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Tesla Model 3 with Ludicrous may be coming as Model S, X receives ‘Plaid’ updates
Tesla’s upcoming “Plaid Powertrain” update for the Model S stands to widen the gap between the electric car maker and its competitors in the EV segment. And with the rollout of a faster, more track-capable flagship sedan that’s equipped with a new powertrain and triple motors, Tesla appears to be setting the stage for one of the Model 3’s biggest potential updates — the introduction of Ludicrous Mode.
While Tesla’s “Plaid Powertrain” is still about a year from production, a look at the behavior of Tesla’s Model S prototype at the Nürburgring shows that the electric car maker is tuning its flagship sedan for the track. Videos captured of the vehicle’s passes at certain segments of the nearly 13-mile circuit, for one, suggest that the Model S’ track performance is starting to look comparable to the Porsche Taycan, which was honed in the Nürburgring. This is something that past generations of the Model S were not able to do very well, including the drag racing monster that’s the P100D.
With the introduction of a “Plaid Powertrain,” Tesla could very well be ushering in a new generation of Model S and Model X that is faster, tighter around a racetrack’s corners, and more efficient. Musk’s statement about the upcoming “Plaid” vehicles being more expensive than Tesla’s current Model S and X variants suggests that this will be the case. In a year, it would not be surprising if Tesla would start equipping the Model S and X with “Plaid Mode” instead of Ludicrous Mode.
Fortunately, the beloved Ludicrous Mode will likely not be going away with the introduction of “Plaid Mode.” This is because there is a perfect vehicle that is pretty much tailor-fit and ready for it: the Model 3. The sedan, after all, already has an efficient powertrain, and its batteries are comprised of 2170 cells manufactured in Gigfactory 1 at Nevada. At least from the perspective of electric car batteries and powertrain, there does not seem to be anything that could get in the way of the Model 3 receiving a Ludicrous Mode update.
What is quite interesting is that CEO Elon Musk has actually confirmed this in the past. Just a few weeks after the initial unveiling of the Model 3, Elon Musk was asked on Twitter if Ludicrous Mode will be coming to the more affordable, midsize sedan. Musk’s answer only comprised two words, but they were direct: “Of course,” he wrote.
So far, the Tesla Model 3 has been causing a disruption of its own in the high-performance sedan market even without a dedicated launch mode for straight-line races. Track Mode is great for closed circuit driving, but it is difficult to argue against the idea of a Ludicrous Mode-equipped Model 3 dominating in the drag strip as well. Tesla could even get substantial revenue from introducing Ludicrous to the Model 3, as the feature mostly involves software optimizations.
Tesla’s “Plaid Powertrain” update for the Model S and Model X, together with a potential Ludicrous upgrade for the Model 3 (and likely the Model Y) stands to usher in a new era for the company’s electric cars. If Elon Musk’s recent Twitter announcements are any indication, it appears that Tesla is building up to a generation of vehicles that are both ludicrously quick on a straight line, and capable of performing excellently in a track. Such vehicles, if any, serve as perfect companions to the company’s halo car, the next-generation Tesla Roadster, which was designed to be a “hardcore smackdown” to gasoline-powered vehicles.
Elon Musk
Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla CEO pay package
The unanimous decision criticized the prior total rescission as “improper and inequitable,” arguing that it left Musk uncompensated for six years of transformative leadership at Tesla.
The Delaware Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling, reinstating Elon Musk’s 2018 compensation package originally valued at $56 billion but now worth approximately $139 billion due to Tesla’s soaring stock price.
The unanimous decision criticized the prior total rescission as “improper and inequitable,” arguing that it left Musk uncompensated for six years of transformative leadership at Tesla. Musk quickly celebrated the outcome on X, stating that he felt “vindicated.” He also shared his gratitude to TSLA shareholders.
Delaware Supreme Court makes a decision
In a 49-page ruling Friday, the Delaware Supreme Court reversed Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick’s 2024 decision that voided the 2018 package over alleged board conflicts and inadequate shareholder disclosures. The high court acknowledged varying views on liability but agreed rescission was excessive, stating it “leaves Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years.”
