The tug of war between Tesla and Lucid seems to have no end in sight. With every move that Lucid makes, Tesla seems to have a response. However, these battles have been fought between the luxurious Tesla Model S and Lucid Air. At a lower price point, Lucid doesn't yet have anything to take on the Tesla Model 3, but this hasn't stopped Elon Musk and his team from improving their smallest sedan anyway.

A refreshed Model 3 has just been announced with added standard equipment, improved straight-line performance, and a superior range than before. All Model 3 versions now come with a new power trunk lid, confirming an earlier rumor that this feature would be added.

There are new wheel designs as well, topped by the 20-inch Uberturbine wheels on the Model 3 Performance - they look fantastic. However, the available 19-inch Sport wheels on the lower two trims are also striking with their lighter finish. These updates are welcome, but most shoppers will be even more intrigued by the promise of better performance.

The Standard Range Plus retains its 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds, but the dual-motor AWD Long Range sees this time drop from 4.4 to just 4.2 seconds. The Model 3 Performance was previously capable of a 3.2-second run from 0-60, but this time now stands at 3.1 seconds. Along with being better-equipped and quicker, all versions of the Model 3 can now travel even further on a single charge.

The Standard Range Plus can now achieve a range of 263 miles (up by 13 miles), the Long Range can travel 353 miles (+31 miles), and the Model 3 Performance has a longer range of 315 miles (+16 miles).

Based on the configurator's visuals, the previous Piano Black finish on the center console has been done away with, which is just as well as it was prone to easily picking up fingerprints and scratches. Chrome-delete accents make an appearance, too.

The Model 3's updates have not affected the price, with the Standard Range Plus still starting at $37,990 after prices of new Teslas dropped earlier this year. The Long Range goes for $46,990 and the Performance costs $54,990. Overall, the improvements - especially the superior range - should add further appeal to the already strong-selling Model 3.