News
Tesla Model 3 Performance nails consistent 3.3 second 0-60 mph runs in back-to-back tests
Tesla lists its Dual Motor Model 3 Performance with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, but as acceleration tests of the car seem to suggest, the vehicle is actually faster than Tesla’s estimates. This was demonstrated recently by Tesla owner-enthusiast Erik Strait, better known as the host of YouTube’s DÆrik channel, as he performed back-to-back acceleration tests of the Model 3 Performance using a VBOX data logger.
The first VBOX stats of the Model 3 Performance’s 0-60 mph time was posted recently, but no video of the actual run was taken as per request of the car’s owner. A brief 0-60 run recorded with Dragy was posted a few days ago, but the vehicle in that video was equipped with Aero Wheels, which are optimized for range, not performance. Erik’s test was quite a bit different since the Model 3 Performance he drove was equipped with 20″ Performance Wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, which are part of Tesla’s $5,000 Performance Package.
Consistent with VBOX data shared by fellow Tesla owner-enthusiast Eli of My Tesla Adventure, DÆrik‘s acceleration test featured a consistent 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds. That’s 0.2 seconds faster than Tesla’s official performance listings for the vehicle.
A 3.3-second 0-60 mph time for the Model 3 Performance was actually teased by Elon Musk on Twitter, with the CEO stating that the electric car could have better acceleration if it gets fitted with stickier and thicker tires at the rear. Musk noted that thicker rear tires for the Model 3 Performance would make it possible to lower the vehicle’s 0-60 mph time to just 3.3 seconds. Erik’s recently uploaded video on YouTube is proof that 3.3 seconds is possible even when the vehicle is unmodified.
The Model 3 Performance has so far been getting rave reviews from veteran auto journalists. Dan Neil from the Wall Street Journal described the car as a “magnificent” piece of auto engineering that is “representative of the next step in the history of autos.” Kim Reynolds of MotorTrend, whose test drive of the vehicle was highlighted by a brief sprint on a freeway on-ramp, stated that “in maybe 120 wheel revolutions, a high-performance hierarchy has been rattled.” The auto veteran also stated that the “European marques perennially atop the sport sedan podium are about to have trapdoors release beneath them” with the arrival of the Model 3.
The Performance Model 3 might look practically identical to the car’s lower-specced variants, but the vehicle does have several tricks up its sleeve. Among these is a unique “Track Mode” beta feature exclusive to the Model 3 Performance (at least for now). In a statement to Road and Track, Michael Neumeyer, Manager of Chassis Controls for Tesla, stated that the Model 3 Performance’s Track Mode differs slightly from comparable features in other vehicles, which usually involve the disabling of traction control systems.
“Our Track Mode doesn’t disable features, it adds them,” Neumeyer said.
Tesla’s Track Mode is a mixture of tweaks and in-house programming that makes adjustments to the vehicle’s settings, including its dynamic control and regenerative braking. With the beta feature turned on, the Model 3 Performance becomes a car capable of maneuvers that are invaluable on the track, such as drifting and sharp changes in direction. The Model 3 Performance’s motors and battery use cooling circuits that are independent but linked as well. This means that as one component heats up, the car’s system shifts cooling capacity where it’s needed. With this approach, the Model 3 Performance becomes immune to the total performance shutdowns that happen in vehicles like the Model S P100D when temperatures spike.
Watch DÆrik‘s VBOX-recorded Model 3 Performance 0-60 mph run in the video below.
https://youtu.be/8P8DZKFUw3k
News
Dutch regulator RDW confirms Tesla FSD February 2026 target
The regulator emphasized that safety, not public pressure, will decide whether FSD receives authorization for use in Europe.
The Dutch vehicle authority RDW responded to Tesla’s recent updates about its efforts to bring Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Europe, confirming that February 2026 remains the target month for Tesla to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
While acknowledging the tentative schedule with Tesla, the regulator emphasized that safety, not public pressure, will decide whether FSD receives authorization for use in Europe.
RDW confirms 2026 target, warns Feb 2026 timeline is not guaranteed
In its response, which was posted on its official website, the RDW clarified that it does not disclose details about ongoing manufacturer applications due to competitive sensitivity. However, the agency confirmed that both parties have agreed on a February 2026 window during which Tesla is expected to show that FSD (Supervised) can meet required safety and compliance standards. Whether Tesla can satisfy those conditions within the timeline “remains to be seen,” RDW added.
RDW also directly addressed Tesla’s social media request encouraging drivers to contact the regulator to express support. While thanking those who already reached out, RDW asked the public to stop contacting them, noting these messages burden customer-service resources and have no influence on the approval process.
“In the message on X, Tesla calls on Tesla drivers to thank the RDW and to express their enthusiasm about this planning to us by contacting us. We thank everyone who has already done so, and would like to ask everyone not to contact us about this. It takes up unnecessary time for our customer service. Moreover, this will have no influence on whether or not the planning is met,” the RDW wrote.
