Tesla Model 3 Performance has a ‘track mode’ to drift and have a better feel of the car

Elon Musk has been promising that the Model 3 Performance version is going to have better track performance than the class-leading BMW M3.

In order to make it happened, we now learn that Tesla is working on a ‘track mode’ that will let the driver take better control of the vehicle without driver assist systems overly trying to correct your actions.

We got a test drive in the Model 3 Performance vehicle yesterday, but it was on public roads and therefore, we couldn’t try the ‘track mode’, which is apparently only in beta and it won’t be yet available to owners.

Youtuber MKBHD got to try it in a Model 3 Performance test drive on a closed course and briefly discussed it in a short Instagram video.

Tesla writes when enabling the track mode:

“Select Track Mode to enable Tesla’s performance-oriented stability control and powertrain settings configured for track driving.

This mode is designed to be used exclusively on closed courses. For the best experience, only progress to track mode once familiar with the track.”

MKBHD didn’t elaborate on what the mode is actually doing to the stability controls and powertrain aside from removing some auto stabilizing allowing you to drift and oversteer.

Generally, in other vehicles with similar features, it involves removing or changing the behavior of onboard driver assist features like traction control and power steering.

In an all-electric vehicle like the Model 3, it could also potentially remove or reduce the regenerative braking, which can be a weakness on the track, but we don’t know that yet.

Tesla told Electrek that they developed their own in-house vehicle dynamic controls (VDC) system for the first time with the Model 3 Performance version, which is allowing them to release this more advanced driving mode.

We are going to release a report later today about our first drive experience in the Model 3 Performance version.