Tesla Car reviews

The Model S has been around for a decade now, but Tesla didn’t bother refreshing it much over the years. It was a hit and there was no competition; so it didn’t really have to. But, that’s not the case now and the company has finally stepped up accordingly. The 2021 Model S doesn’t come with a whole lot of changes on the outside, but there is a lot of new stuff inside. Tesla will also be coming up with the Plaid model later this year and Plaid+ next year. But, otherwise, does the 2021 model get any better?

Custom-made electric vehicles are a trend that’s slowly picking up. They aren’t as popular as internal combustion-engined cars for now since there aren’t a lot of moving parts in EVs that you can play around with. We’ve seen some tuners crack the system to unleash more power for a much cheaper price than the company offers. Apart from playing with the mechanicals, some aftermarket companies have worked on the body of EVs as well. From equipping it body kits and turning them into station wagons, we’ve seen it all already.

Now, however, a company called Ares Designs has transformed a Tesla Model S into a convertible. This isn’t the first time we’re seeing a convertible Tesla, but it is arguably the cleanest one we’ve seen.

Have you ever wondered how the aftermarket tuning works for EVs? You don’t have much stuff in the powertrain that you can play around with. These machines are so different that a power boost can be done via an over-the-air update. There aren’t a lot of companies who have worked on electric cars yet.

However, a company called RevoZport, has laid its hands on the Tesla Model 3 Performance and experimented with what can be done. The result is an electric car with supercar-like aerodynamics that makes it a hoot-and-a-half to drive. Not to mention, it also looks sporty with those body kits. Do you think aerodynamics will play a big part in customizing an electric car for performance?

The 2021 Cybertruck is the first pickup truck built by Tesla and is the oddest-looking pickup truck to ever hit the market. Unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2022 Cybertruck will go into production in 2021. As one of the first production electric trucks, the Cybertruck is also one of the most advanced utility vehicles ever built. Much like it did with the Model X and Model 3, Tesla didn’t unveil a lot of details during the launch event, so the 2021 Cybertruck still hides mysteries. But let’s have a closer look at what we already know about it in the review below.

The Model S is far and away Tesla’s most popular vehicle, known for singlehandedly shifting public opinion of EVs from dowdy, boring people-movers, to sexy, high-tech performance machines. This is the model that set the stage for all of Tesla’s other offerings, including the top-shelf Model X SUV, and more recently, the affordable Model 3 compact four-door. However, the Model S was first introduced in 2012, which means it’s starting to get a little long in the tooth, and a second-gen for the full-/mid-size luxury sedan should be headed down the line in the next few years. As such, we put on our speculation hats and got down to reasoning out what the next Model S might bring to the table.

Update 9/12/2019: The Tesla Model S 100D + Plaid was spotted going through the paces on the Nurburgring today in preparation for a new record attempt to dethrone the Porsche Taycan. Check out our special spy shots section below to see the first images and learn more about what could represent the next significant update to the Tesla Model S.

Back in 2008, a little upstart EV company named Tesla threw a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor into a Lotus Elise and called it the Roadster. It was the very first model to bear the Tesla badge, and it was the first highway-legal series production all-electric car to travel more than 200 miles in a single charge. Now, nearly 10 years and several remarkable models later, Tesla is at it again, revealing a second-generation Roadster in a surprise debut alongside its new all-electric semi truck. While it’s still several years away from hitting public roads, Tesla dropped a variety of specs and numbers for the Roadster 2.0, and long story short, this thing is shaping up to be an absolute monster. If it really can do everything that Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims it can, the second-gen Roadster will set numerous performance records, including quickest to 60 mph, quickest to 100 mph, and quickest in the quarter mile. And that includes internal combustion-based production vehicles, by the way. It’ll also set new standards for EVs in the realms of range per charge and top speed. This is faster than Insane Mode. This is faster than Ludicrous Mode. This, dear readers, is straight up Plaid.

While we knew Tesla had a new Roadster coming down the pipeline, few would have guessed what it might be capable of. We even put together a speculative piece about a potential Tesla supercar a while back, but it turns out the California automaker combined the two ideas into one incredible world-beater. “The point of doing this is to just give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars,” says Musk. “Driving a gasoline sports car is gonna feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche.” Indeed, the Tesla Roadster 2.0 is framed as a bona fide halo car, an ultra-quick speed machine that’ll show Tesla’s true performance potential. Read on for the details.

