Here's everything we know about the just-revealed Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
128,000 preorders and counting. Matthew DeBord

Tesla revealed its long-awaited mass-market vehicle, the Model 3, on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

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CEO Elon Musk took to the stage amid wild cheers from the gathered Teslarati, who had spent the previous hour and a half enjoying cocktails and light snacks under a lovely pink Southern California sunset while a DJ spun some groovy throbbing mash-ups of 1970s and '80s soft rock.

He had a lot to celebrate: More than 100,000 preorders at $1,000 each for the $35,000 Model 3 had been logged throughout the day — for a car that is unlikely to hit the streets until late 2017 at the earliest.

Musk outlined what he called Tesla's "Top Secret Master Plan" to accelerate humanity's transition away from fossil fuels.

Then he thanked Model S sedan and Model X SUV owners for "helping to pay for" development of the Model 3.

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After that, it was a closer look at the vehicle, a midsize hatchback-ish sedan — a sort of fastback four-door — and some very short test drives.

The Model 3 we saw Thursday — from its unadorned, grille-less but daggerlike front end, to the vast windshield-to-rear-spoiler panoramic sunroof — is an early look at a preproduction vehicle that could change significantly between now and 2017, when deliveries are expected to begin.

But we learned at least a few things.

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The Tesla design center in Hawthorne, California, was transformed into a rockin' and rollin' partyscape. Things really got going at sunset.

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the stage just after dark ...

Tesla Model 3 event
Tesla Motors
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... and walked the crowd through Tesla's "Top Secret Master Plan"!

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord

Out rolled a trip of Model 3s. It's a midsize sedan with seating for five. Price: $35,000. Range: Over 200 miles. Speed: 0-60 in under six seconds (according to Tesla). All-wheel drive? Available. Autopilot self-driving tech? Absolutely. Hits the streets in 2017, if everything goes according to plan.

Tesla Model 3
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The front end is sleek, while the rear is capacious enough to make the rear seats comfortable for passengers.

Tesla Model 3
Tesla Motors

What "falcon wing" doors were for the Model X, the sweeping front-to-rear glass is for the Model 3.

Tesla Model 3
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Look! No grille!

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord

Time for a ride.

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord
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Well, we are in California after all.

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord

And we're off.

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Matthew DeBord
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There are no traditional instruments. Tesla has put everything in the central touch screen, which is larger than anyone expected. The rear seats are also similar in design to the "sculptural" back seats in the Model X SUV.

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord
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This is what it's like when you put your foot down. Zoom!

Snappy acceleration in the new Tesla Model 3.

A video posted by Matthew DeBord (@mattdebord) on

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We return so a few more folks can get a spin. There were 800 people at the party.

Tesla Model 3 Reveal
Matthew DeBord

Welcome to the world, Model 3.

Tesla Model 3
Tesla Motors
Transportation Elon Musk Tesla Model 3
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