The Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive Replaces the 'Standard Range Plus' as the New Base Version

author: Manish Kharinta   

Many new EVs made their debut at last week's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. However, outside of the spotlight of SEMA 2021, segment leader Tesla managed to stir up plenty of excitement on its own, including reaching a $1 trillion market cap after reports that the company is selling 100,000 Model 3s to rental car company Hertz. 

Now Tesla has updated the lineup of its mass market Model 3 sedan by eliminating the Standard Range Plus variant. According to Tesla's website, the Standard Range Plus Model 3 is no longer available and has been removed from the site.

In its place is the entry-level Model 3 has now been replaced by a new "Rear-Wheel Drive" option offering 267 miles of range. The new base variant of Tesla Model 3 offers five additional miles of range over the Standard Range Plus Model 3. 

Interestingly enough, a recent Reddit post claimed that for a brief period the maximum range of the new Model 3 RWD was listed as 272 miles on Tesla's website until the site was updated to reflect the correct range estimates. So far, Chief Executive Elon Musk has refrained from commenting on Model 3's new Rear Wheel Drive variant.

As per the screenshot posted on Reddit below, September was listed as the estimated delivery date of the new Model 3 variant. However, Tesla's official website now lists the estimated delivery date of June for the Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3.

A screenshot from Reddit showing the new Model 3 version. The price and EPA range have since been updated.

Among the changes, the all-new RWD Model 3 takes 5.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 MPH. This is 0.5 seconds slower than its predecessor, the Standard Range Plus, which could make the same run in just 5.3 seconds. 

Tesla also recently announced that it will offer the more efficient, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in future Model 3 and Model Y offerings, which contain no cobalt or nickel. The LFP battery packs are also cheaper to manufacture and might be the reason for the slightly improved range of the new RWD Model 3.

Tesla's new Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive offering gets a top speed of 140 MPH and a starting price of $44,990. Tesla updated its vehicle pricing several times during the year. Last month, we reported that Tesla increased the prices of its entire lineup. 

Just like with every other Tesla offering, the new Model 3 RWD will come with its Autopilot automated highway feature as standard. Tesla's more advanced Full Self Driving (FSD) package costs an additional $10,000.

In addition to the new Model 3 RWD, last week Tesla started a trial program in the Netherlands where it will open a limited number of its superchargers to drivers of other brands of EVs. 

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.