With the Tesla Model S and Model X exiting production earlier this month, one of the EV world’s most recognizable performance badges is also out the door: Plaid. That effectively leaves the Cybertruck Cyberbeast as Tesla’s new performance flagship thanks to its Plaid-like tri-motor setup and brutal straight-line pace, though few enthusiasts would argue that Tesla’s unloved stainless steel pickup is a true replacement for Tesla’s former performance flagships.
2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Red Front AngleTesla
That may not be the case for long. Recent comments from Tesla’s top engineer suggest the automaker could be exploring something even more extreme for the Tesla Model 3 lineup, potentially paving the way for the first-ever Model 3 Plaid.
Tri-Motor Temptation
Tesla Tri-Motor Plaid PowertrainTesla
During a recent appearance on the Ride the Lightning podcast, Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy, speaking around the 51:36 mark, offered a glimpse into the possibility of a Model 3 fitted with the same tri-motor setup used in the former Tesla Model S Plaid and Tesla Model X Plaid. The system combines a front motor with two rear units and is capable of delivering roughly 1,020 horsepower, enough for 0-60 mph acceleration of 2.1 seconds and a top speed of 163 mph.
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When asked directly about a potential Model 3 Plaid, Moravy said it’s something he thinks about regularly, pointing in particular to the carbon fiber sleeves used in the Plaid’s rear permanent-magnet motors – critical components that keep the rotors from flying apart at extreme rotational speeds. But he also cautioned that packaging such a drivetrain into the smaller Model 3 would be far from straightforward, calling it a “tight engineering squeeze.”
Roadster First, Everything Else Second
Tesla Roadster front 3/4 angle in red while drivingTesla
But there’s a bigger challenge than just the engineering issues. According to Moravy, all extra resources at Tesla are currently going into development of the long-overdue second-generation Roadster. Recall, the original concept was first shown in 2017 and promised for production around 2020. Tesla no longer provides a firm timeline for when the Roadster will arrive, though Moravy last year described it as potentially the “last best driver’s car” before fully self-driving vehicles take over.
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Incidentally, in his latest podcast interview, he said the Plaid’s tri-motor powertrain was originally developed for the Roadster, but Tesla ultimately adapted it to fit the Model S (and later the Model X as well, given the similarities between the two vehicles) following a 2019 challenge from CEO Elon Musk to beat Porsche’s Nürburgring lap time in the then-new Taycan Turbo S.
Model 3 Performance, For Now
2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Red RearTesla
For those looking for a quick Model 3 today, the answer is already in showrooms. The Model 3 Performance delivers serious pace, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds and a 163 mph top speed, figures that are more than sufficient for the vast majority of buyers.
However, with the next-generation Roadster expected to land at a price point closer to that of some exotic cars, a potential Model 3 Plaid would give Tesla a way to reach a broader base of performance buyers. It could also inject fresh energy into the lineup as the Model 3 approaches its 10-year anniversary next year, keeping the nameplate competitive in an increasingly crowded performance EV segment.
Sources: Ride the Lightning
