Tesla?s ?affordable? car, the Model 3, is due later this year and will pack some important developments, including a new battery format and a streamlined instrument panel that looks ahead to an autonomous-vehicle future. Yet Tesla CEO Elon Musk could be a bit concerned about making sure this model isn?t misunderstood as the Silicon Valley automaker’s best offering?one that Model S shoppers might choose instead.
In a series of tweets posted today, Musk underscored that the Model 3 is not intended to steal top billing from the flagship Tesla Model S as the brand?s most desirable passenger car. Only the Model S will have available seating for seven, auto-extending door handles, and a two-screen instrument panel, he pointed out. And the Model S also will have greater range and quicker acceleration.
Musk admitted a misstep in the naming convention for this vehicle (originally meant to be called the Model E), since some might see the Model 3 as a ?next version? of the Model S, Tesla?s second model. Instead, it?s a somewhat smaller offering that Musk likens to the BMW 3-series or the Audi A4, whereas the Model S continues to be closer to the BMW 5-series or 7-series.

The CEO elaborated on some important decisions made to simplify things at launch: The Model 3 will be exclusively rear-wheel drive for some time, said Musk, ?minimizing configuration complexity to keep the production ramp on schedule.? Dual-motor (all-wheel-drive) versions, Musk noted, also via Twitter, wi...