Elon Musk reveals first Tesla Model 3 Performance in new assembly line at Fremont

Elon Musk has announced that the first Model 3 Performance Dual Motor has rolled off Tesla’s new assembly line. Musk’s update comes roughly a month after Tesla opened orders for the high-performance version of the compact electric car.

The Model 3 Performance was initially expected for July. In a series of tweets back in April, Musk stated that the Performance and the Dual Motor AWD variant of the vehicle would likely be introduced in July. The popular white seats option — another highly-anticipated feature for the Model 3 — was teased for a July release as well. According to Musk’s tweet, however, the Tesla team was able to set up a new Model 3 assembly line in just three weeks with “minimal resources.”

Amazing work by Tesla team. Built entire new general assembly line in 3 weeks w minimal resources. Love u guys so much! Pic of 1st Model 3 dual motor performance coming off the line … pic.twitter.com/Xr55P3fmGd

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 16, 2018

Part of the mystery behind the Model 3 Performance’s production line is exactly where general assembly of the vehicle is being conducted. While not yet officially announced, the tent-like structure at the background of the Model 3 Performance in Musk’s tweet seems to directly correspond to a seemingly growing structure that was spotted in satellite images of the Fremont factory over the past few weeks. The progress in the structure’s construction could be seen in the following pictures from Building Tesla.

The fact that Tesla is already starting the production of the Model 3 Performance bodes well for the company’s capability to manufacture the compact electric car in volume. Musk, after all, has previously noted on Twitter that Tesla would only start manufacturing the Model 3 Performance and the Dual Motor AWD variant once the company is already producing the electric cars at a pace equivalent to 5,000 vehicles per week. Back in the 2018 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Musk announced that Tesla is producing 500 Model 3 per day, or 3,500 Model 3 per week. A recently-leaked email from Elon Musk, however, suggested that the company is now targeting a pace of 700 Model 3 per day, which equates to 4,900 vehicles per week, just 100 cars shy of its goal of producing 5,000 Model 3 per week by the end of Q2 2018.

The Tesla Model 3 Performance is the top-tier variant of the compact electric car. Fitted with an AC induction motor in the front and a partial permanent magnet motor in the rear, the Model 3 Performance is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The vehicle also has a top speed of 155 mph and a range of 310 miles per charge. The white seats option will also be available for the Model 3 Performance only, at least until Tesla fully optimizes its production line. The Model 3 Performance, with all options except Autopilot, is available for $78,000, making it a bit pricier than the Model S 75D, which starts at $74,500.

The Model 3 Performance is set to deliver formidable performance, however. According to Musk, the Model 3 Performance would be 15% faster than a BMW M3 on the track. Musk has also teased that there’s a chance that the high-performance variant of the Model 3 would see an even higher power output than initially announced.

Configuration emails for the Model 3 Performance are now rolling out to reservation holders. Musk has also announced that the Model 3 Performance will be designated as test drive vehicles in Tesla stores within the coming weeks.

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