Updated 11/17/2017: Tesla just revealed the new Roadster!

Continue reading to learn more about the 2020 Tesla Roadster.

Elon Musk and Tesla have defied the odds by finally debuting the automaker’s first stab at the commercial trucking industry. It’s called simply the Tesla Semi and it finally broke cover at a media event on November 16, 2017, after years of teasing. Debuting alongside the hot 2020 Tesla Roadster, the Semi is designed to reinvent the way trucking is done. Tesla says its all-electric drivetrain will give more than 500 miles of range on a single charge while towing 80,000 pounds, be far less difficult to maintain, and outperform convention semi trucks in both performance and safety – all at a lower operating cost. That’s a tall order. Oh, and it’ll hit 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds when unloaded.

Along with the Semi, Tesla will be releasing a new charging system. It’s called the Megacharger and it’s a high-speed DC charging station capable of adding roughly 400 miles of range in only 30 minutes. Tesla says the Megachargers can be installed by fleet operators anywhere along their routes and will be common at truck stops in heavily trafficked areas.

Continue reading for more information.

Say what you will about Tesla – the company’s ambition is undeniable. Founded in 2003, the California-based electric carmaker set out with the goal of overturning the auto industry status quo and hastening “the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” To that end, Tesla’s latest play (and arguably its more important) is called the Model 3. Framed as a more affordable alternative to the highly successful Model S full-size sedan and Model X SUV, there’s no shortage of excitement behind the more compact 3, and now, after countless rumors and practically unending speculation, the veil has been lifted. Following a massive live streaming event celebrating the handover of the first Model 3’s off the production line, it was revealed that buyers get two trim levels to pick from, with as much as 310 miles per charge and a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds for the range-topper.

But, as you might expect, there’s a whole lotta footnotes that go along with the above-mentioned specs. For starters, actually getting a Model 3 into your driveway is no simple endeavor. Following a brief pre-production reveal in April of 2016, an estimated 400,000 people plunked down $1,000 for a pre-order, and that means if you don’t have a spot in line, it’s gonna be a while. Then there’s the list of ultra-pricey extras that add significant weight to the bottom line. Simply put, the question remains – does the Model 3 live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

Updated 08/23/2017: We added a series of new images taken during the 2017 Monterey Car Week.

Continue reading to learn more about the Tesla Model 3.

Were you on the market for a Tesla Model X only to realize that its big size made it cumbersome and its falcon doors weren’t really your cup of tea? Now, Tesla’s offering you the smaller, cheaper, and less flamboyant Model Y. The upcoming cheapest version starts at just $39,000 which is cheaper than your run-of-the-mill Lexus IS 300 and more than 50% off the price of a Model X. The battery package is that on the Model 3 Performance and you’ll be able to go between 230 and 300 miles on one charge depending on the version you choose. As it’s a Tesla, you can be sure it will be spirited, to say the least, and, as with Musk’s other creations, it caught mass manufacturers almost unprepared.

The Tesla Model Y is Tesla’s second volume model, part of the ’tier 3’ lineup alongside the Model 3 compact sedan. It was unveiled on March 14th during what Kirby called a "presentation bereft of all the razzle-dazzle that has become synonymous" with Tesla. This, he argued, is a sign that Tesla itself is becoming a normal, volume manufacturer, moving away from its boutique image it had maintained with the Model S and the Model X that created far more buzz upon release. Still, the event was so lackluster we could condense it all in a four-minute-long video with ease.

This doesn’t mean the Model Y has to be overlooked - quite the opposite. The Model Y has to be a hit bigger than the Model 3 is for Tesla to go on with its plans that include a full-size semi, that could be seen during the Model Y’s presentation, a pick-up truck, and the new Roadster among others. It’s obviously got to do with what Tesla’s rivals do - after all, the cheapest ’Standard’ version won’t begin shipping until 2021 - but Tesla still has the edge on everybody with its mid-size crossover.

