Tesla Model 3 & Y: Acceleration Boost Now Available as an Option

For around €2000, the Tesla Long Range All-Wheel Drive will accelerate to 100 km/h 0.6 seconds faster. What about the Performance?

Let’s be honest: with the successive releases of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (respectively 702 and 600 km range), the All-Wheel Drive versions had lost all relevance. More expensive, less spacious in terms of distance covered, what’s the point if you’re not living in the mountains?

Tesla therefore had to give new meaning, but with not many solutions besides unlocking more power… and thus further reducing range. It’s a bit like a dog chasing its tail, but some childish minds adore power and acceleration figures to show off at tolls.

Factually, Tesla has already initiated the option – since it is indeed an optional feature – called Acceleration Boost on its Model 3 and Model Y> Long Range All-Wheel Drive in Asia and Australia. North America is next on the list, followed by Europe. According to the power consumption and capacity table, we already knew that these versions have 95 kW (130 horsepower) for the Model 3 and 15 kW (20 horsepower) for the Model Y compared to their Performance versions, indicating a power deficit.

Does Tesla make easy money?

In Australia, the option costs 3000 Australian dollars, roughly €1900. The same in China with 14,100 Yuan, or €1880. Tesla does not disclose any additional power figures, but all signs point to values aligning with those of the Performance versions. The acceleration of the Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive drops from 4.4 to 3.8 seconds, while the Performance claims 3.4 seconds. This time gap would largely result from the narrower tires, which limit grip.

Tesla announced this Acceleration Boost option soon for the Model Y as well, without providing specific figures here either, but the Performance already accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, compared to 5.0 seconds for the Long Range.

However, Tesla’s approach once again surprises. This option, which involves taking a little more money from customers while being just a line of code activated via a smartphone app, might have been more useful if it were given for free? Because ultimately, the Model 3 and Model Y Long Range Range won’t be any more relevant, quite the opposite: more expensive and still less generous in range.

It’s the dog chasing its tail…

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