[DonC]

CNET is reporting is has "leaked" specs of the Model 3. Most interesting are the range, cargo, and acceleration. Acceleration is 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds. That's fast. Range is "over" 215 miles (doesn't seem like the EPA number is final). Cargo space is 14 cubic feet, including the frunk.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/leaked-tesla-chart-reveals-model-3-details/

 

[Ladogaboy]

I wouldn't characterize 5.6 second 0-60 mph as fast, but it is competitive for its segment. And it is quick enough for most people.

Actually, the specs for the Model 3 are panning out to be almost exactly what I predicted. The main concern I have is with the way they described the cargo space. How is it split between the trunk and frunk? That's an important detail.

 

[DonC]

I think 5.6 seconds is quite fast. Plus is should be very fast off the line, which is really what most people care about.

I'd give 3 cubic feet to the frunk. So about 11 cubic feet in the trunk. The other issue with cargo space is configuration.

 

[saghost]

CNET is reporting is has "leaked" specs of the Model 3. Most interesting are the range, cargo, and acceleration. Acceleration is 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds. That's fast. Range is "over" 215 miles (doesn't seem like the EPA number is final). Cargo space is 14 cubic feet, including the frunk.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/leaked-tesla-chart-reveals-model-3-details/

That's from the same alleged "internal Tesla" comparison sheet between the S and 3 that hit the news a week ago. I think the only things it says that weren't already known/widely assumed see the 14 cubic feet and the 100 configurations. Some of the specs I really expect to be different from that in July (like the range), and many are clearly based on the initial small battery RWD version only.

 

[BAZINGA]

I'd give 3 cubic feet to the frunk. So about 11 cubic feet in the trunk. The other issue with cargo space is configuration.

With the third row seat UP in our 2017 GMC Acadia, GM claims there is 12.8 CF of space behind the seats. Read any of the reviews and that is the single biggest complaint of the new Gen II Acadia. It's essentially two airline size carry on's. Where will you stow a stroller?

12 CF is almost useless for any family traveling to Grand Ma's house for the holidays.

 

[saghost]

With the third row of seat UP in our 2017 GMC Acadia, GM claims there is 12.8 CF of space behind the seats. Read any of the reviews and that is the single biggest complaint of the new Gen II Acadia. It's essentially two airline size carry on's. Where will you stow a stroller?

12 CT is almost useless for any family traveling to Grand Ma's house for the holidays.

Not all 12 cubic foot spaces are created equal. In a square-ish SUV like the Acadia, I presume that 12 c.f. includes the full volume up to the roofline, but most folks probably won't want to pile stuff that high.

Keep in mind, that's about the same size as the trunk in either generation of Volt, and we know folks fit all kinds of things in there (in many cases after folding the rear seats.)

 

[llninja]

Not all 12 cubic foot spaces are created equal. In a square-ish SUV like the Acadia, I presume that 12 c.f. includes the full volume up to the roofline, but most folks probably won't want to pile stuff that high.

Keep in mind, that's about the same size as the trunk in either generation of Volt, and we know folks fit all kinds of things in there (in many cases after folding the rear seats.)

Except volts are hatchbacks, so you can put all sorts of stuff there up to the hatch, the model 3 is a trunk, michmore constraining.

Back to the discussion on the Acadia to grandma's house, that's why I'm looking for a Subyukonade and not an Equinox, Traverse, or Tahoe.

 

[bro1999]

So the Model 3 has a combined 14 cubic feet of cargo capacity, frunk and trunk. Compare that to a 2017 Chevy Cruze (1" shorter than a Model 3 btw) that has a 14.8 cubic foot trunk. The 3's trunk seems like almost an afterthought!

You can take 5 passengers on a road trip in a Model 3....just as long as they are fine traveling with little to no luggage.

 

[Bacardi]

The question is, if folks are looking to routinely lots of people and require cargo space, are they buying a compact liftback sedan? If so why not google compacts with the most cargo space?

