In this presentation, France and Lars stand in front of a new 2024 Tesla Model 3 at Tesla design studio in Hawthorne CA, and answer community questions. They give us a valuable technical insight into many improvements and additions to the vehicle.
They have taken a great car and just made it a lot better. Front is a lot leaner the hood is new, down lo with brand new lights which gives the car a little bit more sleek feel to it. This is a pretty big contributor to the overall aero efficiency improvement.
On the rear of the car, the tail lights are now added now to the deck lid to get rid of the seam in the middle of the taillight. It feels more crisp, more precise, more modern with no part lines in it.
They took the opportunity to not just improve the design and the handling and the performance of the car but also to improve the overall materials, fit and finish, and the build quality.
By lowering the nose, they’ve got the profile and the the plan curve of the front end more efficient improving the air to flow up and around and over the car. The rear diffuser down at the bottom of the car makes a big improvement in the way the air travels.
They discuss the aerodynamics of wheels and tires, and how they contribute to the overall efficiency of a vehicle:
The design of the 19″ wheels and tires significantly contributes to the aerodynamic efficiency. The air slips around the tire rather than getting caught up in the blades. This is achieved by making the air perceive the wheel as smaller, allowing it to move quicker around the outside.
Wheel and Tire Profile: As the wheel gets bigger, the profile of the tire gets smaller. The design brings the overall profile back into what the wind perceives as the tire profile. This makes the tire profile from the wind perspective feel thin, even though it’s a big wheel.
Tire Design: The tires have a lower rolling resistance coefficient than any other tires used on Model 3, without compromising lateral performance or steering response. This is achieved by changing the compound of the tire to increase grip while decreasing rolling resistance. These two aspects occur at different frequencies, and by shifting the damping curve through the compound, both can be optimized.
Speed and Energy Efficiency: The top speed was lowered based on data showing that people don’t usually drive at high speeds. This allowed for the reduction of ply overlays in the belt on the shoulder area of the tire, which reduces the energy the tire uses to move down the road, thereby increasing overall range.
In essence, the design and engineering of the wheels and tires aim to balance aerodynamics, performance, and energy efficiency. The tires, being the only part of the car that touches the ground, play a crucial role in achieving this balance. They need to be quiet, comfortable, aerodynamically efficient, and performant, all while having low rolling resistance.
Exterior design changes:
Front End: The front end has new headlights and a new hood. These changes contribute to a more mature and sleeker look.
Size and Affordability: One of the original ideas of the Model 3 was to be 5% smaller and much more affordable than the Model S. The new design further emphasizes this concept, making the car feel smaller, more attainable and efficient.
Air to Tire Gap and Side to Side Gap: The tire improvements have allowed for a reduction in the air to tire gap and the side to side gap. This not only helps with efficiency but also gives the car a cooler look.
Stance: The stance of the car has improved. The car sits better, and when viewed from the front or the rear, it has a great feeling on the road. The muscular proportion of the front fenders and the rear fenders over the tires gives the car a tight feel.
Safety: Safety is the starting point of their design process. They consider safety at every step, from pedestrian protection to the functionality of crumple zones.
Customer Happiness: After safety, customer satisfaction is the priority. They value customer feedback and incorporate it into their designs. Improvements have been made in terms of efficiency, ride comfort, and noise reduction without compromising on handling.
Interior Design: They have introduced an all-new interior, enhancing the premium feel of the cars. Safety features like airbags and restraint systems are integrated in a way that they don’t encumber the user or degrade the car’s aesthetics.
Autopilot System: The fourth version of autopilot system has been introduced, featuring higher resolution cameras. This has improved active safety systems.
Active Safety Features: All Tesla cars come standard with every safety feature you can think of. This includes lane keeping, side collision assist, automatic emergency braking, and cross-traffic emergency braking. They believe that their system is superior to others as it can see farther left and right and stop more cross-traffic events. They continuously update and improve their system based on incoming data.
Battery Structure: The battery pack is an integral part of the car’s structure. It is located low between the rocker and the floor, providing a stiff object that absorbs frontal crash energies. It also contributes to the car’s torsional rigidity, which is crucial for the car’s responsiveness and solid feel.
Torsional Rigidity: This refers to how quickly load transfer occurs from the initial steering response on the outside wheel through the car to the back. A car with high torsional rigidity feels more responsive and solid, contributing to a luxury feel.
Safety Platform Architecture: Safety comes first in Tesla’s design. The architecture allows for an isolated, rigid occupant cabin. All energy during an accident is absorbed in the front, and the car also offers side protection. The door structure on the new Model 3, designed to improve side impact safety, is a result of analyzing field data.
