Half-Highland, Half Original Tesla Model 3 Prototype Spotted in Bay Area

Was driving down 280 South near Daly City when I spotted this odd looking Model 3. It appears to have the new redesigned rear end, with the original non-redesigned front end. Thought many of you would find this kinda cool. Edit: The video uploaded in potato quality. Here are a couple of stills that show the front and rear better. https://preview.redd.it/8aqzc7sqe9rd1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be17d1ff248372305bd07450fc6b2265cfc9afd8

Kinda looks like the headlight are fake

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Elaborate!

Cant talk


Prepping the Model 2 for the robotaxi event release may be 👀

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Maybe that's the new lower cost model based off the model 3. Drop the two existing RWD trims on the Model 3 and make a trim or two of this new cheaper variant.

It’s hard to tell in the bad quality video upload, but these were actually the original model 3 headlights with the illuminated LED running lights on top and everything.

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The rear is 100% highland. Hard to tell in the poor quality video. Here’s a better quality photo taken from the video. https://preview.redd.it/hj1kgenwc9rd1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76e67e1b4aaf8e4a7d4a89583bdc0666cbb26d13

looks like it's a highland disguised as an older model 3 1. the frontend is less concave than the old one 2. the air intake has shallower angles at each end like the highland's air intake, rather than the old one with more steep angles at the sides... 3. the old one also has air tunnels on both sides of the bumper, which this one doesn't have, like a highland 4. and using OP's higher resolution photos you can sort of see the bulge on the bumper which matches the highland's "smile" 5. the headlights looks like black vinyl on the top and bottom but the actual headlight is slightly less dark, more highland shape

I noticed the same things with your 3rd point, but the headlights were definitely the original model 3 headlights. The DRLs were illuminated and everything as you can see in the images I posted.

That rear driver side light is throwing me… it doesn’t look like the OG M3 light. Remember that leak a while ago about the new Mode Y having a lightbar that says Tesla on the rear, similar to how modern Audis look? This looks like the highland tail light with that lightbar in it and cut off from going across. Just my thoughts

Well more I'm sad I missed... Something, apparently 😅

I wonder if it's some sort of mule to test new Model Y components on a 3? Typing that out that doesn't make too much sense, but I agree, looks like the rumored Juniper light bar

hmm, in that case i have no idea lol... hard to tell from a photo :) maybe we'll find out on 10/10

Tesla Model 3 - Nascar edition

I was thinking something seemed up about the headlights as well

I want to add to this. The repeater camera crease is pre refresh because it doesn’t go into the driver door like highland does. This one seems like a mixed bag.

Headlights look fake

the model 3's taillights do not look like that - it looks like there is some lightbar in between

Nope, it seems the cuts on the headlight and taillights.

It's an engineering mule car for the systems until the body was produced.

Frankenmule

Agree with you. Looks like it does have that tail light. Maybe a 2025 update when the refesh model Y drop. Remember when early buyers of the Plaid missed out on the new tail light redesign and matrix lights.

Weird.

Maybe they’ll manufacture these from leftover parts from previous models 🤣 Investors will be very happy with such cost cuttings

It is just the body color “ultra red” that is shining through.

The rear lights remind me of the Model Y Juniper refresh leaks, with the lightbar.

I wonder if this was an early highland prototype that they are now using to test other stuff. Certainly possible.

What did they say?

Not a half original, just the headlights

The taillights don't look like they match? Is that a highland taillight on the right and old taillight on the left?

the wrap that they put on was either hastily or poor applied, or is falling off in parts. The front left headlight and rear left tail light both look like you can see parts of the paint (for the front) and tail light in the rear. It's why people are commenting that the headlights look fake or the taillights differ from one another.

Similar but not the same.

Light bar across the back just like the juniper model y

Good catch

And 1 rear light 😭

🤔🤔🤔

If they had driven the car with no camo there's a good chance it would have gone unnoticed.

Some of the disguise fel of from the red car?

I think the headlights are just graphics, they make it look like the old Model 3 but the new headlight is hidden in there

Did you happen to get a look at the interior?

I wish! It was a partly cloudy morning and there were too many reflections to be able to see inside. I tried though!

Still super cool though awesome find!

i have seen ultra red in person - its more sunken than that compared to how the taillight pops out

Something along lines of "if only you knew half the story". Guessing it was a Tesla engineer

How is it Half Highland ? Looks the same as the Pre-Refresh Model 3

Robotaxi model maybe?

Than you for the hindsight! I guess we’ll see how it evolves.

I have the ultra red in person, and I can tell you with certainty that this is the red color poking out. Mine has this sort of lip over the bumper aswell so if I would wrap it it will look like something is underneath.

I prefer the look of the front from the old model 3. The new front looks odd whenever I’m on the highways.

Could be the new Mexico special edition with fabric and no rear screen?

Gen 2 model 3 coming soon

Looks like there is a light bar at the rear, similar to the leak images of the new Y

280?

Just someone with a wrap to troll people. Doesn’t look like mfg plates.

https://preview.redd.it/amu22u37vnrd1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1362a1185734e59cf56d3f7255ea71cc6edcbc64 Wife and I saw the same car, it indeed does have old front end the lights worked, and it seems like it’s red under the skin, it’s peeled off on the drivers side taillight that’s why it looks red. Interior seemed to be the new interior as well.

They are manufacturer plates. https://preview.redd.it/g4btpegxcord1.jpeg?width=1319&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=20297522c36384c00dcdd399fbf464049e601b1e

If you all can notice that the taillight have a light bar and it is similar to the leaked taillight of the Model Y Juniper. https://preview.redd.it/80ri1pj8errd1.jpeg?width=274&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0457b279896dfd5e2e83e16f92fe2aefc4736e93

Bingo, it a test car that they use to test new hardware on.

you are smart and right, it is a taillight bar.

Wonder if it's a Model 3 built using their unboxed manufacturing method.

I want the first gen exterior look but the second gen interior look and tech update.

middle lane hogger

Arrêtez de fumée de la mer*** c'est une model 3 🤣🤣

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