 

[ClarksonCote]

So the Model 3 has a combined 14 cubic feet of cargo capacity, frunk and trunk. Compare that to a 2017 Chevy Cruze (1" shorter than a Model 3 btw) that has a 14.8 cubic foot trunk. The 3's trunk seems like almost an afterthought!

You can take 5 passengers on a road trip in a Model 3....just as long as they are fine traveling with little to no luggage.

Not only that, the Model 3 will have 5 cubic feet LESS space than a Chevrolet Volt, even including its frunk! Let me get my popcorn, as that will be interesting to watch the related discussions on all the forums.

 

[viking79]

I imagine the rear trunk is about 10 cubic feet and front trunk maybe 4 cubic feet. Looking at the rear opening I immediately thought, darn, that looks like my Mazda3, which had about 10. It was absolutely useless. I remember driving back to WY for Christmas and having to have half the rear seat full of stuff that wouldn't fit in the trunk. The front trunk will help, but not a lot. The Bolt EV has 20% more space behind the rear seats than the Model 3 has split between both trunks, to put it in perspective. The Bolt EV has a tiny hatch area.

Nothing really new, slightly more total cargo space than BMW 3 series sedan and slightly faster and slightly cheaper. They were definitely targeting 3 series.

215 miles is base range and my guess is that is very close (maybe 220 miles), and given good aerodynamics and assuming it is more efficient than Model S (not very efficient), my guess is the battery is only 50 kwh at most. That will help keep the cost in line. Surely, Tesla will offer a much larger battery that will be good for many more miles, the version you would want for long distance driving.

Given that an M3 is about $65k, I would guess a performance version of the Model 3 will run similar to the BMW at 60-70k, maybe up to 80k.

 

[Qinsp]

The bigger the battery, the more the weight, the more the weight, bigger the motor and inverter. And again, more battery to make up for it.

The first number guessed at was 45kWh usable, which is possible if they can keep the other weight down, and aero low.

A 4000lb Model 3 is going to be very expensive compared to a 3500lb Model 3.

Personally, I would have done the initial announcement at "over 200 mi range", "under $39,900", period, then over-delivered, with class leading performance. They still would have gotten more reservations than they could produce in the first 12 months. But over-delivering is not how Tesla markets their products. Heck, they told everyone they had a 762HP EV (rescinded), and have a video on their site of the car they sell running fully autonomously.

 

[DonC]

I'm not sure the cargo space is a huge deal. I have an ELR with a trunk about the same size. For two people it's fine. You put the luggage in the trunk and all the rest of what you need in the back seats. Some of the stuff you want access to when you're driving anyway. However, I'm not sure this is the right way to look at this. Despite all the talk about long distance driving BEVs are simply not well suited for long trips in the first place. So few of these will be used on trips I'm not sure it matters.

The problem is that we're comparing the Bolt EV to the Model 3. Those two vehicles are simply different. From a marketing perspective the target market for the Model 3 would be 20-30 year olds working in the tech industry. IOW the same demographic that the BMW Series 3 is aimed at. And compared to the 3 Series, the Model 3 will have about the same amount of passenger and cargo space. The Bolt EV is more a practical hauler. What the Model 3 gains in style it gives up in practicality, and what the Bolt EV gives up in style it gains in practicality. Compare the Model 3 to the BMW 3 series and the Bolt EV to the Mazda 3. Don't compare them just because they are both BEVs. Form follows function here. If I were a 30 year old single guy in a cubicle I'd want the Model 3. If I were a 30 year old mom with a kid or two or a dad with an occasional need to haul stuff from Home Depot I'd want the Bolt EV. Just depends on what you're looking for.

To me the challenge for the Model 3 is that a lot of those tech workers live in apartments and condos. Charging may be a significant barrier. I doubt limited cargo space will be.

 

[DonC]

The bigger the battery, the more the weight, the more the weight, bigger the motor and inverter. And again, more battery to make up for it.

The first number guessed at was 45kWh usable, which is possible if they can keep the other weight down, and aero low.