Crumple Zone: The car has a massive crumple zone and includes 120mm of extrusion on the side of the battery pack to absorb energy during an accident. This contributes to Tesla’s claim of having the lowest probability of injury among cars.
The team at Tesla strives to create cars that are not only safe but also aesthetically pleasing. They believe that customers want products that look good and are safe, and they aim to deliver on both fronts.
Affordability and Tax Credit: The current Model 3 starts at $38,990, with lease prices starting at about $329 per month. When you lease a car, you can benefit from a $7,500 credit that’s distributed over the payment, effectively giving you money back every time you make a payment. Tesla is always working to qualify for incentives offered in different regions by manufacturing cars locally.
Interior Design: Tesla has made the interior space of their cars more premium, even at the base price point. The interiors now feature ultra suede, new textiles, and updated seats. The new interior design improves on the theme of the original Model 3.
Battery Details: Tesla uses different kinds of batteries in their vehicles across the globe. The standard Range Model 3s come with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, which allow you to charge all the way up and use the full range of the battery every day. The range is up to 272 miles now. Tesla focuses on real-world range, and the fleet efficiency of this car is actually 10% more. Despite some changes in the EPA testing protocol, the actual efficiency is 10% more, so the difference between the sticker range and what you get is less than before.
Supercharging Network: Tesla has an extensive supercharging network, making it unlikely for you to be stranded without a charging station nearby. The user interface always guides you to a supercharger before you run out of charge.
Battery Longevity: Tesla offers a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. The battery is designed to outlast the car. All lithium-ion batteries lose some range over time, but Tesla works to minimize this by monitoring the battery’s temperature and ensuring it remains constant during charging. According to third-party stats, Tesla batteries perform the best over the life of the car, losing only single digits or maybe 10% over eight years.
Range Enhancements: Several elements contribute to the car’s range. These include 219 CDA aero efficiency, wheel design, and continuous innovation in the battery space. Tesla also focuses on low power consumption and is committed to reducing sentry mode consumption by 40%. The biggest effect on range is how fast you accelerate, so being gentle on the accelerator can help maintain range.
Redesigned Interior: The all-new interior includes a center console with compartments, ambient lighting, and an upgraded steering wheel. The stalks have been removed and indicators are now on the steering wheel. The car also comes with an improved user interface. The interior is incredibly quiet, reducing wind noise and enhancing the overall feel of the car.
Audio System: The dual motor Tesla car has 17 speakers, more than the original 14. In the base version, two low power subwoofers have been added, increasing the total to nine speakers and two woofers.
Design Improvements: While the new Model 3 may look similar to the old one, there have been numerous changes under the hood. Any weak areas have been reinforced, more baffles have been added to absorb noise, and frequency selective damping has been introduced for added comfort. These changes aren’t visible but contribute to the overall quality of the car.
Traction: Tesla cars have close to a 50/50 weight distribution, providing a lot of mass on the rear for traction. Traction is a function of slip, and Tesla’s motors can control slip 100 times a second, allowing the car to handle well in the snow as long as the right tires are used.
Ambient Lighting: The ambient lighting was added to enhance the overall cabin ambiance and elevate the premium feel of the interior. The lighting can be configured on the screen to any color, allowing the user to change the mood of the interior.
Seat Design: Tesla designs its own seats in-house. The new seat design is more comfortable, especially in the rear. The seats are heated and cooled, and the ventilation system creates a tighter seal and more flow through the foam, making the seats cool down almost twice as fast as most other companies’ seats.
Rear Seat Entertainment: An 8-inch touchscreen has been added to the back, allowing rear seat passengers to control their own climate, watch movies, and connect via Bluetooth to use headphones. This addition gives the rear seat a more premium feel and makes the car more family-friendly.
Functional Vehicle: Despite these enhancements, the seats still fold flat, allowing for a large amount of storage through the rear trunk. This makes the vehicle highly functional.
Interior Enhancements: Additional sealing has been added in the doors, and the secondary seal stiffness has been increased. These changes have improved the cabin quietness, especially at high speeds. The car is noticeably quieter than other cars at the same price point.
They emphasize that the car is packed with amazing engineering feats that contribute to a great driving and ownership experience. All features come standard with the car; there’s no need to buy additional packages.
The car is available in new colors, including Ultra Red and Stealth Gray, and different color interiors are also available. The new 2024 Model 3 is worth checking out.
Tesla’s Mission: Tesla’s mission is to democratize electric vehicles (EVs) by making them affordable and accessible to more people. The first step towards this is to make a great car that’s affordable.