 3 has scored a top rated 5 stars in Euro NCAP safety testing with the highest rating recorded in the Safety Assist category, writes Trish Whelan.

Euro NCAP praised the car’s perfect score in the front offset deformable barrier crash test and its performance in Safety Assist tests thanks to ‘superb’ driver assistance systems.

The Programme’s four categories - each of which Model 3 earned 5 stars in - evaluate a car’s ability to protect adults, children, vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians, as well as its safety assistance features. In its ‘Safety Assist’ category which evaluates a car’s active safety features including its ability to avoid accidents, mitigate injuries and prevent drivers from unintentionally drifting out of their lane, Model 3 earned the highest score that Euro NCAP has awarded to date under the strict 2018/2019 testing protocols.

LHD interior

Tesla say they engineered Model 3 ‘to be the safest car ever built’. It is the company’s smaller, simpler, more affordable car. It is available here with AWD Performance and RWD in Standard Range Plus.

Model 3 combines industry-leading powertrain efficiency, aerodynamics and chassis technology to deliver the longest range of any comparable electric saloon with a WLTP range of up to 530km. The car’s powertrain technology has been designed for ultra-high endurance, and Tesla has proven its technology over more than 10 billion miles of real-world driving across its global fleet of vehicles.

Screen shows Irish Supercharger locations

As with other Teslas, Model 3 will continue to receive updates which add new features and enhance functionality over time. Premium connectivity is included as standard for one year which contains satellite maps with live traffic visualisation, Spotify and over-the-air updates via Wi-Fi & cellular. 

All Model 3 customers have pay-per-use access to Tesla’s global Supercharger network which is reserved specifically for Tesla owners; there are more than 430 Supercharger locations with over 3,600 Superchargers in Europe, and growing constantly. In Europe, Model 3 comes with a built-in CCS Charge Port for compatibility with third party fast charging networks giving their customers the most charging flexibility compared to any EV on the market.

Model 3 is also Tesla’s most affordable car yet with the entry level starting at €48,900. First deliveries for reservation holders begin this month. 

Model 3 Performance is the quickest car in its class, capable of achieving 0-100km/h in 3.4s. It comes with the Long Range Battery for 530km of WLTP range and Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive for enhanced performance and traction in any weather.

Tesla Model 3 RHD

Tesla Model 3 can now be ordered in Ireland

Tesla have now opened Irish orders for its Model 3 with prices from €48,900 which will make the famous car brand founded by billionaire Elon Musk more affordable to ordinary drivers than its siblings, Models S and X, writes Trish Whelan. 

The Irish configurator launches with Model 3 AWD Performance and RWD in Standard Range Plus. First deliveries for reservation holders will start in July. 

Model 3 is Tesla’s smaller, simpler, more affordable car. Designed and built as the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, it is a critical step in Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. 0-100km/h takes just 5.6 seconds and top speed is 225km/h (where allowed). The Model 3 Performance does this trip in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 261km/h.

The long range battery has a WLTP range of up to 415km (WLTP) while the Performance model can do 530km. Its powertrain technology has been designed for ultra-high endurance and Tesla has proven its technology over more than 10 billion miles of real-world driving across its global fleet of vehicles.

The car comes with the black or white premium interior package. This includes premium heated seating with 12-way power adjustable front seats, 4 USB ports and docking for your devices and docking for two smartphones. The premium audio system includes 14 surround speakers. 

It is the quickest car in its class capable of 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds. 

Supercharger locations

Customers have Tesla’s pay-per-use access to its global Supercharger network; there are currently over 430 Supercharger locations with over 3,600 Superchargers in Europe. Each car has a built-in CCS Charge Port for compatibility with other charging networks.  

Model 3 now comes with Autopilot included which, under active driver supervision, enables the car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane. 

Standard driver assistance features include emergency braking, collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Options include a full self-driving capability allows automatic driving from motorway on-ramp to off-ramp including interchanges and overtaking slower cars; automatic lane changes on the motorway and enables both parallel and perpendicular spaces. Your parked car will come find you anywhere in a car park!

Model 3 recently achieved the lowest probability of injury in any car ever tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is designed to be the safest car in its class. 

Locations milestone for Tesla

Tesla has passed the 400 mark in its installation of Supercharger locations in Europe, writes Brian Byrne.

This represents some 3,200 actual charging units in the network, placed on major roads on all well-travelled routes across Europe.

The average charge time for Teslas on long distance journeys in Europe is 30 minutes adding up to 270km of range.

