Are the Tesla Model 3 redesign photos real or fake? What we know (and don’t).

A photo of what appears to be a redesigned Tesla Model 3 is being shared online. It looks convincing, but is it the real thing, or just something someone has cobbled together in a tuning garage (or Photoshop)? Here's what we know.

The image in question was shared on Reddit on Thursday with the caption "Model 3 Refresh." You can check it out below.

No context, location, or source was given for the photo, and the Reddit user that posted it, named ffiarpg, merely commented that they don't work for Tesla, but "just wanted to share" the image. The account has been fairly active, having commented on a variety of Reddit topics (mostly non-Tesla related) for years, which lends some credibility to the post.

Is Tesla really working on a redesigned Model 3?

The answer to this one is definitely a yes. Tesla has been testing Model 3 vehicles with partial camouflage on the streets for at least a couple of months, and many of them have been sighted, photographed, or recorded on video. Reports say that the redesigned Model 3, codenamed "Project Highland," might hit the market in the third quarter of 2023.

A Reuters report from Nov. 2022 claimed Tesla is looking to reduce the number of components and the complexity in Model 3's interior, and that the redesign "could" include some changes to the car's exterior and performance.

How does the new, "leaked" photo fit in?

The alleged photograph of the redesigned Tesla Model 3 definitely looks real in terms of not being a Photoshop job, down to the bug stains on the hood.

As far as actual design elements, three things stand out: the headlights, which now have a sportier, angrier look, the slightly altered front bumper, and the absence of fog lights. Oh, and there's also no Tesla logo on the hood, though this may be due to the case that this is a prototype vehicle. Other details which are harder to confirm include a possible camera unit inside the front bumper.

Is there anything that looks fake? Well, the fact that there are bug stains on the hood mean that the car has been driven (at high speeds, probably) sans camouflage, which sounds unlikely. And yes, Photoshop is a powerful tool, and there are experts who can turn a regular Model 3 into whatever they like, though it would take quite a bit of work to make it this convincing.

What do the people in the know say?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is typically vocal about pretty much everything on Twitter, hasn't confirmed or denied the leaked photo to be real.

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The folks from Tesla analytics app Teslascope say their hunch is that the photo is real, and they backed it up with a source from Tesla who reportedly told them in February that the headlight style will change on the refreshed Model 3. Teslascope also says that this is "one of the first alpha builds of Highland" that's two to three months old, and that there will be "a lot of refinements prior to it hitting production."

As a Tesla owner and long-time follower of the company, I can say that the leaked photo looks consistent with what Tesla might do to the Model 3 — a facelift that makes it sportier and slightly more aggressive, while still keeping changes at a level that doesn't require a ton of new parts. Generally, I think all Tesla models are due for a significant facelift, as they've all looked pretty much the same since their respective launches. The Model 3 and Model Y are the company's bread and butter at this point, and they've started to saturate the streets; a new design is definitely in order.

Still, we'll have to bide our time for more proof until we declare the leaked photo as the real thing. Fortunately, Q3 2023 is just two months away, so we might not have to wait very long.