

Lifestyle
What it was like inside the Model 3 unveiling event
It’s not very often that I am rendered speechless. Yet here I am, nearly a week since attending Tesla’s Model 3 unveiling event, without yet having put a single word down on paper about how it felt to be there. The only word that comes to mind when I’ve tried is ‘magic,’ so I’ll go with that.
The atmosphere was felt long before I walked onto the grounds. In fact, it was turning into the parking structure that I saw my very first Model X in real life. That sight was plenty to shake off the cobwebs of a long day of traveling; as was being invited to step into a shuttle bus to be driven the very short distance to the event’s entrance. The few other soon-to-be revelers on the shuttle had the same grin on their faces that I did. Perhaps it was just me, but I felt the shuttle bus driver was also in a good mood.
Once dropped off, we lined up to be checked in. Eager to share in the excitement with others, I promptly struck up a conversation with the two gentlemen waiting in line just ahead of us. As it turned out, they were none other than Roger and Matt Pressman of Evannex! Having reviewed the book Owning Model S, they were familiar with me and my contributions here, so chatting came easy. As promised, IDs were checked. We were handed badges and asked to wear them around our necks as we were ushered in through a beautiful green space with a Model 3 backdrop, perfect for pictures.
Immediately, we were greeted by yet another smiling face. A pleasant young woman dressed in black offered to take our picture in front of the backdrop. I was glad for the offer, since I knew once the event got started there may not be time for pictures.
Looking around beyond the nicely decorated bars I noticed Superchargers. We were in a parking lot. Only, it a was carpeted parking lot. Nicely carpeted in fact and Superchargers oddly made beautiful display pieces. The whole place looked gorgeous and the sky that time of the day complimented it all so well.
Looking around at the many happy faces, my excitement grew for the familiar ones from the internet I hoped to catch a glimpse of in person. In fact, I was also waiting on those whose faces I had not before seen including two fellow Pennsylvanians who also hit the ticket lottery and made the trip out West and Teslarati’s very own, Gene. Very shortly after arriving, those two fine Pennsylvanians, Chris and Dave, and their guests (one spouse and one very lucky young man) found me. Everyone wore the very same look of awe on their faces as I was. We were all so thrilled just to be standing where we were at that moment.
The bars were nicely stocked and the folks serving were a joy, so I grabbed something and stood with a fantastic view of a gorgeous blue Model X, while chatting. After a few minutes, I was too excited to stand still and decided to do a few laps around the event. I caught glimpses of writers such as Motley Fool’s Daniel Sparks and Bloomberg’s Dana Hull, both of whom I later had the pleasure of chatting with. I felt humbled as I walked by Tesla royalty Bonnie and Bjørn, and did a double take after passing that girl from that show I used to love. Having never attended a party like this, the whole feeling was a bit surreal. As I said earlier, magic.
A crowd started gathering near the entry doors to the inside portion of the event, where the big show was set to occur shortly. Being all too honored just to be in attendance, I didn’t worry about getting in quickly and taking a place near the stage. It was a small, intimate event as promised, and there was plenty of room for all. The sun was just about gone at this point and the feel of a party was obvious. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the big reveal.
A Model S and Model X were prominently displayed to one side, and both were gorgeous. The stage was modern and guests were staring intently or holding up phones waiting for the big moment. Then it happened. After a long day of traveling and one heck of a scare from an erroneous flight cancellation notice (which, by the way, almost caused us to miss the flight that was not at all cancelled), Franz von Holzhausen took the stage. He was wearing a well-fitting blazer, no tie and just the right amount of facial scruff as if to say “This is the big moment and I’m fully confidant you’re going to love it!” In fact, he probably said something just like it in his short speech welcoming us and introducing Elon. I had hoped to hear a little more from him but can appreciate that since this was a live broadcast about the car, it was probably best kept prompt. (New life goal: meet this man for real!)
Next came Elon, right on cue. We are used to his speech patterns by now but I for one think he did an excellent job of being clear, focused and happy. He gave us just a few tidbits about the car, including 5-star safety ratings and the expected 215 miles on a charge. While neither were surprising, both drew massive cheers from the crowd. The most massive cheer, however, would come when the announcement was made that over 100,000 reservations had been made sight unseen. I projected that many within a day or so after the unveiling, but having that many before really blew me away. It also seemed to blow away everyone else in the crowd, especially the guy who yelled “You did it!” to Elon.
I’ll be the first to admit when I saw the car, I was taken aback by the front end. The rest of it was glorious but it took me spending the rest of the evening staring from all angles to appreciate that front. That instant hesitation however, was completely eclipsed by the reality of what was happening. A hundred thousand people willingly dropped a cool grand for a car they hadn’t yet seen, and won’t be in their hands for two years.