The RDW shares insights on EU approval requirements
The RDW further outlined how new technology enters the European market when no existing legislation directly covers it. Under EU Regulation 2018/858, a manufacturer may seek an exemption for unregulated features such as advanced driver assistance systems. The process requires a Member State, in this case the Netherlands, to submit a formal request to the European Commission on the manufacturer’s behalf.
Approval then moves to a committee vote. A majority in favor would grant EU-wide authorization, allowing the technology across all Member States. If the vote fails, the exemption is valid only within the Netherlands, and individual countries must decide whether to accept it independently.
Before any exemption request can be filed, Tesla must complete a comprehensive type-approval process with the RDW, including controlled on-road testing. Provided that FSD Supervised passes these regulatory evaluations, the exemption could be submitted for broader EU consideration.
News
Tesla says Europe could finally get FSD in 2026, and Dutch regulator RDW is key
As per Tesla, a Dutch regulatory exemption targeted for February 2026 could very well be the key gateway for a Europe-wide rollout of FSD.
Tesla has shared its most detailed timeline yet for bringing Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to Europe. The electric vehicle maker posted its update through the official X account of Tesla Europe & Middle East.
As per Tesla, a Dutch regulatory exemption targeted for February 2026 could very well be the key gateway for a Europe-wide rollout of FSD.
Tesla pushes for EU approval
Tesla stated that it has spent more than 12 months working directly with European authorities and delivering FSD demonstrations to regulators in several EU member state. Tesla highlighted a number of its efforts for FSD’s release in Europe, such as safety documentation for FSD, which is now included in its latest public Safety Report, and over 1 million kilometers of internal testing conducted on EU roads across 17 countries.
To unlock approval, Tesla is relying on the Netherlands’ approval authority RDW. The process requires proving compliance with UN-R-171 for driver-assist systems while also filing Article 39 exemptions for behaviors that remain unregulated in Europe, such as hands-off system-initiated lane changes and Level 2 operation on roads that are not fully covered by current rules. Tesla argued that these functions cannot be retrofitted or adjusted into existing frameworks without compromising safety and performance.
“Some of these regulations are outdated and rules-based, which makes FSD illegal in its current form. Changing FSD to be compliant with these rules would make it unsafe and unusable in many cases. While we have changed FSD to be maximally compliant where it is logical and reasonable, we won’t sacrifice the safety of a proven system or materially deteriorate customer usability,” Tesla wrote in its post.
Tesla targets February 2026 approval
According to Tesla, real-world safety data alone has not been considered sufficient by EU regulators, prompting the company to gather evidence to get exemptions on a specific rule-by-rule basis. RDW has reportedly committed to issuing a Netherlands National approval in February 2026, which could pave the way for other EU countries to recognize the exemption and possibly authorize local deployment of FSD.
“Currently, RDW has committed to granting Netherlands National approval in February 2026. Please contact them via link below to express your excitement & thank them for making this happen as soon as possible. Upon NL National approval, other EU countries can immediately recognize the exemption and also allow rollout within their country. Then we will bring it to a TCMV vote for official EU-wide approval. We’re excited to bring FSD to our owners in Europe soon!” Tesla wrote in its post.
Tesla stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) has landed an elusive “must own” status from Wall Street firm Melius, according to a new note released early this week.
Analyst Rob Wertheimer said Tesla will lead the charge in world-changing tech, given the company’s focus on self-driving, autonomy, and Robotaxi. In a note to investors, Wertheimer said “the world is about to change, dramatically,” because of the advent of self-driving cars.
He looks at the industry and sees many potential players, but the firm says there will only be one true winner:
“Our point is not that Tesla is at risk, it’s that everybody else is.”
The major argument is that autonomy is nearing a tipping point where years of chipping away at the software and data needed to develop a sound, safe, and effective form of autonomous driving technology turn into an avalanche of progress.
Wertheimer believes autonomy is a $7 trillion sector,” and in the coming years, investors will see “hundreds of billions in value shift to Tesla.”
A lot of the major growth has to do with the all-too-common “butts in seats” strategy, as Wertheimer believes that only a fraction of people in the United States have ridden in a self-driving car. In Tesla’s regard, only “tens of thousands” have tried Tesla’s latest Full Self-Driving (Supervised) version, which is v14.
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2 – Full Review, the Good and the Bad
When it reaches a widespread rollout and more people are able to experience Tesla Full Self-Driving v14, he believes “it will shock most people.”
Citing things like Tesla’s massive data pool from its vehicles, as well as its shift to end-to-end neural nets in 2021 and 2022, as well as the upcoming AI5 chip, which will be put into a handful of vehicles next year, but will reach a wider rollout in 2027, Melius believes many investors are not aware of the pace of advancement in self-driving.
Tesla’s lead in its self-driving efforts is expanding, Wertheimer says. The company is making strategic choices on everything from hardware to software, manufacturing, and overall vehicle design. He says Tesla has left legacy automakers struggling to keep pace as they still rely on outdated architectures and fragmented supplier systems.
Tesla shares are up over 6 percent at 10:40 a.m. on the East Coast, trading at around $416.
Dutch regulator RDW confirms Tesla FSD February 2026 target
Tesla says Europe could finally get FSD in 2026, and Dutch regulator RDW is key
