Tesla fans take note. In the next few months, a new electric car will be hitting the streets. No, not the much-hyped $25,000 Tesla hatchback, but actually the new Tesla Model 3. It's Tesla's newest entry-level model, the Tesla Model 3 RWD.

The new Model 3 is the successor to the Standard Range Plus Model 3, which was historically the cheapest Tesla you could buy. While there are no major differences between the two, the switch seems to involve more than an uncomplicated name. [To be honest, the Standard Range Plus was a bit of a mouthful, but Tesla needed a way to differentiate it from the Standard Range Model 3, which was discontinued last November and could only go 220 miles on a single charge.

But now that car is gone, replaced by the Model 3 RWD. This is because the car seems to have undergone some changes in performance compared to its predecessor.

The main one is a slight increase in range, from 262 miles for the Standard Range Plus to 272 miles for the RWD. This is not a very impressive upgrade, but it may be due to the EPA's testing regime. For example, the European WLTP-rated range shows a significant increase from 272 to 305 miles.

The long-range Model 3 and Model Y also have slightly increased range, but only by an additional 5 and 4 miles, respectively. The brand name, however, remains exactly the same.

It is also worth noting that the 0-60 time for the RWD models is 5.8 seconds, slightly slower than the 5.3 seconds for the Standard Range Plus. The top speed is the same as before, 140 mph.

Half a second is not a truly remarkable amount for most people, and both cars will be beaten by the Performance Model 3's 0-60 time of 3.1 seconds, but it is a curious downgrade. It's clear that changes have been made under the hood, and while the range has increased, the Model 3's acceleration has also been slightly sacrificed. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what the changes are unless Tesla actually tells us.

Still, an increase in range is always a good thing, and a 10-mile increase may be the difference between getting to your destination and having to stop for a charge. Furthermore, since the most recent price increase, the Model 3 RWD starts at $43,990, the same as the Standard Range Plus model.

The Tesla Model 3 RWD can be ordered now with a $100 refundable deposit. However, you will have to wait a while for delivery, with current estimates calling for delivery in June 2022. Can we wait seven months for delivery?