Tesla has announced a small round of updates for the Model 3 saloon and the Model Y SUV.
Go on, what are the updates?
Well, the Model 3 gets an indicator stalk once again. This is described by Tesla as “ensuring effortless control while driving” which is exactly what it did before Tesla removed it and replaced it with daft steering wheel buttons. It's a tacit admission that the buttons were rubbish, and something that Tesla has already done for the Model Y.
The Model 3 also gets a new forward-facing camera, mounted in the front bumper, which has its own cleaning system and heating to prevent icing over.
Any more range?
Yes, actually. The Model 3 now comes with upgraded battery packs with higher-density cells, which means that the rear-drive entry-level Model 3 with 18-inch wheels now offers up to 554km, the long-range rear-drive version has up to 750km range, and the long-range four-wheel drive Model 3 can cover a theoretical 716km. The Model 3 Performance can reach a claimed 580km on one charge.
What about the Model Y?
That too will benefit from the new battery pack (for which Tesla does not give a kWh figure, but which we reckon must be around 62kWh for the smaller version, and 82kWh for the bigger one) which means that the long-range four-wheel drive Model Y now has a claimed range of up to 629km.
Any other changes?
Nope, that appears to be it. Both the Model 3 and Model Y have been given significant updates in the past 12 months (the so-called 'Highland' and 'Juniper' versions respectively) so this latest round of upgrades is a much smaller affair, although those extra kilometres added to the range are not to be sneezed at.