The Future:
The name came out of the blue; as you may know if you’ve purchased a Tesla Model 3, you’re asked to name your car. Not being able to think of anything clever, and certainly not going to pick “stormtrooper” as cool as that is – I just typed in “The Future” without thinking about it. After Chris from DNBK designed our “The Future” T-Shirts, it just clicked that the name “The Future” should stick for our Tesla Model 3. “Did you see that car?? It made no noise! It just sent a new lap record? What IS that car?” “It’s the future, man.”
The Car:
The Future is an identical car to the vehicle we rented in California for our suspension development trip. Even crazier than that – the last two digits of the VIN is my lucky number, and number I’ve been racing with since 2006 – 14. So I think it’s safe to say we think of this Tesla Model 3, one of the first in Canada (this was one of the first 10 cars delivered at the mass delivery event in Toronto), is extremely special. While it is a development car and has already been apart and back together more times than an old BMW, we treat it like a show car. It already has significant sentimental value!
Update: In 2021 we’ve upgraded to a Performance Tesla Model 3 – we needed to go faster!
The first time we had our Tesla Model 3 on the track was at Grid Life. The car already had our suspension and meaty wheels and tires on it. It had racing brake pads and fluid, but factory rotors. I took it on the track and I HATED it. The stability control was incredibly intrusive, even fully restricting me from applying power while turning. The brakes faded and boiled the fluid after only two laps.
Even after our great suspension, it was clear we weren’t there yet. That was the start. We are now at a point where the car is breaking records and beating cars well outside of its category.
Each product we produce is the result of a need we’ve found or an improvement we can make to the performance or enjoyment of the vehicle. Nothing is done unless it accomplishes that vision. Here are links to some of the tests we’ve done.
VSC Killer Final Alpha Testing (Now called the Party Box):
Here is a quick video after spending countless hours behind the monitor writing the final code for our VSC Killer module. This module allows the user to select multiple TC maps to varying levels of slip. In the following video, we’re targeting 60% wheel slip and it’s a party!
Speed Academy Tesla Model 3 Test:
Here we test stock suspension and stock 18″ aero wheels and OEM tires, followed by stock suspension and 19″ wheels with RE71R tires, and finally, we install our brake kit, suspension arms, and coilovers and test again. The entire test was driven by David Pratte from Speed Academy. The results were an 8 second lap time improvement from stock to our configuration, the best time being a 1:21.7 around TMP.
MPP Traction Control Disable Test:
Here we test The Future with all of our components as above, but also with the addition of our traction control defeat device. As you’ll notice from the Speed Academy test, while we were able to disable stability control, the traction control was still intrusive. Along with more setup work we are able to push the car to do a 1:18.9 at TMP, which breaks the CSCS RWD Production Time Attack record by 1.3 seconds! We also had a lot of fun sliding the car around. Despite the open differential, the car is great at sliding!
CSCS Win In Production RWD (Wet):
Our first competition in Canada with the Tesla Model 3, our stability control defeat system, suspension work and the great Model 3 chassis allowed us to win Production RWD in the rain by a large margin. This track is incredibly low grip in the rain, with varying grip throughout the lap. Very challenging.
TESLA MODEL 3 SPECIFICATIONS (2021 Update)
Modifications:
- MPP Sports Coilovers – Compression And Rebound Adjustable
- MPP Front Upper Control Arms
- MPP Front Lower Control Arm Bearings
- MPP.R Front Compression Rod Bearings
- MPP Rear Camber Arms
- MPP Rear Toe Arms
- MPP Rear Spring Arm
- MPP Cyber Rear Traction Arms
- MPP Cyber Rear Trailing Arms
- MPP Anti-Roll Bars
- MPP.R Super Sport Springs
- MPP.R Rear Subframe Inserts
Setup:
- Ride Height Street: Typically 110mm measured from ground to battery
- Ride Height Track: Typically 104mm measured from ground to battery
Low Grip / Technical Track Damper Settings (clicks from full stiff – higher number is softer)
- Front Compression: 9
- Front Rebound: 8
- Rear Compression: 6
- Rear Rebound: 7
High-Speed / High-Compression Track Damper Settings (clicks from full stiff – higher number is softer)
- Front Compression: 2
- Front Rebound: 3
- Rear Compression: 1
- Rear Rebound: 2
Street Damper Settings (clicks from full stiff – higher number is softer)
- Front Compression: 14
- Front Rebound: 13
- Rear Compression: 14
- Rear Rebound: 13
Track Alignment:
- Front Camber: -3.6 °
- Front Toe: Varies. Generally -2mm total
- Rear Camber: -2.6 °
- Rear Toe: Varies. Generally -3mm total
Street Alignment:
- Front Camber: -1.1 °
- Front Toe: -1mm total
- Rear Camber: -1.1 °
- Rear Toe: -1mm total
- MPP.R Nür Rear Drive Unit Oil Cooler
- MPP Cooling Party Controller
- MPP Prototype Cooling Parts
Track Wheel+Tire Setup:
- MPP Mega Mesh
- Front: 19×10.5 +33 + MPP 4mm Spacer
- Rear: 19×10.5 +33
- Supercar 3R Tires
- Front: 285/35/19
- Rear: 285/35/19