Now unveiled, online reservations started pouring in. There was a ticker on the screen behind the red Model 3 prototype, which had been left on stage. That number would double, as we now know, by the end of Saturday. Test rides were in high demand, and done numerically, so there was a large gap of time between the presentation ending and my pass #428 being called to ride. I took that time to mingle more, ride along for a Model X Ludicrous launch and congratulate as many Tesla employees as I could.
The Model 3 that was being used for test rides was a gorgeous matte silver with black rims and the same shaped door handles as the Model S. I got a nice close up while in line for the Model X test ride, which literally made my ears pop. You read and understand about the marvel that is the Model X and about how fast a ludicrous launch feels but you can’t fully fathom it until you experience it firsthand. It handled a slalom course like a race car and the handsome gentleman driving was kind in correcting my assumption that he was a professional driver for Tesla. (He was actually a high level person in product design.) In fact, he was as much a joy as the car and got a laugh out of my rolling down a window to wave at a camera. That was, after all, far better than the alternative worst case scenario he imagined, which was that I needed to roll down the window after such an intense acceleration.
Once our batch of pass numbers was shown on the screen, it was time to line up for the Model 3 ride. I had the pleasure of standing behind and speaking with a fellow owner who once had an electric car that pre-dates the EV1. He was one of many interesting people I chatted with throughout the night, in what I can only assume was about the most friendly group of strangers ever to be at one party.
Once our turn came up, I quickly volunteered to sit in the middle of the back seat. My husband is not tall but broad shouldered and the other person in the rear with us was quite tall. While I wouldn’t want to be on a long ride with 2 other adults in the back seat in the Model 3 (or any other car!) it certainly did fit us all. It had head room for days, thanks to the glass roof and offset support. I did notice that the driver’s knees looked like they were unnaturally bent and assumed he was uncomfortable. I asked him whether he was tall or the car was small. He confirmed that he was 6’4” and had the seat up a lot further than usual to leave extra room in the rear. He also mentioned that the Model 3 is one of very few cars that he can drive without setting the driver’s seat all the way back.
I noticed the horizontal screen, as did most others and will assume that it will be a little more integrated in its final format. Having it stick out to me seems far too risky for either theft or accidental damage. The Model S and X have their screens beautifully integrated so I have no worries about what the final product will be.
For some reason, I happened to notice two USB ports in the rear of the center console area, accessible to rear passengers. In today’s connected world, it’s pretty smart. You can power anything from a cell phone to those seat back mounted video screens by USB. What I also noticed was that the center console area extended toward the center screen and did not drop down to an empty floor like in pre-center console Model S cars. I sincerely hope for the open space to be an option on the 3, though having a mandatory center console is by no means a deal breaker. In fact, I can’t think of anything that would be a deal breaker with this car, short of it coming out looking like a Pontiac Aztech, which we knew it wouldn’t.
The test ride was short and sweet. Like the rest of the event, it left me wondering how the heck we are all going to survive waiting so long for this car to become a reality. Fortunately, Tesla has tossed us just enough scraps to keep us chomping at the bit. A little twitter Q&A provided more fuel over the weekend and an impending Part 2 reveal will leave us with plenty to speculate. Let the wait begin.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck takes a bump from epic failing Dodge Charger
The Cybertruck seemed unharmed by the charging Charger.

There comes a time in a driver’s life when one is faced with one’s limitations. For the driver of a Dodge Charger, this time came when he lost control and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck–an absolute epic fail.
A video of the rather unfortunate incident was shared on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.
Charging Charger Fails
As could be seen in the video, which was posted on the subreddit by Model Y owner u/Hammer_of_something, a group of teens in a Dodge Charger decided to do some burnouts at a Tesla Supercharger. Unfortunately, the driver of the Charger failed in his burnout or donut attempt, resulting in the mopar sedan going over a curb and bumping a charging Cybertruck.
Ironically, the Dodge Charger seemed to have been parked at a Supercharger stall before its driver decided to perform the failed stunt. This suggests that the vehicle was likely ICE-ing a charging stall before it had its epic fail moment. Amusingly enough, the subreddit member noted that the Cybertruck did not seem like it took any damage at all despite its bump. The Charger, however, seemed like it ran into some trouble after crashing into the truck.
Alleged Aftermath
As per the the r/TeslaLounge subreddit member, the Cybertruck owner came rushing out to his vehicle after the Dodge Charger crashed into it. The Model Y owner then sent over the full video of the incident, which clearly showed the Charger attempting a burnout, failing, and bumping into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck owner likely appreciated the video, in part because it showed the driver of the Dodge Charger absolutely freaking out after the incident.
