Tesla reveals some details about the Model 3 — and keeps others under wraps

An admiring fan base cheered when Tesla Motors Inc. took the wraps off the Model 3, the electric-car company’s product aimed at the mass market.

The number of would-be buyers placing deposits of $1,000 each had reached 198,000 by Friday morning after the Model 3 was unveiled Thursday night in Hawthorne, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeted.

Deliveries are scheduled to start at the end of 2017.

So what would consumers be buying? Tesla calls the four-door Model 3 a “premium sedan.” Here’s a look at some of the car’s specifications:

The cost

The Model 3’s base price is $35,000, although Musk tweeted that the selling price with the average mix of options probably would reach $42,000.

Size and speed

The Model 3 seats five adults, yet it’s at least 20% smaller than its big brother, Tesla’s $70,000 Model S sedan. There are trunks in the car’s rear and front — nicknamed a “frunk.”

The Model 3 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds. Musk, after unveiling the car, told the audience that “there will be versions of the Model 3 that go much faster.”

Range and charging

The car can travel at least 215 miles before it needs recharging and has standard equipment to use Tesla’s so-called supercharging stations, where the car can be recharged in minutes rather than hours.

There are about 3,600 superchargers at more than 600 locations worldwide. Musk said Tesla expects to double the number of superchargers by the end of next year.

Other specs

The futuristic interior replaces the conventional cluster of gauges in front of the driver with a 15-inch touch-screen just to the driver’s right. That’s the instrument display where the driver enters various commands.

Also standard is the hardware for an autopilot feature, which uses the car’s cameras, radar and sensors to automatically steer down the highway, change lanes, adjust speeds and parallel park on the driver’s command. In “summon” mode, the car will pull itself up to the driver.

Tesla says the Model 3 will receive a top five-star rating in every safety category.

Unspecified specs

Many of the car’s technical details were not immediately disclosed. “The company is being very stingy with the details,” Car and Driver wrote on its website.

Motor Trend noted that that no specs were provided on the Model 3’s battery capacity. The magazine said that, with a range of 215 miles, “we estimate the pack to be around 70” kilowatt hours. The Model S battery capacity can be either 70 or 90 kilowatt hours.

Early reaction

In person, the Model 3 is striking. The front end doesn’t need air flow to cool an engine, so it has no grille. The interior, not built about a traditional power train, is roomy and open. A masive single piece of glass covers the entire rear passenger area.

Under acceleration, the 3 rushes forward silently with chest-tightening speed.

And that dashboard with the touch-screen display? “Completely bizarre,” wrote Road & Track.

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