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I was perplexed when I first laid eyes on the Tesla 3 hubcaps.

Hubcaps? Aren’t those a thing of the past? For years now alloy wheels have been the standard, and we’ve definitely developed a taste for the more visually appealing alloy wheel.

So why would Tesla, the current leader in innovative car design, release a car with optional hubcaps! A quite “unique” looking hubcap, at that!

Even more interesting…Tesla’s hubcaps are fitted over a nice-looking gunmetal grey alloy wheels...

What’s going on?
The hubcaps represent a shift from a cost-driven purpose, to an efficiency-driven purpose. The function of wheel covers used to be purely aesthetic: to cover a cheap, ugly steel wheel.

The hubcaps are actually referred to by those in-the-know as Aerodynamic Wheel Covers or Aero Wheel Caps.

And these wheel caps serve a purpose beyond aesthetics: according to Tesla’s Engineering staff, the Aero Caps are said to increase efficiency by as much as 10 percent! They may increase the vehicle’s range by about 20 miles! Surprise, surprise.

I take comfort in knowing there is a very good reason for this wheel cover design that looks like it’s out of the Jetsons.