A 4000lb Model 3 is going to be very expensive compared to a 3500lb Model 3.

Personally, I would have done the initial announcement at "over 200 mi range", "under $39,900", period, then over-delivered, with class leading performance.

Musk may be the best in the world at over promising and under delivering. It's worked well so far. Hard to see why he'd change that. I think the marketing pitch will be based on AP.

I can't see any way to get 200 miles of range from 45 kWh usable. Also, from the 0-60 times my guess is that the Model 3 will not be terribly efficient on something like US06 cycle.

 

[Raymondjram]

So the Model 3 has no DIC and all the needed information is on the center display only?? That will cause future mishaps by the driver looking sidewards to read the speed and other important information. My Chevy Equinox has a simple DIC and a small center display for entertainment but I have all what I need up front, and a small peek lowering my eyesight gives me what I need.

That is a BAD design for the Model 3!!

As for cargo space, my Equinox hold 35 cubic feet with the seat backs up, and 69 with the seat backs folded down. Only the Traverse and larger Chevy truck-based vehicles have more space. I have posted here many times what I carried in my Equinox. And in January my wife carried four passengers more, and their luggage (six suitcases and bags) which filled up the entire cargo area to the airport. She couldn't see through the center rear view mirror, but had little problems using the side mirrors. It can carry 1,350 pounds inside and tow up to 3,500 pounds, which I haven't done yet.

 

[Bacardi]

I agree with DonC, as I've stated a year ago people are buying a Tesla because it's a Tesla, they're buying a Bolt because it's an EV...We'll never know the numbers, but logic would tell us most Bolt owners weren't driving an ICE SUV or an ICE Sportscar, most are already PHEV/EV/Hybrid owners...Very few are selling their BMW 3 series to get a Bolt...I believe a significant amount of future M3 owners will be non-green ICE owners...

 

[llninja]

So the Model 3 has no DIC and all the needed information is on the center display only?? That will cause future mishaps by the driver looking sidewards to read the speed and other important information. My Chevy Equinox has a simple DIC and a small center display for entertainment but I have all what I need up front, and a small peek lowering my eyesight gives me what I need.

That is a BAD design for the Model 3!!

As for cargo space, it hold 35 cubic feet with the seats up, and 69 with the seats back folded. Only the Traverse and larger Chevy truck-based vehicles have more space. I have posted here many times what I carried in my Equinox. And in January my wife carried four passengers more, and their luggage (six suitcases and bags) which filled up the entire cargo area to the airport. She couldn't see through the center rear view mirror, but had little problems using the side mirrors.

Summary: Tesla model 3 drivers have no DICs. The rest of the world wants bigger DICs.

 

[BAZINGA]

Not all 12 cubic foot spaces are created equal. In a square-ish SUV like the Acadia, I presume that 12 c.f. includes the full volume up to the roofline, but most folks probably won't want to pile stuff that high.

Keep in mind, that's about the same size as the trunk in either generation of Volt, and we know folks fit all kinds of things in there (in many cases after folding the rear seats.)

True, we'll have to wait and see how accessible that space is. Why they didn't do a hatchback escapes me.

 

[Steverino]

I believe a significant amount of future M3 owners will be non-green ICE owners...

Just like buyers of the Volt, which is also a sedan.

 

[Bacardi]

So the Model 3 has no DIC and all the needed information is on the center display only?? That will cause future mishaps by the driver looking sidewards to read the speed and other important information. My Chevy Equinox has a simple DIC and a small center display for entertainment but I have all what I need up front, and a small peek lowering my eyesight gives me what I need.

That is a BAD design for the Model 3!!

I do agree it's a bad design, it do think it's going to result in more accidents as several other vehicles in the past have had centrally mounted info clusters...Yet if we break it down we're simply moving our eyes and/or necks a little bit more and all sort of OBDII options exist...I drive an equinox like you, I almost never look at my speed until I see a huge drop in the speed limit (driving to the ski resort city of mammoth lakes) or I'm going somewhere I don't normally go to...