Connect with us

News

Watch Tesla’s Model 3 spank the BMW M3 in head-to-head track test (VIDEO)

(Credit: Top Gear/YouTube)

Published

on

Popular auto magazine Top Gear recently published its most daring cover in years, declaring in boldface lettering that “Electric Beats Petrol.” Two high-performance sedans dominated the cover: the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the BMW M3, both of which represent the best that their class of vehicles has to offer. The publication has now released footage of the two cars’ tests, showing, in their full electric vs. petrol glory, just how much the Model 3 practically spanked the BMW M3.

The recently uploaded video covered the four tests that the Model 3 Performance and the M3 were subjected to. Both vehicles were driven by veteran auto journalist Jack Rix (who admits that he is not a professional racing driver, thereby representing the majority of people who own the two high-performance sedans), who took the Model 3 and the M3 around the Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA. It should be noted that the BMW M3 that Top Gear utilized for its tests was not equipped with the Competition package, to make the prices of the two cars line up better.

The two vehicles being subjected to a classic quarter-mile drag race, a 0-100-0 mph brake test, a time attack challenge around the Thunderhill track, and a drifting test. The drag race between the Model 3 and the M3 was not even a competition, with the all-electric sedan leaving the internal combustion-powered BMW in the dust. The Model 3 Performance finished the drag race in 11.9 seconds at 112.6 mph, significantly faster than the BMW M3’s 119.1 mph and 12.6-second time. The 0-100-0 mph braking test ended in a similar fashion, with the Tesla Model 3 drawing blood once more with 13.1 seconds compared to the BMW M3’s 13.8 seconds.

The main event of the magazine’s test was a hot lap around Thunderhill. The Top Gear journalist utilized Track Mode for the Model 3, allowing him to maneuver the rather heavy vehicle around the race course’s corners. The Model 3 Performance ultimately completed a lap around the track in 1:34.07. The BMW M3 roared through the closed circuit, and though the vehicle weighed considerably less than the Model 3, the German high-performance sedan completed the lap in 1:35.96.

The BMW did shine against the Model 3 in Top Gear‘s drifting test, as the M3 was dubbed by the veteran journalist as the more fun car to throw around the track’s corners. Despite this win, the test still ended with the Tesla Model 3 getting three wins out of four against the BMW M3. In conclusion, the journalist notes that between the two vehicles, the Model 3 is superior in many fronts, though he would still take the BMW M3 around a track due to its nimble characteristics. Nevertheless, the Model 3’s capability to tear up a closed circuit and remain refined enough on the road is something that is remarkable.

Advertisement

While the conclusions of Top Gear‘s head-to-head test between the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the BMW M3 are bound to be polarizing, the all-electric sedan’s wins against the internal combustion champion stand as a pivotal moment for auto enthusiasts. Gone are the days when electric cars are slow and unattractive, and gone are the days when even premium EVs can’t even make it around a track without throttling their power. Tesla has leveled the playing field with the Model 3 Performance, and as these tests show, the plain superiority of electric propulsion is now starting to become quite evident.

Watch the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the BMW M3 battle it out in four tests in the video below.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Model 3 gets perfect 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Singapore/X

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today. Based on recent findings from the Euro NCAP, the 2025 Model 3 sedan continues this tradition, with the vehicle earning a 5-star overall safety rating from the agency.

Standout Safety Features

As could be seen on the Euro NCAP’s official website, the 2025 Model 3 achieved an overall score of 90% for Adult Occupants, 93% for Child Occupants, 89% for Vulnerable Road Users, and 87% for Safety Assist. This rating, as per the Euro NCAP, applies to the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range All Wheel Drive, and Performance All Wheel Drive.

The Euro NCAP highlighted a number of the Model 3’s safety features, such as its Active Hood, which automatically lifts during collisions to mitigate injury risks to vulnerable road users, and Automatic Emergency Braking System, which now detects motorcycles through an upgraded algorithm. The Euro NCAP also mentioned the Model 3’s feature that prevents initial door opening if someone is approaching the vehicle’s blind spot.

Standout Safety Features

In a post on its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account, Tesla noted that the company is also introducing new features that make the Model 3 even safer than it is today. These include functions like head-on collision avoidance and crossing traffic AEB, as well as Child Left Alone Detection, among other safety features.

