Specs

Final Design

Tesla has confirmed that the final design of the Model 3 and associated factory tooling was completed as of mid-July 2016. Actual tooling and production equipment installation has begun and will continue into mid 2017.
The final design of the car will be revealed at the "final reveal" event closer to production (confirmed by Elon Musk during Feb 22 2017 financial call.

Production Plans

As of February 22 2017 during the 2016 EOY financial call, Tesla has stated that initial Model 3 production is on track to start in July 2017 with enough ordered parts to possibly build up to 1000 cars per week, then 2000 cars per week in August and 4000 cars per week in September. Tesla expects volume production of up to 5000 cars per week to be achieved sometime in the 4th quarter of 2017. Tesla also expect production of Model 3 to reach 10,000 cars per week sometime during the 2018 calendar year.

Initial production of Model 3 will be done at the Fremont factory in California with initial cars going to Tesla employees in California for production validation and to fix any early issues. Initial limited production is slated to start in July and ramping up to 5000 cars by September 2017.
Production and deliveries to reservation holders is expected to start in volume sometime during the 4th quarter of 2017. Volume production is expected to reach 10,000 cars per week sometime during the 2018 timefame.

European deliveries are expected by sometime in mid 2018

@DJBurges Should be summer next year. Sorry, really wish we could get RHD done sooner. We truly are working as fast as we can.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2017

Plans for a European and China factory have not been announced yet. Tesla has mentioned they expect the factory to produce these cars are thought of internally a actual products with much better production techniques and automation. The first iteration of this new factory concept will be at the Fremont factory and further refined over time in future factories.

Production Progress

Elon Musk released the first video of a Model 3 production candidate on March 24 2017

First drive of a release candidate version of Model 3 pic.twitter.com/zcs6j1YRa4

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2017

Online Configuration

Elon Musk has confirmed that the online Model 3 configurator will go online internally for employees around June-July timeframe then open to the general public once volume production starts.

Range

The Tesla Model 3 will have a minimum range of 215 miles (345Kms), EPA-rated. This means it's miles you can count on, not the range with air conditioning off, going downhill with a tailwind. Tesla has stated they hope to exceed this number with production cars.

Range is expected to be higher given larger battery pack sizes, perhaps as much as 270 miles (434kms)

Battery Pack

Model 3 will have a completely new battery pack consisting of a new 2170 form-factor cell (21mm wide, 70mm tall). Battery pack capacities are not confirmed however Tesla has mentioned that the base battery pack will be less than 60kWh. Options for larger battery packs are expected, most likely in the 60 and 75 kWh range. This new battery cell will eventually be used in the Model S and Mode X and provide more energy denity.

Elon Musk confirmed the Model 3 will have a maximum of a 75kWh battery pack.

@kryniog The shorter wheelbase only allows for a 75 kWh pack in Model 3 at current cell/module energy densities

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2017

Drive Train

Model 3 prototypes at the reveal event were equipped with dual motor drive trains. Tesla has confirmed that the base vehicle will have a singe rear-wheel drive motor. Dual motor options will be available as well as "Ludicrous" mode. A new 300kW drive inverter has also been confirmed which should allow for performance of a Model 3 to be very similar to the Model S.

The silver prototype at the reveal event was equipped with air suspension and was confirmed to be an option that will make it to production.

Performance

Tesla has said Model 3 will achieve 0-60Mph in less than 6 seconds on single-motor equipped cars. Sub 4-second performance is expected on cars equipped with dual motors and Ludicrous.

Price

The Model 3 will have a base-price of $35,000 USD. Options such as larger battery packs, metallic colours etc... will cost extra. This car is to compete directly in the luxury car market dominated by the BMW 3 series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class, therefore expect similar pricing to those cars when equipped with options.

Charging

Model 3 will come standard with on-board chargers capable of up to level 2 charging (240volts). It is expected the car will come with the usual Tesla Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) with adapters for 110Volt and NEMA-1450 wall sockets in North America and appropriate adapters for the UK and PAC.

Model 3 will also be capable of Supercharging. This means the car will be able to use the wide network of Tesla Superchargers all over the world. While the car will be able to plug into the SC directly, *access* to use them will be extra-cost. Tesla will be implementing a 400kWh free yearly allowance for all cars delivered after Jan 1 2017. Extra kWh will cost extra and billed through your "MyTesla" account. More details will follow from Tesla in due time.

The charge port location will be the same as Model S/X, that is in the left-side tail light housing.

Autopilot

Every Model 3 will come equipped, as all Teslas do, with Full Self-Driving Hardware. Tesla vehicles produced in the factory, including Model 3, will have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver. Eight surround cameras provide 360 degree visibility around the car at up to 250 meters of range. Twelve updated ultrasonic sensors complement this vision, allowing for detection of both hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of the prior system. A forward-facing radar with enhanced processing provides additional data about the world on a redundant wavelength, capable of seeing through heavy rain, fog, dust and even the car ahead. Autopilot details can be found here.

