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AFTER what has seemed like an eternity, this week we’re finally able to deliver a first UK verdict on the eagerly anticipated Tesla Model 3. You can read editor-in-chief Steve Fowler’s review overleaf, but suffice it to say that all of the promise that persuaded tens of thousands to add their name to the waiting list for the ‘baby Tesla’ (above) is just as relevant on British roads as it is in the United States. That’s quite an achievement. And yet, this week it also emerged that Tesla is seeking fresh funding as it tries to maintain momentum, having posted a loss during the first quarter of 2019 of $702million (£540m), and seen a reduction in car deliveries of almost a third compared with the final three months of 2018.…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ● New Model 3 on sale now, costing from £39,800 to £56,900 ● Three versions available, all with a range of at least 258 miles IT’S fair to say we’ve got a bit of history with the Tesla Model 3. Five years ago, Elon Musk exclusively revealed to Auto Express the name of his company’s new, small model, so we were first to tell the world of the Model 3’s imminent arrival. Now, after longer than we’d all hoped, we’ve driven it in the UK for the first time, ahead of the cars reaching their eager buyers in a couple of months. Our drive coincides with the UK Model 3 configurator going live on Tesla’s website, along with the announcement of prices. The three-strong line-up starts at £39,800…

WHILE ‘filling’ a Tesla will take considerably longer than pumping diesel into a similar-size BMW 3 Series (for now), you should be able to get 80 per cent of charge into your Model 3 in around 30 minutes at one of the company’s Superchargers. That should give you around 280 miles of range – at a cost of about £14. Assuming your 330d manages an average of 50mpg, travelling the same distance will cost over £40 at current prices. Extrapolate that over 10,000 miles and the Tesla will save you £928 – possibly double that if you can charge at home using off-peak rates. Of course, a BMW 330d M Sport costs over £7,000 less to buy than a Long Range Model 3, but it’s not as quick as the Tesla.…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● First cars under PSA ownership ● Many to feature electric drive THE next 18 months are shaping up to be big for Vauxhall. The brand and its European sister marque, Opel, have just untapped what will become a steady stream of new cars and vans that is due to arrive over the next year and a half, with electrified models expected to play an important part in the big product push. Here’s how PSA, Vauxhall’s new parent company, will make its mark on the brand. New Astra Due late 2019 FACELIFTS aren’t always interesting, but the revisions to the Astra, previewed by our exclusive image (right), will be fascinating because the car still sits on underpinnings from Vauxhall’s previous owner, GM. It’ll be the brand’s last car…

● Skoda reveals official sketch of new family car ● Set to borrow PHEV tech from VW Passat GTE Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson THIS is our first official look at the revised Skoda Superb, which is due to be officially revealed in the coming weeks. As part of its mid-life facelift, the car will undergo a minor cosmetic overhaul, as well as a big technical update, borrowing technology from Volkswagen’s latest Passat. Judging by Skoda’s official teaser sketch, updates to the Superb’s styling will include a pair of revised headlights, a redesigned radiator grille and a fresh front bumper with LED foglamps. Tweaked tail-lights and a new rear bumper are also likely to feature, along with an updated interior which includes the VW Group’s latest digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. However,…

MOTORWAY signs should be redesigned to more clearly display junction numbers because too many are obscured by bushes and large vehicles, says the UK’s independent transport watchdog. Transport Focus has recommended that Highways England – the Government-owned company responsible for the motorway network – moves junction numbers from the bottom left to the top left of signs. This comes after a survey of over 2,000 drivers found almost half had encountered motorway signs that had been obscured by overgrown vegetation, while 74 per cent said high-sided vehicles had stopped them reading a sign properly. Some 95 per cent claimed to have seen other motorists carrying out dangerous manoeuvres – such as swerving across lanes – to avoid missing an exit, while 17 per cent admitted to having made a potentially…