Tesla has taken one of the final steps towards launching the new Model 3 Performance in China, as the automaker has filed the reengineered version of the electric sedan with the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
This filing signifies the last major regulatory hurdle before the car can be officially sold in China. It is also important for Canadians as we will be receiving this version of the Model 3 Performance from Giga Shanghai, and not the one built at the Fremont factory in California, leading to some differences in specs, which you can read about in more detail here.
According to the filing, the new Model 3 Performance features the model number TSL7000BEVBA5, and is equipped with a dual-motor system, with the front motor delivering 137 kW and the rear motor producing 265 kW of power. This setup enables the vehicle to achieve a top speed of 261 km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds.
A significant highlight of the new Model 3 Performance, and the reason for the different specs between the Chinese and US built version is its battery. The Model 3 Performance built at Giga Shanghai features a 79kWh ternary lithium-ion battery supplied by South Korea’s LG Energy Solution.
This differs from the US version which features a 82kWh Panasonic battery pack with more energy density, with the resulting difference in battery chemistry leading to slightly less power and torque in the Chinese version of the Model 3 Performance.
The vehicle’s dimensions are also listed and are the same as the US built version, with a length of 4,724 mm (186″), a width of 1,848 mm (81″), a height of 1,430 mm (56″), and a wheelbase of 2,875 mm (113″).
After months of waiting and speculation, the updated Model 3 Performance was finally announced in April, with this iteration of the electric sedan becoming the most powerful variant ever of the Model 3. Deliveries of the new Model 3 Performance in China are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024.
According to the online configurator, deliveries of the new Model 3 Performance are expected to begin in Canada in July.
