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PJFW8
Red Menace may hurt me
Looks way too small. The wheels may be 21's. The tire profile is very low in this and other photos.
Snowdog
Member
I had a suspicion, so I measured the visible diameter of my 17" alloy wheels. It was about 18".
So 20" allows would likely have at least 21" visible diameter.
More like 168" long, 113" WB (or more).
So 20" allows would likely have at least 21" visible diameter.
More like 168" long, 113" WB (or more).
I pretty much agree. Our BMW 540i and Mini Cooper have 17" wheels that both measure as about 18.5" across the visible portion. That gave me 167" long and 54" high for the Model 3.
PJFW8
Red Menace may hurt me
Great minds think alike! My 17's are actually just under 18.5 actual diameter. I was out measuring when you posted!
plug
Member
Car and Driver here:
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Official Photos and Info
said this: "It has the size and stance of another car called the 3(from Mazda)...."
The Mazda 3 is 180 in length, 106 wb, 71 in width.
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Official Photos and Info
said this: "It has the size and stance of another car called the 3(from Mazda)...."
The Mazda 3 is 180 in length, 106 wb, 71 in width.
Snowdog
Member
20" visible Diamater = ~160" length 108" WB (definitely wrong)
21" visible Diamater = ~168" length 113" WB (likely short)
21.5" visible Diamater = ~172" length 116" WB ( Likely close )
22" visible Diamater = ~176" length 119" WB ( Likely long)
Though this kind of thing is a bit error prone, I think it is going to have a relatively long wheelbase (114" minimum), on fairly compact car ( 180" maximum).
Also bumpers tend to get longer before full production is reached.
Well, the designer of the Model S, X, and Model 3 is Franz von Holzhausen. He came from Mazda, so the comparison is probably a fair one. As I looked into Franz, I see he designed the Mazda Kabura concept car.
Mazda Kabura Concept - First Drive & Road Test - Motor Trend
Here are some quotes from the above article I think are similar to what we have seen of the Model 3:
"Its profile is punctuated by short overhangs, bold wheel arches filled with 245/35 tires on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels"
"However, it’s the Kabura’s dramatic windshield that puts it quite literally over the top. Extending all the way back to the B-pillar, this soaring one-piece canopy was intended “to bring the outside in,” a job it performs with panoramic intensity."
"The Kabura’s recontoured cutaway dash eliminates the glovebox, buying enough free space in the process to position the front bucket roughly six inches ahead of where it would normally be. This unconventional approach generates sufficient rear legroom to make tandem seating for two modestly scaled adults a realistic possibility." This sounds a lot like what they did with the dash to move it forward and create more leg room for rear passengers.
This concept was from 2006 I believe.
Mazda Kabura Concept - First Drive & Road Test - Motor Trend
Here are some quotes from the above article I think are similar to what we have seen of the Model 3:
"Its profile is punctuated by short overhangs, bold wheel arches filled with 245/35 tires on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels"
"However, it’s the Kabura’s dramatic windshield that puts it quite literally over the top. Extending all the way back to the B-pillar, this soaring one-piece canopy was intended “to bring the outside in,” a job it performs with panoramic intensity."
"The Kabura’s recontoured cutaway dash eliminates the glovebox, buying enough free space in the process to position the front bucket roughly six inches ahead of where it would normally be. This unconventional approach generates sufficient rear legroom to make tandem seating for two modestly scaled adults a realistic possibility." This sounds a lot like what they did with the dash to move it forward and create more leg room for rear passengers.
I think you are probably correct. With a 172" length and a 116" wheelbase the car would have a wheelbase that's on par with a 5 series, but with a length that is smaller than a 3 series, which is pretty crazy when you think about it.
Maybe a common item to help scale would be the fender repeater lamps that seem to be shared across S, 3 & X
This GIF on Reddit compared the S and 3
Model 3 / S overlay comparison
This GIF on Reddit compared the S and 3
Model 3 / S overlay comparison
Red Sage
The Cybernetic Samurai
Yeah. I thought you guys were aware that the quoted diameter of an alloy wheel is to the beaded area where the seal is made, not to the outer visible portion. Hence, why I scaled based upon the diameter of the tire. Using +1/-1 tire sizing, the overall diameter of a tire is typically pretty close between similar cars even if they have a different size wheel.
I have long expected the Model ☰ to be larger than the BMW 3-Series in most dimensions: width, length, track, wheelbase, and possibly height. Yet it seems the wheelbase will only be about the same as a 3-Series, which I find surprising. I believe Tesla Motors has chosen to greatly reduce the length of the hood forward of the cabin to cut overall length, while simultaneously increasing interior volume.
I have long expected the Model ☰ to be larger than the BMW 3-Series in most dimensions: width, length, track, wheelbase, and possibly height. Yet it seems the wheelbase will only be about the same as a 3-Series, which I find surprising. I believe Tesla Motors has chosen to greatly reduce the length of the hood forward of the cabin to cut overall length, while simultaneously increasing interior volume.
160" seems pretty short- the Nissan Leaf is 175" and the tesla has a longer profile. I know you are factoring 20" wheels but what about the tire size? You'll need to add 4" or so to account for the tire possibly. I have garage issues that limit the length of the car I can park- so 190" is my soft limit on length- hopes it's not much longer.
There is NO WAY that BMW is scaled correctly in that picture. BMW 3 series looks like a big SUV compare to Model 3, which is obviously not true. The height of the front hook, and the highest point of the car should be about the same as Model 3.
Brad_SC
Member
Model S:
Wheelbase: 116.5
Length: 196
Width: 86.2
Mirrors folded: 77.3
Track Front: 65.4
Track Rear: 66.9
Model 3:
?
Wheelbase: 116.5
Length: 196
Width: 86.2
Mirrors folded: 77.3
Track Front: 65.4
Track Rear: 66.9
Model 3:
?
stopcrazypp
Well-Known Member
I agree. I think the biggest problem is that picture of the Model 3 is obviously not a direct side profile so there is a lot of perspective warp happening.
Snowdog
Member
Just for fun I scaled the the same Wheelbase as the Model S. Interesting that the back doors line up quite well, front door is a fair bit bigger on the Model 3. Doing this I get ~183" length to go with the 116.5" WB.
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