“We also introduced new features to improve Safety Assist functionality even further – like head-on collision avoidance & crossing traffic AEB – to detect & respond to potential hazards faster, helping avoid accidents in the first place. 

Advertisement

“Lastly, we released Child Left Alone Detection – if an unattended child is detected, the vehicle will turn on HVAC & alert caregivers via phone app & the vehicle itself (flashing lights/audible alert). Because we’re using novel in-cabin radar sensing, your Tesla is able to distinguish between adult vs child – reduced annoyance to adults, yet critical safety feature for kids,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

Below is the Euro NCAP’s safety report on the 2025 Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Euroncap 2025 Tesla Model 3 Datasheet by Simon Alvarez on Scribd

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

USDOT Secretary visits Tesla Giga Texas, hints at national autonomous vehicle standards

The Transportation Secretary also toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk.

Published

on

Credit: Elon Musk/X

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy recently visited Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas complex, where he toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk. In a video posted following his Giga Texas visit, Duffy noted that he believes there should be a national standard for autonomous vehicles in the United States.

Duffy’s Giga Texas Visit

As could be seen in videos of his Giga Texas visit, the Transportation Secretary seemed to appreciate the work Tesla has been doing to put the United States in the forefront of innovation. “Tesla is one of the many companies helping our country reach new heights. USDOT will be right there all the way to make sure Americans stay safe,” Duffy wrote in a post on X. 

He also praised Tesla for its autonomous vehicle program, highlighting that “We need American companies to keep innovating so we can outcompete the rest of the world.”

National Standard

While speaking with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Transportation Secretary stated that other autonomous ride-hailing companies have been lobbying for a national standard for self-driving cars. Musk shared the sentiment, stating that “It’d be wonderful for the United States to have a national set of rules for autonomous driving as opposed to 50 independent sets of rules on a state-by-state rules basis.”

Duffy agreed with the CEO’s point, stating that, “You can’t have 50 different rules for 50 different states. You need one standard.” He also noted that the Transportation Department has asked autonomous vehicle companies to submit data. By doing so, the USDOT could develop a standard for the entire United States, allowing self-driving cars to operate in a manner that is natural and safe.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Tesla posts Optimus’ most impressive video demonstration yet

The humanoid robot was able to complete all the tasks through a single neural network.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Optimus/X

When Elon Musk spoke with CNBC’s David Faber in an interview at Giga Texas, he reiterated the idea that Optimus will be one of Tesla’s biggest products. Seemingly to highlight the CEO’s point, the official Tesla Optimus account on social media platform X shared what could very well be the most impressive demonstration of the humanoid robot’s capabilities to date.

Optimus’ Newest Demonstration

In its recent video demonstration, the Tesla Optimus team featured the humanoid robot performing a variety of tasks. These include household chores such as throwing the trash, using a broom and a vacuum cleaner, tearing a paper towel, stirring a pot of food, opening a cabinet, and closing a curtain, among others. The video also featured Optimus picking up a Model X fore link and placing it on a dolly.

What was most notable in the Tesla Optimus team’s demonstration was the fact that the humanoid robot was able to complete all the tasks through a single neural network. The robot’s actions were also learned directly from Optimus being fed data from first-person videos of humans performing similar tasks. This system should pave the way for Optimus to learn and refine new skills quickly and reliably.

Tesla VP for Optimus Shares Insight

In a follow-up post on X, Tesla Vice President of Optimus (Tesla Bot) Milan Kovac stated that one of the team’s goals is to have Optimus learn straight from internet videos of humans performing tasks, including footage captured in third person or by random cameras.

“We recently had a significant breakthrough along that journey, and can now transfer a big chunk of the learning directly from human videos to the bots (1st person views for now). This allows us to bootstrap new tasks much faster compared to teleoperated bot data alone (heavier operationally).

Advertisement

“Many new skills are emerging through this process, are called for via natural language (voice/text), and are run by a single neural network on the bot (multi-tasking). Next: expand to 3rd person video transfer (aka random internet), and push reliability via self-play (RL) in the real-, and/or synthetic- (sim / world models) world,” Kovac wrote in his post on X.

Continue Reading

Trending