Tesla Model 3

August 05, 2017 04:56 pm | Updated 04:56 pm IST

A Tesla Model 3 sedan

A Tesla Model 3 sedan

Earlier last week, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk handed over the keys of the first 30 units of their newest offering—the Model 3. Well, ‘keys’ might be a bit of a misnomer.

The Model 3 features entirely keyless entry, instead pairing with your phone’s bluetooth, and locking or unlocking your car depending on your proximity to the vehicle.

Musk says the car presents climate-conscious motorists with an option for affordable mobility. Well, ‘affordable’ might be yet another misnomer.

At $35,000, the Model 3 is considerably cheaper than the Model S and Model X, but it’s still no poor person’s runabout. That minor speedbump aside, Tesla’s cheapest does present in itself a version of the future of transport. The interiors are as sparse as sparse can get, with no dials, switches, buttons, a hidden gloveboxe and no visible AC vents.

There’s simply a 15-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which controls everything from the AC, the seating positions, the engine, to the glass roof. Yes, on the premium version, the roof is made entirely of glass, which will automatically tint itself depending on the weather and time of day.

Musk promises that the Model 3 is completely ‘autonomous ready’, which is to say that the car is built with all the hardware necessary to be a fully self-driving car.

So, once Tesla decides their technology is safe enough to perform on the streets, a mere software update will have the car driving itself. Till then, owners must pay a $5,000 premium if they want the semi-autonomous systems enabled.

The car comes in two versions—the standard edition, which has a 220-mile range, and a long-range version which is more powerful, and can travel 310-miles on a full battery. The car is slated to be in full production within the next six to nine months, after which we’ll stop burning holes in the atmosphere and all will be well.

saurya.s@thehindu.co.in

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