Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy discussed the technical possibility of a tri-motor Model 3 Plaid. While the engineering is feasible, the company is currently prioritizing high-performance hardware for the upcoming Roadster. Developing a Model 3 Plaid would require more than just adding a motor. It would necessitate significant upgrades to cooling and braking systems to handle the increased power and speed, similar to the challenges faced during the Model S Plaid development.
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The hardware is one thing, but the charging demand for a tri-motor setup in a smaller chassis is the real question. Does the current onboard charging architecture even support the rapid replenishment these batteries would need for actual track use?
It is a niche product. From a policy and emissions perspective, pushing the absolute limit of performance in a sedan does very little for mass adoption. The real win is the affordable compact SUV they are reportedly working on.
Moravy is right about the brakes. People forget that adding power is easy, but stopping a car at those speeds requires materials that are expensive to produce and maintain. The cost of those carbon ceramics would kill the margins on a Model 3.
