Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚘 A recent sighting of the Tesla Model 3 Project Highland edition hints at upgrades for the sedan’s front bumper.
- 📸 The Highland edition’s front bumper appears longer than the current version, with a camera at the tip, possibly indicating the use of Tesla Vision and Hardware 4.0.
- 📅 The Model 3 Highland unit was spotted in winter testing in New Zealand, and Tesla is expected to start production soon.
The Tesla Model 3 Project Highland edition has been recently spotted, hinting at potential upgrades to the sedan’s front bumper.
Tech content creator Colin W. from the Bay Area had the opportunity to see the enhanced Model 3 sedan as it drove through Palo Alto, California. Excited about the sighting, Colin shared pictures of the Tesla Model 3 on his X account @Y2KColin, encouraging his followers to identify any noticeable changes.
The tech content creator managed to collect several pictures of the Tesla Model 3 Project Highland edition, but most of them showed the car with both the front and back bumpers concealed. These photos suggest that Tesla has made changes or upgrades to these areas while maintaining most of the sedan’s overall body design.
The attention was mainly drawn to the Model 3’s front bumper, which appears slightly longer or extended compared to the version currently available in the market. Additionally, there is a camera at the tip of the Model 3’s nose, reminiscent of the Cybertruck’s design. This indicates that the Model 3 Highland is likely fully equipped with Tesla Vision and no longer features ultrasonic sensors. It is expected that the new Model 3 will be equipped with Tesla’s Hardware 4.0.
The Model 3 Project Highland unit was previously seen during winter testing in New Zealand. The electric sedan joined Tesla’s S3XY lineup at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground (SHPG) in New Zealand. At that time, the vehicle was covered in black, making any changes in its design difficult to discern.
Production for the Project Highland units is expected to begin soon. During Tesla’s Q2 2023 earnings call, company executives mentioned that production in the third quarter might be slightly impacted due to factory upgrades being undertaken during the summer shutdowns. Despite this, Tesla is targeting 1.8 million vehicle deliveries for the year.
