In a recent Twitter interaction with one of his followers, Tesla CEO Elon Musk estimated that a performance version of the company's Model 3 compact sedan will “probably” be added to the line-up around the middle of 2018.
At present, the Model 3 is available in two configurations – the Standard Battery variant, which offers a range of 220 miles and a 0-to-60 time of 5.6 seconds and the Long Range Battery option that provides a range of 310 miles and hitting 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Tesla has not mentioned the battery capacity of the two variants – something it seems to be getting away from – but both trims are powered by one motor only, located on the rear axle (in other words, both are rear-wheel drive), potentially hurting its appeal in northern climates
According to Musk, the delay in adding a sportier Model 3 (or even a two-motor all-wheel-drive model) to the lineup is because of what he calls, “production hell” for the company. The electric carmaker has apparently received more than 400,000 reservations for the Model 3 but it will be extremely challenging for its employees to meet demand and the company's production targets. Adding more variants will simply complicate matters.
Tesla aims to make 150 units of the Model 3 in August, followed by over 1,500 units in September and eventually end the year with 20,000 units being built in December. In 2018, Tesla wants to undertake a monumental increase in its production capacity to 400,000 Model 3s. Couple that with the 100,000 or so units of the Model S and Model X and it means the company is hoping to build 500,000 next year. Tesla only made 83,000 vehicles in 2016 and its figure for the first-half of 2017 stands at less than 50,000. Take the targeted production increase with a grain of salt, then.
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