An image of a refreshed Tesla Model 3 has surfaced on the internet, leading many to believe that this may be the world's first look at the facelifted electric sedan.

First posted to Reddit, the picture shows a black Model 3 parked in a nondescript warehouse. An all-new fascia, seemingly inspired by the forthcoming Roadster sports car, lends the EV greater aesthetic appeal, and does away with the clunky, often criticized headlamps of the current model.

The slimmer horizontal clusters bear a striking resemblance to the Roadster, and the redesigned front bumper looks far sleeker than before. There's also a new wheel design. But is this a preview of what's to come, or could this be a false alarm created with Photoshop? After all, there are no Tesla badges in sight.

There's a strong possibility we're looking at the real deal. We've previously spotted Model 3 prototypes in disguise, and the changes seen here align with what we have previewed in the past. Moreover, the vehicle lacks any badging, which could be Tesla's way of protecting the new Model 3 from prying eyes. The car appears to have been stored under a cover and sits alongside another concealed vehicle.

Of course, these details can easily be doctored; people will do anything for likes and attention these days. However, there's another possibility. It's possible that this could be an aftermarket styling kit for the Model 3, aimed at owners who want a more distinctive front end - or are simply tired of waiting for the facelift.

After all, Teslas are no stranger to the modding community, and we've even seen a Model 3 fitted with a Porsche front bumper and loads of carbon fiber add-ons.

Then again, it's hard to imagine that any company would go through the effort of designing custom headlights for a niche body kit.

Various reports suggest the Model 3 will benefit from a series of changes, including a refreshed interior design and new side mirrors - this isn't seen above, though. It's difficult to make out any dashboard changes from the image, but if this is a legitimate Tesla prototype, it's safe to assume the changes would be covered up with camouflage.

Whether this image is real or not, we can expect significant changes to come with the updated Model 3. First launched in 2017, it has soldiered along largely unchanged and still captures the attention of myriad buyers. Updated styling, enhanced performance, and superior performance would do wonders for the electric sedan and almost certainly keep the fledgling rivals at bay.