Trunk

Model 3, unlike the Model S and X, will not have a "liftback" or "hatchback" style trunk opening. Model 3 has a more traditional style trunk gate opening albeit one that opens higher on account of the hinges being located much higher on the C pillars than similar cars in its class. This should afford an easier to access rear trunk area. The opening shown on the prototypes has been confirmed to have been made larger by Elon Musk in a recent tweet response to Tesla listening to customer feedback.

@nickg_uk already taken care of

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 10, 2016

Model will also feature the same "deep well" in the trunk area like Model S for extra storage.

Front trunk ("Frunk")

Model 3 will have the Tesla signature "frunk" (front trunk) like Model S and X. However due to the lower front end design of the car the frunk will not be as deep. Pictures taken at the reveal event show a shallow and tapered frunk. What is not know at this time is if the frunk will be larger for cars without dual motors or lacking "Bioweapon Defence filters".

Bio-Weapon defence filters have not been confirmed however it is expected Model 3 will have an option for it.

Towing Capability

Model 3 will have a towing hitch option, confirmed by Elon Musk in a Twitter Q and A.

@SnoozeThroughF1 There will be an optional tow hitch.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 3, 2016

Interior

Model 3 prototypes have been shown with a simple interior with a forward-mounted dash that allows for more interior volume. The dash also features a single 15" horizontal centre screen that controls all aspects of the car. Tesla engineers at the reveal event have confirmed that the centre screen will make it to production but they are still tweaking the interior for the production cars.

UPDATE

Release candidate cars have been spotted with the same apparent interior as found on the alpha prototypes shows in 2016 suggesting the interior was indeed the final design

Elon Musk confirmed Model 3 will only have 1 display, and was designed for a self-driving future and thus will not have a binnacle

@FredericLambert It still has one display

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2017

We expect Model 3 to have 2-4 USB ports inside the vehicle for device charging

Exterior

Headlights

Model 3 prototypes featured adaptive LED headlights. The new design is different from every other car on the market, including current Teslas, in that the daytime running lights are located at the top of the headlights rather than below or aroud them as most cars have these days.

Exterior Dimensions

According to Motor Trend who conducted an exclusive photo shoot of the Model 3 at the Gigafactory, they estimate the exterior dimensions are about 90% of the size of the current Model S. Dimensions based on image scaling are: 184.1 x 74.2 x 56.5 in

Windows

Model 3 has "frameless" door windows. This allows for a single piece of aluminum or stainless steel "brightwork" from the A to C pillars.

Windshield wipers

Model 3 has 2 windshield wipers that are almost completely hidden under the front hood for aerodynamic efficiency. Servicing the wipers will require stopping the wipers in mid-sweep, much like Model S and Model X

Glass Roof

Model 3 prototypes had all-glass panoramic roofs. Tesla engineer Doug Field confirmed at the reveal event that Model 3 will comes with metal, all-glass and panoramic (moonroof) options. Tesla designed Model 3 with a lower front end and pushed the dashboard forward which allows for a lower windshield and moved the first cross-brace further back. This allows for a larger windshield that most cars. The centre glass section is smaller than the Model S but should still allow for a decent moving section. The rear cross-brace was moved forward and allows Model 3 to have the largest rear glass section of any sedan on the market. Because all Model 3s will have this rear glass, it will offer much taller headroom because of the lack of a headliner. Tesla has also confirmed that the glass in the Model 3 will have the same UV protection and tinting as they implemented on Model X.

UPDATE:

Release candidate cars spotted so far show no indication of metal roofs and all have been equipped with glass roofs. Recent changes to the Model S and the removal of the metal roof option indicates Model 3 will most likely come standard with the all glass roof. An optional sunroof is still a possibility.

Door Handles

Model 3 prototypes have a push to open door handle design. Unlike the Model S which has retracting door handles or the Model X which is equipped with "buttons", the Model 3 will have flush door handles that open with a push on the rear section. This causes the door handle lever to present so it can be pulled. The door handles also have a "soft-close" feature. Winter ice build-up is a concern however Tesla may implement a heater element activated during pre-conditioning that could prevent this (unconfirmed).

Interior door handles in the prototypes had push buttons to open the doors. Production cars may have levers (unconfirmed)

Rear Seats

Model 3 will have 60/40 folding rear seats with room for 3 adults. Legroom in the rear is said to be excellent, even for tall passengers.

Wheels

Model 3 prototypes were equipped with staggered 20" wheels. Production cars may not have a staggered setup however it is expected that 18" and 20" wheel sizes with be offered as standard and optional.

@Model3Owners They will. We spent a lot of time on those.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 2, 2016

Mirrors

Model 3 is expected to have power-folding mirrors as standard.

Colours

Tesla built several Model 3 prototypes so far in various colours. At the reveal event a matte black, silver and red Model 3 were shown however only the silver and the matte black cars have been seen as drivable so far, the red one is a static display for body panels). Tesla has not indicated at this time the final colour options however it is expected that at least the current Model S/X colour choices should be available when the car goes into production based on the sightings of release candidates in the same colours currently available on the Model S. The current "My Tesla" page for Model 3 reservation holders currently shows a Model 3 in the same Ocean Blue being offered on the Model S and X.

Signature Red was an exclusive colour offered for the Signature Series Model S and X however Tesla has confirmed that no Signature Series will be offered on the Model 3 therefore precluding this red as being available.