Tesla Reminds You the Model 3 Won't Be as Good as the Model S

Unsatisfied with revolutionizing the world of mobility, Tesla is introducing yet another brilliant idea that’s straight out of the pages of science fiction. For its latest trick, Tesla is introducing something called a “model lineup.” Allow us to explain.

Tesla took time out of its busy revolutionizing schedule to write a blog post about the differences between the Model 3 and the Model S.

The explanation has been made necessary because people were apparently under the impression that the Tesla Model 3 would be the “next-generation” of Tesla, packed with the latest and craziest technology the company has to offer.

To help clear things up, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to manage expectations about the Model 3.

Am noticing that many people think Model 3 is the “next version” of a Tesla, like iPhone 2 vs 3. This is not true.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2017

The gist of the Tesla Team post is that the Model 3 will not be replacing the bigger Model S. Nor, they say, will it be better than the Model S, something that seems obvious considering the Model 3 will cost around $35,000 and the Model S costs upwards of $60,000. The Model 3 is designed to be an entry-level model, like a competitor to the BMW 3 Series, while the Model S will occupy the upper end like the 5 Series. This means both of them will be sold at the same time.

And Tesla has tried to clarify which one is right for you. The Tesla Team explains it thusly: if you have a lot of money to spend and still want to luxuriate in all the best the future has to offer, then the Model S is for you. If, however, you don’t have a lot of money to spend but you still want a taste of the future, then the Model 3 is the car for you.

Thank goodness for the futurists at the Tesla labs who took time out of their busy day to explain to us simpletons how an auto manufacturer model lineup works. What will they think of next?