Tesla Model 3 Orders Reach 276K

Tesla Model 3

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People are going bananas for the Model 3 as orders for Tesla Motors’ first mass market electric sedan reached 276,000 in the first 48 hours since its reveal, according to tweets from Elon Musk on Sunday.

Tesla started taking $1,000 order deposits on March 31, the day of the reveal and by Saturday night the figure had reached 276,000. That’s more than a quarter of a billion dollars worth of deposits. Mr. Musk estimated the average selling price of the 3 will be $42,000, meaning the company has already theoretically secured over $11 billion in sales, for those of you who are too lazy to open up your phone’s calculator. Big numbers.

And nobody had even taken one for a test drive that night yet.

Production of the Model 3 is slated to begin in 2017 with deliveries starting at the end of that year.

Musk specified details of Model 3 include its $35,000 base price, capability of supercharging, standard Autopilot, and range of at least 215 miles. It will seat five and come in both rear wheel drive and all wheel drive variants.

“You will not be able to buy a better car for $35,000,” Musk said. Good thing your 3 series is just a lease, right?

Tesla Model 3

Image courtesy of Tesla Motors

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Volvo Loses Two Cylinders but Finds 27 Horsepower

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Volvo shines bright as a star when it makes over-engined sedans and wagons. Remember when they entered the 850 Estate in the British Touring Car Championship? Yeah, that’s why we adore the updated S60 Polestar and V60 Polestar.

Both cars feature a new 367-bhp version of Volvo’s award winning 2.0-liter four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain. If you recall, that’s the turbocharged and supercharged engine, though these Polestars boast a new turbocharger. They are also characterized by four-wheel drive and an eight-speed transmission.

Polestar’s chief operating officer, Niels Möller, describes them as “properly quick.” That’s a good description, very elaborate and full of information. In 2014, Volvo released less than 100 S60 and V60 Polestars, but Volvo says it will produce 1,500 S60 and V60 Polestars annually, upping the limit of these short-run.

So when are you going to race the V60 Polestar, Volvo?

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