Tesla Model S Gets a Radically Redesigned Interior and 520-Mile Range

During its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, Tesla unveiled the long-rumored refresh for its Model S sedan. CNET reports: On the outside, the Model S has a new front bumper with slightly different intakes, a tweaked rear diffuser and new 19- and 21-inch wheel designs. All of the exterior trim is now finished in black to match the Model Y, but the paint…

New Electric Cars Have Problems In Latest Consumer Reports Survey

schwit1 shares a report from Autoblog, adding: “And CR decides to predict poor reliability on EVs it hasn’t even evaluated yet.” From the report: The latest auto survey from Consumer Reports shows several newer electric cars to be beset with problems, contradicting the conventional wisdom that EVs with their simpler powertrains should have fewer issues than gasoline- or diesel-powered cars. The…

Elon Musk Talks New Tesla Model In Europe

Elon Musk made rare comments about a new Tesla vehicle to be designed in Berlin, adding that the reason behind the new vehicle program is to attract new talent from Europe: “I think there’s a lot of talent, talented designers and engineers, in Europe. And a lot of the best people, they want to work somewhere where they are doing original…

Redditor Alleges His New Tesla’s Roof ‘Fell Off On The Highway’

The source for this story is a post on Reddit, which Jalopnik argues “was corroborated with this remarkable video of Tesla’s new Instant, Unplanned Convertible feature.” I know we’ve covered Tesla’s chronic quality control issues here before, and I realize that among hardcore Tesla-stans this may feel like we’re picking on Tesla unfairly but in our defense, Tesla really does have…

Tesla Hacker Reveals What Driver-Facing Camera Is Looking For

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Electrek: A Tesla hacker has revealed what Tesla’s driver-facing camera in Model 3 and Model Y is looking for — hinting at driver monitoring feature. When Tesla launched the Model 3, it equipped the vehicle with a standard cabin-facing camera located in the rearview mirror. At the time, the automaker said that the camera…

Tesla Model Y Owners Find Cooling System Cobbled Together With Home Depot-Grade Fake Wood

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Drive: According to several owners of the all-new Model Y, Tesla has allegedly assembled their cars using what appears to be faux wood trim from a home improvement store. It all started with a forum post featuring a photo of a Model Y’s frunk plastics removed. The original poster of the thread had…

How Tesla Improves the Range of Its Electric Cars

Car and Driver magazine explores what gives Tesla’s vehicles their comparatively long range. And apparently one factor is just “big batteries.
This may be obvious, but a battery that holds more energy should translate to more range, and Tesla has the largest battery packs out there… What isn’t always obvious is how much of a battery pack’s energy is usable versus its…

Musk Promises Tesla Design Overhaul, ‘Ravecave’ At Berlin Plant

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company will use its plant in Brandenburg, Germany to demonstrate a radical overhaul of how its cars are built, as well as making electric car battery cells and battery packs. Musk also said he has plans for a “ravecave” on the roof of the new factory, which would make it a “real fun place to…

Tesla’s Touchscreen Wiper Controls Ruled Illegal In Germany

New submitter Rei_is_a_dumbass shares a report from Electrek: Tesla’s wiper controls through its touchscreen have been ruled illegal in Germany after someone crashed their Model 3 while using them and fought a fine and driving ban through the court system. A Tesla Model 3 driver got into an accident while using the touchscreen to adjust the speed of the automatic windshield…

Tesla Turns a Profit For the Fourth Quarter In a Row, Chooses Austin For Next Gigafactory

Tesla turned a profit of $104 million in the second quarter of 2020. “As a result, Tesla has now been profitable for four straight quarters for the first time in company history — an elusive benchmark the company has long sought,” reports The Verge. The company also announced it will build its newest Gigafactory near Austin, Texas. CNBC reports: The area…