Tesla offers Australians Model 3 with white interior, adds LR, plus S and X update

If there are any Australian drivers holding back from buying a Tesla Model 3 electric sedan because of the lack of white interior option, think again.

When Tesla first made the Model 3 available in Australia, it was possible to buy it only with the black interior, to the disappointment of many reservation holders.

Changing options on its configurator is something Tesla is often apt to do though, and change the interior they have – but only for the Performance model.

The change was initially made a week or so ago, and Tesla have now made it official via an email obtained by The Driven this morning.

According to the email from Tesla: “Select a continuous white decor for a completely modern experience. All seats and door trims are wrapped in stain-resistant material for a polished look throughout the cabin.”

The white interior option adds an additional $A1,400 to the price of the Performance variant, bringing its starting price to $92,600.

The change is part of a bid by Tesla to streamline Model 3 variants across global markets, and the Performance variant will now ship in all markets with performance wheels and brakes, a carbon fibre spoiler, 225km/h top speed and Track Mode.

The addition of the white interior has been met in various forums with a warm welcome – not least in part due to the fact that in hot climates like Australia, a white interior greatly helps with keeping the temperature inside the car down when left outdoors.

However, there is also some question about whether or not the option – which includes a white polished, and possibly quite reflective, dash – will also turn some customers off, with some buyers commenting they may consider carbon fibre wraps for the dash to alleviate this should it be a problem.

Accompanying the change to interior options for the Performance model is the addition of the Long Range variant of the Model 3, which is now available in Australia starting at $A85,000 before on road costs (this becomes $93,585 in NSW drive away, as an example).

Asked about the change, a Tesla spokesperson responded by email that, “In order to make purchasing our vehicles even simpler, we are standardising our global vehicle lineup and streamlining the number of trim packages offered for Model S, Model X and Model 3. We are also adjusting our pricing in order to continue to improve affordability for customers. Like other car companies, we periodically adjust pricing and available options.

Model 3 continues to outsell all other luxury vehicles in the U.S., with record delivery numbers in Q2 and continued global expansion to Europe and Asia. It has also achieved 5-star safety ratings in the U.S. and Europe.”

Tesla has also updated its trim variants for the Long Range and Performance S and X, saying that, “All Model S and Model X Performance vehicles will be delivered with Ludicrous Mode – which enables 0-100km/h in as little as 2.6 seconds for Model S or 2.9 seconds for Model X – and all Long Range vehicles will come with industry-leading range and our all-new adaptive suspension system.”

Deliveries for first buyers of the Model 3 in Australia are expected to commence in August, with some savvy social media spotters already reporting white Model 3s on trucks in Melbourne.

New buyers will can now expect delivery of the Model 3 in September, as per a further update on the Model 3 AU configurator.