Electrons for fun.
Don't get it twisted - we here at Tuner Fan will continue to drive our internal-combustion cars until the very last drop of gasoline is finally turned into carbon dioxide. That said, even the most diehard gasoline addicts out there must at least acknowledge the speed and capability of the modern EV. Case in point - the Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Sitting at the top of the Model 3 food chain, the Model 3 Performance runs a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, with a single Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) synchronous electric motor in the rear, and a single induction electric motor up front. Output is rated at 212 horsepower (158 kW) and 177 pound-feet of torque for the front motor, plus 294 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque in back, bringing peak output to a combined 450 horsepower (340 kW) and 471 pound-feet of torque. Electrons are sourced from an 82-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with output routed through a single-speed fixed-gear transmission and 9:1 gearbox ratio.
Although the Model 3 is the smallest new vehicle that Tesla currently offers, it's also quite heavy, tipping the scales at 4,072 pounds. That said, the EV's prodigious all-electric muscle melts the heft the instant you touch the throttle, catapulting the compact sedan to 60 mph in around 3.1 seconds. The quarter mile is completed in 11.5 seconds at 117 mph, with top speed set at 162 mph. All figures which we plan to test, of course.
As it stands, EV enthusiasts eager to coax a little extra speed from the Tesla Model 3 Performance don't have many options for powertrain tuning. The suspension and handling, however, are ripe for upgrades. Enter Mike Heintz, owner of the soon-to-be modified Tesla Model 3 Performance you see here.
Heintz acquired his new Tesla after owning a string of internal-combustion-powered enthusiast machines, including a track-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, a 2011 Ford Mustang GT, and a fully built fifth-gen Ford Mustang Boss 302. Heintz was initially poised to continue the ICE party with a new V8-powered Lexus IS 500 F Sport, but decided to dive headfirst into the EV world instead.
"The V8s are dying out, EVs are taking over, pretty much," Heintz tells Tuner Fan.
Now, Heintz is ready to go big with his new electrically powered sports sedan, with plans to upgrade the suspension and handling for track use at the usual California hotspots (Buttonwillow, Auto Club Speedway, Chuckwalla, Willow Springs, etc.), all while keeping the daily drivability intact.
Right from the factory, the Tesla Model 3 Performance is equipped with upgraded brakes, but Heintz says he's gonna need a lot more than that to put down the sort of lap times he's looking for. Suspension mods will be sourced from Mountain Pass Performance, which offers a full catalogue of goodies for the Model 3, while the stock 20-inch diameter wheels will be swapped for wider, shorter 18's to fit a meatier 305-section tire.
In addition to hunting apexes, this Tesla Model 3 Performance will also serve as a rolling showcase for 405 Motoring, a custom automotive aesthetics company located in Los Angeles. For those enthusiasts that want to keep their ride looking its best, 405 Motoring offers a wealth of services, including paint protective film, window tint, ceramic coating, detailing, and paint correction. Heintz's Model 3 is already showing off some slick aesthetic changes, including dark window tint, yellow PPF for the headlights, and a full Xpel Stealth wrap that gives the factory Midnight Silver Metallic paint a tasty matte finish.
We'll be following this Tesla Model 3 Performance build as it develops, including all the track mods and suspension upgrades, so stay tuned for more EV content coming down the wires soon.
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