We are just a few weeks away from the unveiling of the Model 3 set for March 31st and we can hardly wait. In the meantime, we can only make educated guesses on what the car will look like, but renderings from amateur designers can also help us imagine it.
Earlier this year, we gathered some of our favorite renderings and sketches, and made our readers vote on which ones they think could look closer to the final design. Almost 3,000 readers voted and we included the 3 most popular designs of the last round-up below and added a few new designs to see if they can dethrone the last ones.
Tesla is developing a new platform and battery architecture for the Model 3 and plans to release the Model Y on the same platform. While the Model 3 is expected to be a small sedan, the Y is believed to be a crossover, perhaps with ‘Falcon Wing’ doors like the Model X.
As far as the design goes, it’s anyone’s best guess at this point. Tesla CEO Elon Musk first said that it will “not look like any other car”, but he also said that Tesla might be more conservative with the design.
Musk also said that the Model 3 will not have as many bells and whistles as the Model S, but CTO JB Straubel said that people will be surprised by the Model 3’s features. So again, it’s anyone’s best guess.
Let’s get started:
Theophilus Chin’s Model 3
This concept by designer Theophilus Chin is obviously heavily inspired by the Model S and X, which would be considered a safe bet if it wasn’t for Musk’s “it will not look like any other car” comment. With this said, it is a very aesthetically pleasing design.
McHoffa’s Model 3 take 2
McHoffa had a design featured in our first round-up but it didn’t make the top 3. He updated his design so we included it here for round 2. McHoffa on his design:
I created this one exactly proportional to the BMW 3 Gran Turismo, so if that has ample headroom, this mockup would as well.
Like Chin’s design, it is interfering with Musk’s ” it will not look like any other car” comment.
S3XY’s Model 3
TMC member S3XY shared his vision of the Model 3, which is clearly inspired by the Model X’s front-end, but the idea of suicide-doors for the Model 3 is intriguing. The design is build on a Mazda concept, which is a good starting point considering Tesla’s chief designer was a former design director at Mazda.
Theophilus Chin’s Model 3 hatchback
We don’t have any indication that neither the Model 3 or Model Y could be a hatchback, but Theophilus’ design took the third place with over 400 votes during the last round-up. With the new designs, I am pretty sure that it will not reach the top this time.
roow110’s Model 3
This Model S/X fusion to make a Model 3 by roow110 on TMC took the second place in the last round-up with over 700 votes. If Tesla was to stick with its design line, roow’s render would be a safe bet for the Model 3, but again I’m not so sure based on Musk’s comments.
JODRY’s Model 3
This rendering from illustrator/writer Julien Jodry (@JJODRY) based on a 2011 Ford concept was the most popular one during our first round-up with over 800 votes. I think a similar design with the Model X’s front end and suicide doors would make for an amazing looking Model 3. It’s now the second concept with suicide-doors in our round-up. Is that something people really want to see in the Model 3?
Let’s us know what you think in the comment section below and vote in the poll on which concept you think will resemble the final product to be unveiled later this month:
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Add “None of the above” to the poll. That’s my vote.
All the cars in the pictures seem to think there is a fossil motor in the front. There is none so i dont think that wasted space will be there.
Model s looks like that to please people to what they are used to. No need for it in model 3. Not that much anyway.
IMO there is an even bigger need for people to be pleased. The Model 3 will be available to a much much wider segment. And the “wasted space” in front comes in very handy in case of an accident (crumple zone).
Well see. There is no need of that massive space for crumble zone. Alot of cars on the road already to prove that.
I think model 3 will look more futuristic but not to overdo it. A compomise of the futuristic roundness and a car today.
My guess and soon we will see. No matter what, ill buy it.
Plenty more here: http://teslamondo.com/2015/09/05/what-model-iii-will-totally-look-like/
I love suicide doors and I’m really hoping for it. (I have a coupe that nonetheless has two suicide doors, best thing for storage without something with a hatch. Combine the two, plus the frunk, storage for DAYS.)
We’re hoping for JODRY’s Model 3. We could go for the S3XY, but won’t buy a car with suicide doors. Too impractical for loading and unloading two big dogs who go everywhere with us. Chin’s hatchback would be practical, but looks too much like a Mazda 3, and his sedan looks WAY too much like a Civic. We’re hoping for a fun-looking and practical car in the Model 3 to offset our Model S in the garage!
Am I the only one who can’t tell the difference between one Kammback and the next?
I didn’t vote for what I think it will look like, ?I voted on what I want it to look like.. I need as much cargo as possible, and it looks good.
In the first models I don’t like the sharp angle between the windshield and the hood.
A 80% smaller Model X would also be acceptable, but their’re supposed to have it look like no other car…
“A 80% smaller Model X would also be acceptable” – only if you’re hobbit-sized 😀
It is theophilus – minus the rear door handle location. So close!!
I hope it looks more like this photoshop concept / mashup I did fairly quickly: http://www.imageno.com/z0gtvs03sfq9pic.html