Tesla Model 3 Highland facelift pushed to its limits at one of the most challenging race tracks in the world

A few months ago Tesla has treated its mid-size electric sedan, the so-called Model 3, to numerous optical and technical upgrades as part of the highly anticipated 2023 facelift that has been developed under the "Project Highland" codename. Although the EV leader's most affordable car has been optimized for efficiency at daily commutes on public roads, a group of well-known YouTubers has now tested the boundaries of the Tesla Model 3 on a world-famous race track in Germany.

The corresponding video of the test drive at the Nürburgring Nordschleife turns out to be informative as well as entertaining and can be watched on Misha Charoudin's popular YouTube channel. Unsurprisingly, the experienced driver frequently complains about the rather weak brakes of the Tesla Model 3 Highland, which quickly overheated as the decelerating recuperation function was turned off. Furthermore, the stock Michelin e-Primacy did not provide a satisfying amount of grip on the slippery and wet track surface, which is to be expected as these tires are designed to minimize rolling resistance and thereby improve the efficiency and effective range on daily drives.

Moreover, the new dampers of the Model 3 facelift are tuned for a softer and more comfortable ride and are not really compatible with high corner speeds. Aside from these fairly expectable complaints, the latest Tesla EV has also received some praise for its new lithium iron phosphate battery, which does not overheat during prolonged load and can provide its full performance even at a lower state of charge. Last but not least, the Highland test drive also contains a little swipe at the unintuitive windshield wiper control, which even required the help of passenger Kyle Conner from "Out of Spec Reviews". In conclusion, the video shows some room for improvement for the rumored performance-oriented Ludicrous model of Tesla's cheapest electric car.

Buy WeatherTech floor mats for the pre-facelift Model 3 on Amazon