The 2018 plan granted Musk options on about 304 million shares upon hitting aggressive milestones, all of which were achieved ahead of time. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved it initially in 2018 and ratified it once again in 2024 after the Delaware lower court struck it down. The case against Musk’s 2018 pay package was filed by plaintiff Richard Tornetta, who held just nine shares when the compensation plan was approved.
A hard-fought victory
As noted in a Reuters report, Tesla’s win avoids a potential $26 billion earnings hit from replacing the award at current prices. Tesla, now Texas-incorporated, had hedged with interim plans, including a November 2025 shareholder-approved package potentially worth $878 billion tied to Robotaxi and Optimus goals and other extremely aggressive operational milestones.
The saga surrounding Elon Musk’s 2018 pay package ultimately damaged Delaware’s corporate appeal, prompting a number of high-profile firms, such as Dropbox, Roblox, Trade Desk, and Coinbase, to follow Tesla’s exodus out of the state. What added more fuel to the issue was the fact that Tornetta’s legal team, following the lower court’s 2024 decision, demanded a fee request of more than $5.1 billion worth of TSLA stock, which was equal to an hourly rate of over $200,000.
Delaware Supreme Court Elon Musk 2018 Pay Package by Simon Alvarez
News
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the vehicle being reported across social media this week.
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the autonomous two-seater being reported across social media this week. Based on videos of the vehicle that have been shared online, it appears that Cybercab tests are underway across multiple states.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Reports of Cybercab tests have ramped this week, with a vehicle that looked like a production-ready prototype being spotted at Apple’s Visitor Center in California. The vehicle in this sighting was interesting as it was equipped with a steering wheel. The vehicle also featured some changes to the design of its brake lights.
The Cybercab was also filmed testing at the Fremont factory’s test track, which also seemed to involve a vehicle that looked production-ready. This also seemed to be the case for a Cybercab that was spotted in Austin, Texas, which happened to be undergoing real-world tests. Overall, these sightings suggest that Cybercab testing is fully underway, and the vehicle is really moving towards production.
Production design all but finalized?
Recently, a near-production-ready Cybercab was showcased at Tesla’s Santana Row showroom in San Jose. The vehicle was equipped with frameless windows, dual windshield wipers, powered butterfly door struts, an extended front splitter, an updated lightbar, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. Interior updates include redesigned dash/door panels, refined seats with center cupholders, updated carpet, and what appeared to be improved legroom.
There seems to be a pretty good chance that the Cybercab’s design has been all but finalized, at least considering Elon Musk’s comments at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk confirmed that the vehicle will enter production around April 2026, and its production targets will be quite ambitious.
News
Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Swedish union Vision has withdrawn its sympathy blockade against Tesla’s planned service center and showroom in Kalmar. As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Vision’s decision to pull the blockade
Vision announced the blockade in early December, stating that it was targeting the administrative handling of Tesla’s facility permits in Kalmar municipality. The sympathy measure was expected to start Monday, but was formally withdrawn via documents sent to the Mediation Institute and Kalmar Municipality last week.
As noted in a Daggers Arbete report, plans for the strike were ultimately pulled after employer group SKR highlighted potential illegality under the Public Employment Act. Vision stressed its continued backing for the Swedish labor model, though Deputy negotiation manager Oskar Pettersson explained that the Vision union and IF Metall made the decision to cancel the planned strike together.
“We will not continue to challenge the regulations,” Petterson said. “The objection was of a technical nature. We made the assessment together with IF Metall that we were not in a position to challenge the legal assessment of whether we could take this particular action against Tesla. Therefore, we chose to revoke the notice itself.”
The SKR’s warning
Petterson also stated that SKR’s technical objection to the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla strike framed the protest as an unauthorized act. “It was a legal assessment of the situation. Both for us and for IF Metall, it is important to be clear that we stand for the Swedish model. But we should not continue to challenge the regulations and risk getting judgments that lead nowhere in the application of the regulations,” he said.
Vision ultimately canceled its planned blockade against Tesla on December 9. With Vision’s withdrawal, few obstacles remain for Tesla’s long-planned Kalmar site. A foreign electrical firm completed work this fall, and Tesla’s Careers page currently lists a full-time service manager position based there, signaling an imminent opening.
Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla CEO pay package
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