Tesla has added capacity to existing locations along major routes, as well as adding density to the network with new sites.

An electric road trip with Tesla

If you're wondering whether an electric car can really do the long distance driving thing as seamlessly as a petrol or diesel car, well it can, write Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan.

The Tesla Motors company had invited us to Alpbach in Austria earlier this week to experience driving their Models S and X in snow, to show off the AWD capability of their cars.

And they also offered us the opportunity to drive a Model S all the way back to Dublin. It was one of those invitations one couldn't turn down.

Leaving Alpbach late on Tuesday afternoon, after a busy day under the slopes of the resort — with Tesla cars instead of skis — we arrived back in Dublin at lunchtime today, Friday, a total distance of more than 1,900km of which 1,750km was actual driving. The rest was crossing the English Channel by EuroTunnel, and the Irish Sea courtesy of Stena Line.

Under the sea on the Eurotunnel.

Charging at lunch stop in Nancy, France.

Overnight charging in Dorint Hotel, Zurich.

On the trip we recharged from Tesla supercharger stations at Nancy and Reims in France, and Warwick in England. The car was also charged during hotel overnights in Zurich, Calais, and Holyhead  — that last in the very unusual Chateau Rhianfa on Anglesey.

Overnight charging in Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey.

It was long and sometimes hard driving each day, far more than anyone on holidays would sensibly do, and in a variety of conditions which included torrential rain. But it showed very much to us that electricity can be just as convenient a power source for a car as any other 'fuel'. And that the Tesla S as a touring car would pull the socks off much of its luxury car competition.

The oldest and the newest, on the historic London to Holyhead road.

Both of us will be writing in detail of the experience in our respective motoring outlets, including the next issue of our own 'Irish Car+Travel' magazine — the current Car Guide 2018 issue is in the shops at the moment.

But we thought you'd like to have a taste of 'That Was the Tesla Week That Was' (with no apologies to the BBC's TW3 satirical programme of the early 60s).

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Tesla going for 'economy' model?

US-based electric car maker Tesla has filed a trademark application for a Model E, which some commentators are taking as the EV-only brand's name for a coming more affordable model, writes Brian Byrne.

Currently, the biggest success for the company is the Model S saloon (above), which followed the original limited-sales Tesla sports car, the first model from the brand established by tech millionaire Elon Musk.

A Model X SUV/crossover is due to launch this year, and the Model E may come in 2015.

Tesla offers longer range EVs than others in the genre, and expects to be able to bring down the price of its cars through development of better batteries and sales-scaled savings. The company is also investing heavily in charging stations around the US, and in European markets where it sells.

Tesla goes open-source with its patents

The pioneer electric car company Tesla has relinquished rights to its patents to provide open source backing to the advancement of electric vehicle technology, writes Brian Byrne.

Symbolically, CEO and founder of Tesla Elon Musk yesterday ordered the removal of a wall of patent certificates which adorned the lobby of the company's headquarters in Palo Alto, California.

In a blog comment, Musk says that electric cars still only represent far less than one percent of total vehicle sales globally, and that at best those who are making electric cars are doing so in very limited volumes, and with very small range. Tesla cars typically have ranges close to standard gasoline cars.

"Given that annual new vehicle production is approaching 100 million per year and the global fleet is approximately two billion cars, it is impossible for Tesla to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis," Musk writes. "By the same token, it means the market is enormous. Our true competition is not the small trickle of non-Tesla electric cars being produced, but rather the enormous flood of gasoline cars pouring out of the world’s factories every day.

"We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform.

"Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers. We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla’s position in this regard."

EV RAV on the way

An electric version of the Toyota RAV4 SUV is to be developed as a joint initiative between the Japanese carmaker and California-based electric sports car manufacturer Tesla.

The plan is to market the RAV EV in the US in 2012, after evaluation of a test fleet of prototypes currently being built.

Toyota and Tesla announced their general intent to cooperate on EV development last May.

Tesla moves closer to sedan

An electric sedan from California-based Tesla Motors moved a step closer this week when the company raised $226 million by going public.

Analysts were surprised by the success of the IPO because the company isn't making any money, though it has been building and selling a $100,000 electric sports car that gets good reviews.

Tesla has plans to build a sedan, currently named S, and recently got a boost from a $50 million in a stock buy from Toyota as well as a commitment from the Japanese car giant to work with Tesla on developing electric vehicles.

Tesla is also getting a $465 million grant from the US Department of Energy. The planned sedan is still probably a couple of years away. BB