It seems almost like almost every other day now brings news about some physics-defying all-electric supercar. Outrageous output figures and broken records are pretty much the norm in this segment, with cars like the NextEV Nio EP9 or Rimac Concept_One setting new standards in electron-powered performance. Tesla is active in this space as well, earning a spot on our list of Top 5 All-Electric Performance Cars with its the venerable Model S P100D. The Model S might be a sedan, but it’s still got insane speed potential, posting a face-melting 2.3-second time in the 0-to-60 mph benchmark. Impressive? Certainly. But what if we went beyond the P100D and probed what was really possible with a few electric motors and an enormous battery pack? What about a true-blue Tesla supercar, a halo model with just two doors and a spec sheet capable of laying waste to all things internal combustion? What would that look like?

It’s a tempting proposition, but right away, there’s a problem. Tesla has adopted a “top-down” approach wherein the more expensive models come out prior to the less expensive models (for example, the Model S preceded the Model 3). So where does a super car fit into that equation? Obviously several years down the line, if at all, but that said, a supercar halo model would do well amongst well-heeled EV enthusiasts, not to mention bring even more attention to the California-based automaker. Sound good? We think so.

Continue reading to learn more about the Tesla Supercar.

Before you start blasting away in the comments section, hear me out, because a Tesla City Car isn’t as crazy as you might think. There’s a reason the California-based automaker started with the ultra-pricey Roadster, Model S, and Model X – the plan is to use the profits from those high-end autos to fund more accessible offerings (you know, like the Model 3). And considering Tesla has stated time and again that its ultimate goal is to bring electric transportation to everyone, the only logical thing to do is to spray a bit of the Musk on a city car, the affordable option when it comes to personal urban transport.

So far, Tesla’s top-down strategy has worked wonders, and depending on how the company handles production of the Model 3, more products are almost certainly just over the horizon. What’s more, a Tesla city car would be the perfect solution for urban dwellers looking for a four-wheeled addition to their laptop-and-coffee-shop lifestyle.

So we drew up a rendering, imagined we were in Palo Alto, and came up with the following speculative review.

Continue reading to learn more about the future Tesla City Car.

Tesla’s “Master Plan, Part Deux” includes a wide range of future vehicles, including a pickup, a compact SUV, and even a semi-truck. Sadly however, Tesla might be missing an important segment niche – the minivan. Sure, sales of minivans have dwindled with the exploding popularity of the crossover, but families continue to rely on the minivan’s unparalleled interior volume and downright handiness for hauling the kids and their stuff.

With that in mind, we decided to render what a Tesla minivan might look like. However unlikely, the idea is an interesting one. Think about it – interior volume would be nearly unimpeded thanks to the battery pack being incased in the flat floor with relatively compact electric motors at either end. Its “frunk” gives space to store items separate from the passenger cabin. And there would be no more smelly, greasy gas pumps to operate. Sounds great, right mom?

A similar chassis as the Model X SUV would likely underpin Tesla’s version of a minivan. Perhaps the wheelbase would be slightly stretched to accommodate for a larger third row and the inevitable sliding rear doors. Maybe Tesla engineers would develop some sort of hidden track system for those doors, eliminating the unsightly gap in the rear quarter panels. The potential for innovation is boundless.

Let’s check out the details below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Tesla Minivan.

Tesla discontinued the Roadster, and in quick succession, released its new Model S. Since then, the Model S has become widely popular and sales were good enough that Tesla has extended its offering of vehicles, now including the Model X and the soon-to-be-released Tesla Model 3. At first, the Model S sedan came only in rear-wheel drive and featured an extended range 265 miles. Not that it wasn’t a bad initial package – Tesla did effective set the standard for all-electric vehicles, and to date, it’s still the best all-electric model you can get.

Over the past few years, the Model S has seen several updates, including a new front motor that made all-wheel-drive variants available, plus Autopilot, and Ludicrous mode. In that time frame, the range has also been increased up to 295 miles for properly equipped models. The one thing that hasn’t changed since the car’s introduction, however, is the body style. But now as we approach the 2017 model year, Tesla has finally given the Model S a facelift.

Before you get to overwhelmed with excitement, be warned that the facelift is pretty minor. It was well needed, though, and the front end does sport a new look. Join me for an in-depth look at the Tesla Model S and what it brings to the table as Tesla ushers in the 2017 model year.

