The Tesla Model 3 has played a pivotal role in the adoption of EVs worldwide since its unveiling in 2016.
Now high-definition photos of the upcoming refresh (also known as Tesla Model 3 Highland) have been spotted in California, revealing more key details.
The black car was spotted by a Tesla Model 3 owner and professional photographer, Colin W, and shared on Twitter.
It shows a Model 3 outside Tesla’s testing grounds in California with the usual front and rear covers along with an ultra-dark tint to hide revealing any interior changes to the upcoming model.
These high-resolution photos also reveal a key change that has not been previously spotted. That’s what looks like a front-facing bumper camera to allow the car to get a better field of view when navigating through traffic.
This could be part of the upcoming Hardware 4 suite of cameras and upgraded computer which are geared for full self-driving (FSD) and autopilot functionality.
Similarly, the Tesla Cybertruck also has a front-facing camera so it could be something Tesla is bringing in to help improve the FSD capabilities of the vehicle.
In a recent Twitter space, Elon Musk hinted what the capabilities of Hardware 4 vehicles would be in comparison to the current Hardware 3 found in tens of thousands of Teslas found in Australia.
Fans who have been waiting for the upgrade responded on the back of this sighting. “I want to know what the Model 3 Highland update will include so bad! Also curious if any of the interior changes will also apply to Model Y,” said one.
This example of the refreshed Model 3 also had standard wheels and Michelin tyres also found on all standard-range vehicles (under the Aerocap hubcaps) without the optional alloys.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a recent earnings call that Tesla’s global factories are expected to go through some downtime for upgrades, so it’s likely that the Tesla Model 3 refresh is driving that.
Tesla Model 3 unveil in 2016
