Christian von Koenigsegg called his Tesla Model 3 his daily driver. It’s quite a surprise that the founder and CEO of Koenigsegg Automotive AB named the Tesla Model 3 as his everyday vehicle. Koenigsegg’s comment is a true testament to Tesla’s well-designed affordable sedan.
“It’s the best contemporary ‘normal’ daily driver around,” said Christian von Koenigsegg during an interview with Road and Track about the nine-speed- seven-clutch gearbox of his company’s first in-house vehicle, the Koenigsegg Jesko.
His company, Koenigsegg Automotive AB, is known for its beautifully well-designed and incredibly powerful vehicles. Christian von Koenigsegg’s company, for example, released hypercars such as the One:1, a car that is so extreme that it is yet to be fully matched by other supercar makers. As such, his company is no stranger to pushing boundaries and innovation.
So it is understandable that Christian von Koenigsegg recognized and appreciated the quality and advanced tech Tesla put into the Model 3—based on his comment about the EV. YouTube channel Engineering Explained talked a bit about why all-electric vehicles—the Model 3 in particular—have become popular daily drivers, as Christian von Koenigsegg claimed it to be.
Christian von Koenigsegg: The Model 3 is "the best contemporary 'normal' daily driver around." (source in comments section) from r/teslamotors
Engineering Explained asked his audience to imagine a world where all-electric vehicles dominated the streets, and combustion engine cars were emerging. Then, he enumerated ten features or details people would probably not like about ICE vehicles in an EV-dominated world. A few are quite notable and have been brought up in the EV vs. ICE argument.
Three interesting features and details Engineering Explained talked about in his video were torque, increased maintenance, and gas stations. Each point supports Christian von Koenigsegg’s argument that the Tesla Model 3 is the best daily driver around.
In terms of torque, it is well-known that electric vehicles have instant torque. Engineering Explained compared the 0-60 speeds and price of the Model 3 Performance and Audi R8 V10 Performance to drive the point that Tesla’s vehicle would make more sense for consumers looking for daily drivers.
The Model 3 Performance costs US$56,990, and could do 0-60 mph in 3.2s. The Audi R8 V10 Performance can do 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds as well but costs US$195,900. With that in mind, Tesla’s affordable sedan could be considered the better buy for a person who wanted a typical everyday car but still wanted power as well.
The maintenance costs for a Tesla Model 3 is also cheaper, just like with any other electric vehicle. First, EVs don’t need regular fluid changes like ICE vehicles. All-electric cars usually have regenerative braking, so brake pads need to be changed less as well.
Most of the time, Tesla owners don’t need to visit the company’s Service Centers as much as an owner who drives a fossil-fuel-run vehicle. This is because Tesla owners have access to over-the-air software updates, can run remote diagnostics from the Tesla app, and have personnel come to them through the EV automaker’s Mobile Service technicians.
The most valid argument for the Tesla Model 3 that Engineering Explained makes, though are the inconvenience of gas stations. Range anxiety is a real concern for EVs, especially with Tesla’s competitors. Teslas usually have a good range, and the Model 3 is no exception, especially when it comes to short daily drives.
Engineering Explained argued that a Tesla Model 3 owner could be leaving the house with a full “tank” every day because the EV can be charged overnight at home. For short distances and daily driving, the YouTuber mentioned that he didn’t usually have to recharge the vehicle at a Supercharger station throughout the day because the car could handle driving around short distances.
Torque, maintenance, and range are some valid features that people interested in purchasing an electric vehicle look for before buying one. The Model 3 seem to have those features well in hand, which may be why Christian von Koenigsegg said Tesla’s all-electric sedan was the best daily driver.
Featured Image Credit: Autospotting Crew/Flickr
About the Author
Claribelle Deveza
Longtime writer and news/book editor. Writing about Tesla allows me to contribute something good to the world, while doing something I love.