The Cybertruck is not an impregnable vehicle, but it can take bumps pretty well thanks to its thick stainless steel body. Based on this video, it appears that the Cybertruck can even take bumps from a charging Charger, all while chilling and charging at a Supercharger. As for the teens in the Dodge, they likely had to provide a long explanation to authorities after the incident, since the cops were called to the location.
Lifestyle
Anti-Elon Musk group crushes Tesla Model 3 with Sherman tank–with unexpected results
Ironically enough, the group’s video ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.

Anti-Elon Musk protesters and critics tend to show their disdain for the CEO in various ways, but a recent video from political action group Led By Donkeys definitely takes the cake when it comes to creativity.
Ironially enough, the group’s video also ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.
Tank vs. Tesla
In its video, Led By Donkeys featured Ken Turner, a 98-year-old veteran who served in the British army during World War II. The veteran stated that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is “using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe, and his money comes from Tesla cars.”
He also noted that he had a message for the Tesla CEO: “We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again.” To emphasize his point, the veteran proceeded to drive a Sherman tank over a blue Tesla Model 3 sedan, which, of course, had a plate that read “Fascism.”
The heavy tank crushed the Model 3’s glass roof and windows, much to the delight of Led By Donkeys’ commenters on its official YouTube channel. But at the end of it all, the aftermath of the anti-Elon Musk demonstration ended up showcasing something positive for the electric vehicle maker.
Tesla Model 3 Tanks the Tank?
As could be seen from the wreckage of the Tesla Model 3 after its Sherman encounter, only the glass roof and windows of the all-electric sedan were crushed. Looking at the wreckage of the Model 3, it seemed like its doors could still be opened, and everything on its lower section looked intact.
Considering that a standard M4 Sherman weighs about 66,800 to 84,000 pounds, the Model 3 actually weathered the tank’s assault really well. Granted, the vehicle’s suspension height before the political action group’s demonstration suggests that the Model 3’s high voltage battery had been removed beforehand. But even if it hadn’t been taken off, it seemed like the vehicle’s battery would have survived the heavy ordeal without much incident.
This was highlighted in comments from users on social media platform X, many of whom noted that a person in the Model 3 could very well have survived the ordeal with the Sherman. And that, ultimately, just speaks to the safety of Tesla’s vehicles. There is a reason why Teslas consistently rank among the safest cars on the road, after all.
Lifestyle
Tesla Model 3 driver is using FSD to travel to Mt. Everest Base Camp
The ambitious, nearly 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) Tesla FSD journey is being livestreamed on Chinese social media.

Count on Tesla drivers in China to push Full Self Driving (FSD) as far as it could go. As could be seen in videos posted on Chinese social media, a brave Model 3 owner is currently going on an epic journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest on FSD.
Recent posts from the Model 3 driver suggest that the ambitious destination may be within reach.
Epic FSD Journey
As noted by Tesla owner-enthusiast Aaron Li, the journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest spans almost 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). The journey itself is epic, with stunning vistas and roads that require some drivers to bring oxygen canisters with them. The fact that it is being done using FSD makes it extra impressive.
Based on the videos that have been recently shared, the Model 3 running FSD seems to be nearing the Everest Base Camp. There seems to be a good chance that the Tesla Model 3 may reach its destination this Friday.
Previous Everest Trips
This is not the first time that a Tesla has driven to Mt. Everest’s base camp. That would be a Model 3 that was driven in September 2020. That vehicle, which went on a long 5,500 km (3,400-mile) journey, was manually driven to its destination.
In April 2021, Tesla China announced that it has completed the buildout of 11 Supercharger stations in the picturesque route from Chengdu to Tingri. This route would allow drivers to reach the base camp of Mt. Everest. Sure enough, in July 2022, Tesla China shared a video of two Teslas—a Model X and Model Y—reaching the Everest base camp without any issues. Numerous other Tesla drivers have since taken on the long, picturesque journey.
Check out this Tesla Model Y’s journey to the Mt. Everest base camp in the video below.
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla Cybertruck Range Extender gets canceled
-
Elon Musk5 days ago
Tesla seems to have fixed one of Full Self-Driving’s most annoying features
-
Lifestyle2 weeks ago
Anti-Elon Musk group crushes Tesla Model 3 with Sherman tank–with unexpected results
-
News2 weeks ago
Starlink to launch on United Airlines planes by May 15
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla Semi gets new adoptee in latest sighting
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla launches its most inexpensive trim of new Model Y
-
News2 weeks ago
US’ base Tesla Model Y has an edge vs Shanghai and Berlin’s entry-level Model Ys
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla Cybertruck owners get amazing year-long freebie