[Chris TX]

I know there's been plenty of speculation about cost saving measures to "barely" get the Model 3 down to the $35k mark (before incentives) as well as some hilariously bad comparisons to the Bolt EV. When asked if the "base" Model 3 would come with manual seats, I got a bit of a chuckle from several of my Tesla employee friends before they said "never."

Here's a video of one in motion:

 

[BAZINGA]

They could bundle power seats/steering wheel/folding mirrors and memory into a Tech Package. I mean up until recently to get a power lift gate in the MS required you buy the Tech Package so there is precedence.

 

[Breezy]

The Volt and Bolt should really have power seats at least as an option.

I imagine Tesla will continue to use the typical luxury-car pricing model where you dangle an enticing low entry price, then options add up rapidly. Like $1000 for metallic paint, available at no extra charge on your Chevy Bolt.

 

[bro1999]

I know there's been plenty of speculation about cost saving measures to "barely" get the Model 3 down to the $35k mark (before incentives) as well as some hilariously bad comparisons to the Bolt EV. When asked if the "base" Model 3 would come with manual seats, I got a bit of a chuckle from several of my Tesla employee friends before they said "never."

Here's a video of one in motion:

Lol do you actually think that is a base "$35k" 3?

 

[viking79]

GM should offer them for the price class, although I personally don't care. Put them in the premium model or something. For Model 3, does base 3er have power seats? If so, they might make them standard, but I see them oferring a lot of upgrades to the Model 3.

 

[Chris TX]

Lol do you actually think that is a base "$35k" 3?

Nothing in the video would suggest to me that it's premium. Maybe the wheels are an upgrade from the base units. The point of the post is to show the power seats, something the Bolt EV doesn't have in any feature package.

 

[Steverino]

GM should offer them for the price class, although I personally don't care. Put them in the premium model or something. For Model 3, does base 3er have power seats? If so, they might make them standard, but I see them offering a lot of upgrades to the Model 3.

Shouldn't we know the options, prices, and specs by now? I thought they are being built and shipped to customers.

 

[Ladogaboy]

This is one of the reasons I predict that the Model 3 will have a hard time coming in under 4,000 lbs curb weight. The Model S60 RWD might get down to 3,800, but the more features like these I see, that might be a stretch.

I agree that GM does need to start offering these as an option, but I doubt that people like me would care much (or pay for it).

We can talk until we're blue in the face about whether the Bolt EV and Model 3 are competitors. While the capabilities of the cars are very similar, which makes them comparable only because they are both EVs, the brand, image, and accoutrements are very different. And they appeal to very different audiences. It would be a mistake for Tesla to use the Model 3 to chase the same customer market that GM is targeting with the Bolt EV. And it would be a mistake for GM to use the Bolt EV to chase the same customer market that Tesla is targeting with the Model 3. So as much as we want to debate features, the two cars aren't really in competition with each other.

Heck, for some people that walk the line (myself included), they are interested in having BOTH the Bolt EV and Model 3 in their driveways. Maybe I'm biased in that regard, but that is why I always saw the Model 3 as a potential replacement for our Volt (not our C-Max, which the Bolt EV replaced). Now to that 200 mile EV 4x4...

 

[Tomt]

I don't care so much about power seats since I and my wife leave them in the same position, but power mirrors are a very big want!

The Volt and Bolt should really have power seats at least as an option.

 

[Shivetya]

Nothing in the video would suggest to me that it's premium. Maybe the wheels are an upgrade from the base units. The point of the post is to show the power seats, something the Bolt EV doesn't have in any feature package.

other than no one on any Tesla site I frequent thinks any 35k models have been made yet.

 

[Chris TX]

Shouldn't we know the options, prices, and specs by now? I thought they are being built and shipped to customers.

Those handful of customers are Tesla employees. Non-Tesla employee customer deliveries start 7/28. Those people have already been invited to configure their vehicles.

 

[Tomt]

Well, I just got an invitation from the Tesla to make a reservation at the Burbank dealership to come in in September to see and play with the Model 3... It's a start...

 

[Steverino]

Those handful of customers are Tesla employees. Non-Tesla employee customer deliveries start 7/28. Those people have already been invited to configure their vehicles.

So the specs, pricing and options are confidential. Why the secrecy?

 

[Chris TX]

So the specs, pricing and options are confidential. Why the secrecy?

Surely, people can wait 6 more days for the actual launch/delivery for the final numbers. The 215 mile range estimate isn't the official EPA cycle range, so they're saving all that data for the 28th. And for a car company that's releasing a revolutionary car like the Model 3, they've been anything but secretive.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Surely, people can wait 6 more days for the actual launch/delivery for the final numbers. The 215 mile range estimate isn't the official EPA cycle range, so they're saving all that data for the 28th. And for a car company that's releasing a revolutionary car like the Model 3, they've been anything but secretive.

Revolutionary might be going a bit too far, but the Model 3 certainly has its place on the chart overlaying the Hype Curve and the Diffusion of Innovation.

 

[scottf200]

Surely, people can wait 6 more days for the actual launch/delivery for the final numbers. The 215 mile range estimate isn't the official EPA cycle range, so they're saving all that data for the 28th. And for a car company that's releasing a revolutionary car like the Model 3, they've been anything but secretive.

Not sure why all the Bolt proponents are worked up about the Model 3. These car are not for the same target audience as been written about many times (see quote below). The price will reflect that when you include various options. The UI and OTA (new features overnight) are certainly a couple of the 'revolutionary' Tesla features.

TMC: Model 3 Reality Check
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/model-3-reality-check.94357/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3
In 2013, design chief Franz von Holzhausen stated that the Model 3 will "be an Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class type of vehicle that will offer everything: range, affordability, and performance" that is targeted toward the mass-market.

 

[Steverino]

they've been anything but secretive.

..except about pricing, specs, options.

Sure I can wait. Just figured with all the press about the car already being in production, that info would be available.

 

[Qinsp]

With Tesla Motors, sad to say, but you really need to wait until the automotive media gets a retail unit and evaluates it. No more 762 hp stories.

 

[accelerus]

Well, if I look at the dashboard......

Where are the A/C vents? Do they have pretty pictures of vents on the display?

There are no traditional vents as we think of them, from what I've seen there's one large long opening where the "vent" is basically a feature of the entire dashboard, there's surly some minimalist style button or knob to direct flow and rate done in a fancy style I'll bet.

 

[accelerus]

And from what Elon himself has said, "options" on the first few batches will be basically limited to "what color/what wheels". Not offering 100 options is what will allow them to ramp up production with the speed they need before throwing in more variables.

I doubt you will have things like "tech package/premium package" for at least the next few months.