Rumour suggests Tesla Model 3 Performance Highland imminent as final pre-refresh orders get delivery windows for mid 2024

When Tesla launched the updated Model 3 Highland refresh, the Performance variant of the electric sedan was conspicuously absent. Now, indications seem to be that Tesla is planning a mid-2024 announcement for the new Model 3 Performance, as customers who ordered the previous-generation Model 3 Performance right before the Highland announcement are receiving notifications of potential delivery windows between March and July 2024.

Screenshots from Model 3 Performance buyers with delivery estimates as early as March and as late as July, depending on the region and when the order was placed, have been popping up on social media platform X (fka Twitter). This is significant because Tesla closed orders for the Model 3 Performance when it launched the Model 3 Highland refresh. Tesla looking to complete orders of the outdated Model 3 Performance may be confirmation that the Highland refresh of the Model 3 Performance, along with all its visual and feature updates, is due to be launched sometime next year.

There is precedent for Tesla launching different vehicles at different times, like the original Model 3 Performance that launched after the standard Model 3 variants. The US market is still waiting on any news about the arrival of the Model 3 Highland, since the original launch was restricted to Europe and Asia.

Model 3 Highland Performance leaks previously indicated that the updated model would feature the same motors found in Tesla's Model S and X Plaid vehicles, although it would likely only feature two of the motors instead of the trimotor setup found in the Model S and X Plaid.This would give the affordable sedan much more horsepower than previously — close to 650 HP.

Any power increase from a higher-performance motor would likely slightly improve the Model 3 Performance's acceleration, given its lower weight, relative to the rest of the Tesla line-up. A Plaid motor — or a motor with Plaid tech — on the other hand, would improve sustained performance due to improved cooling design.

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