Update 06/09/2016: Tesla has announced that it is taking a step backward and offering a more affordable version of the Model S in 60 and 60D form. Check out the updates in our Drivetrain and Prices sections below for all the details.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Tesla Model S.

In case you’ve been living under a rock with no dependable Wi-Fi for the last month or so, Tesla recently dropped cover on the Model 3 – an entry-level sedan with slick styling, solid range, and impressive performance. Unlike Tesla’s other products, the Model S and Model X, the Model 3 offers affordability with an eye towards high-volume production, and with nearly 400,000 pre-orders already on the books, it appears as though the California-based automaker hit a grand slam. And that’s good news, especially when you consider how the Model 3 was designed to make significant headway towards the company’s stated goal of bringing all-electric transportation to the masses. But even with widespread critical acclaim and record pre-sales, there’s still a long way to go before Elon Musk can unfurl the “Mission Accomplished” banner. Additional body styles will be critical to Tesla’s ongoing success, and might include a more practical hatchback variant some time in the future.

In a Tweet, Musk said that the Model 3’s rear roof cross-car support beam was moved to make sure passengers sitting on the rear bench had enough headroom. The result is a small trunk lid, rather than the larger hatch seen on the Model S and Model X. And while the Tesla CEO claims the Model 3 can carry a 7-foot surfboard in the cabin, there are many who feel as though the diminutive cargo space puts a damper on the car’s practicality, leaving the much larger (and hugely more expensive) Model X as the marque’s only real cargo mover. And that’s a problem for a company trying to reach as many consumers as possible.

Fortunately, Tesla has stated it’s looking into a multitude of different body styles, which means a Model 3 Hatchback could very well be in the pipeline.

So then – if the Model 3 was turned into a five-door, what would it bring to the table? Read on for our speculative review.

Continue reading to learn more about the Tesla Model 3 Hatchback.

Over the years, Mansory has built a reputation as one of the most provocative tuning firms in the world. That reputation was on full display at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show as the German tuning firm presented a handful of programs, including one for the Ferrari 488 GTB. But there was one program that didn’t get as much time in the spotlight: this somewhat mild kit for the Tesla Model S. Now I can argue that this kit could actually turn into one of the most important programs in Mansory’s recent history.

The Model S program is different in a lot of ways, not the least of which is because it’s for an electric car. But more than that, it’s different because it isn’t what I’d come to expect from the tuner. For one, the exterior upgrades are limited to a few aerodynamic components. It also doesn’t have the kind of horsepower upgrades that Mansory has staked its name on. You know those 1,000 horsepower monsters it’s built in the past? Don’t expect to see it here on the Model S.

Instead, we get a simple program that includes the aforementioned carbon aero kit, a new set of wheels, and a plush and luxurious interior. Some fans of Mansory might be disappointed that the tuner didn’t turn the Model S into a full-blown Decepticon, but for those who appreciate the subtleties of the tuner’s genius, this kit is a good representation of what Mansory is capable of, even if it took the road less traveled to get there.

Continue after the jump to read the full review.

After years of delays and rampant speculation, it’s finally official – the Model X has arrived. In a live event at the company’s factory in Fremont, California, Tesla CEO Elon Musk personally handed out keys to the first models off the production line, detailing the vehicle’s features and capabilities along the way. The Model X is framed as an uber-safe, uber-clean, semi-autonomous, highly practical, all-electric long-range SUV capable of embarrassing hardcore sports cars in a speed contest. That’s a lot to chew on, even for the most disruptive automaker on the block.

Unlike Tesla’s first model, the

based Roadster, the Model X was built totally in-house using the existing Model S platform. However, unlike the sedan, this SUV can sit up to seven passengers and carry an attic’s worth of stuff, all while going 250 miles in a charge and hitting 60 mph quick enough to make you see plaid.

Sounds wild, doesn’t it? Read on to see exactly what I mean.

Updated 11/24/2015: An official Tesla Model X configurator confirms that the electric SUV will be priced from $80k - before any incentives and not including $1,200 destination fees. If you will opt for the six seats pack you will have to pay an extra $3k, while the Autopilot function adds $2,5k to the final cost. Other options include a $4,5k premium package, a $2,5k premium sound system and a $1k subzero weather package.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Tesla Model X.