This story includes independent illustrations that are not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla.
Tesla’s been trying to keep the refreshed Model 3 under wraps as best they could, but last week, a leaked image of the car that’s codenamed ‘Project Highland’ surfaced online, and people have had a lot to say about it.
Some felt that it lacked identity, while others felt it perfectly modernized the compact sedan to fit in with the rest of the model range. However, the photo that was widely circulated online was little more than just the front bumper, so digital artist Sugar Chow took it upon himself to render the facelift overlayed atop the full car.
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All in all, we think it looks really good. The slimmer headlights with their new DRL signature do a good job of helping it fit in with the refreshed Model S and Model X, while also making the car appear sharper and more modern. And seeing as the Model 3 hasn’t gotten a major facelift since its debut 6 years ago (some cars have entire life cycles that long), modernity is always welcome.
Additionally, the headlights’ position lower on the front end helps reduce some of the front end’s visual height, leading to a sleeker, sportier look overall. This effect is only aided by the bumper’s long horizontal character lines and lower intake, which help to emphasize the vehicle’s width.
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One thing Sugar Chow didn’t render in is something on the inside of the car — the dashboard. Eagle-eyed viewers were able to spot a slight hump in front of the steering wheel in the original leaked image, suggesting that the Model 3 could finally be getting a proper gauge cluster, or at least something similar.
What Tesla has in store for the rear of the car is still unknown, but hopefully we find out soon. Reports indicate that the new Model 3 will enter production this September with a similarly refreshed Model Y following the year after, so it doesn’t seem like we’ll have to wait long.
