Adoption of battery previously restricted to AWD models boosts potential.

CLASS-leading WLTP-attested range of 750 kilometres is claimed for a new version of the Tesla Model 3 announced today.

The order book for the Long Range Rear Wheel Drive opened today; Tesla says the $71,900 variant will be shipping in from late November.

The variant has been in North America, the United Kingdom and some European markets since last year.

Regional availability here required production from the Tesla plant in Shanghai, China.

First hint of that being signed off came out of China in July, but then there was no clarity then about export potential outside of that market.

The enhanced range gives it a 120km advantage over the current most efficient edition, the $73,900 LR all wheel drive.

It occasions from the rear drive taking the AWD car’s ternary nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) 78.4 kWh battery, sourced from LG.

Reports from China says the range enhancement arrives because the rear-drive single-motor trim has lower energy consumption than the all-wheel-drive dual-motor, 11.2 kWh versus 12.1 kWh per 100km.

One caveat is that to achieve best range means taking the new variant with smaller and more aerodynamic 18-inch wheels.

Taking the car with the optional 19-inch wheels hurts the range, with some reports citing a reduction to 640km.

That switch would kibosh the one upmanship over the current best eco kings of the category - the BYD Seal, Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, which all post maximum range figures of just under 660km.

The entry level Model 3 retains and continues with a 62.5kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL.

LFP was historically preferred in the lower-priced models as a cost containment; it’s cheaper to produce. Another advantage of LFP over NMC is cited minimal degradation over time, even if fully charged on a regular basis.

Meantime, the Model 3 Performance has been meted an update to its NMC battery that boosts the WLTP range from 528km to 571km. Pricing is $84,900.

While Model Y Performance is the first Tesla for NZ that is coming from the make’s factory in Berlin, Germany, the Model 3 Performance will continue to provision from the Shanghai factory from which all other NZ-market Model 3s and Model Ys are taken.

The revisions arrive on 2026 designated cars that are identified by taking badging in black. The Model 3 underwent a big facelift last year.

Another impending change, though one not mentioned in Tesla’s regional news share, is the car’s reversion back to a wand indicator, this as result of poor consumer reaction to the facelift sedan adopting a steering wheel thumb-activated control.