Lifestyle
Why Women Should Drive Model S: Passion, Passengers and Purses
Previously, we took a nearly satirical look at 11 reasons a woman would want to drive a Model S. As a woman with over one blissful year of co-ownership with my better half, I wanted to dig deeper. I present to you: Passion, passengers and purses.
Passion – The Model S is sexy; no two ways about it! This car is a head-turner. It is sleek, sporty, smart and silent. It’s a Carrie and a Miranda. It’s also a Mindy, because the car is so smart and intuitive, it’s the PhD of the car world. It is smart enough to improve over time, even taking real life data to correct previous mistakes like slowing too abruptly while using Traffic Aware Cruise Control.
But passion is more than initial attraction.
The Model S has performance that is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced and that is what drives real passion. The high you get from stepping on that go pedal and feeling the car expertly and intensely leap forward can leave you breathless. You will outgun nearly any car on the road, merge onto a highway with ease and pass a large truck in an instant. You will do all this while gripping a steering wheel so luxurious in feel that it practically dares you to “Grab on, beautiful and see what my instant torque can do!”
Passengers – Who do you transport? Friends, parents, tiny humans? The rear seat is large and comfortable. Thanks to the lack of center floor bump from all those unnecessary mechanicals that a gasoline-powered car has, three adults can sit comfortably in the rear. As can three children. Or, in my case, two very tall friends and their little one in a car seat between them. Oh, and have I mentioned the optional third row? That little gem can accommodate two kids between the ages of 3-7 (size restrictions apply) without the use of a car seat. They have harness style seat belts and remind you of the old family station wagon. Except, better in every possible way.
If you’re like me, who rarely has passengers, the Tesla is a quiet escape. A friend to talk to. Think of a song that matches your mood or call up a dance party for one.
But most of all, Model S is a safe haven. Literally. The testing authorities have spoken and this car is an all around winner. As Elon Musk recently explained, safety isn’t really measured in stars (though this car ranks in fives), it’s measured by how likely you are to get injured in an accident. Whether you are driving solo, bringing that new baby home from the hospital, toting elderly parents or wrangling a whole carpool of other people’s kids, you can be assured that your precious cargo will be kept safe.
Purses – To me, purses are a necessary evil because two phones and a tube of Chapstick is too much to fit into my pockets. To some, they are a hobby, accessory, or diaper bag. Whatever your case, all but the largest purses will sit nicely in the center. No more wondering where to place it when you have a front passenger and no more watching it slide onto the floor, spilling contents, when the goofball driver in front of you stops too quickly.
Bonus: Environmental friendliness. Most of us have started to care more, in one way or another, about how our actions impact the environment. Be it recycling, installing LED bulbs at home or even making use of solar panels, there are things we can all do to make a smaller impact. Driving an electric car is one of the most enjoyable ways to further that mission.
Side Note: But Electric Jen, I “need” and SUV. No you don’t. With available dual motor all wheel drive your Model S will perform in the snow and ice just as well, if not better, than that SUV you think you need. Cargo space? The hatch plus frunk probably bests your SUV in cubic feet. Lot of passengers? The optional third row seat matches even the largest SUVs by seating 7. Visibility? I’m 5’1″ and can’t really see over the hood of my Genesis Coupe but in the Tesla, have a commanding seating position. Still not convinced? Go ahead and put in your reservation for the Model X but don’t say I didn’t warn you the wait for one will be torture.
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Lifestyle
Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results
There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals.
The monster from China
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower.
Real-world tests
As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.
The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.
Lifestyle
500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y.
BYD is seeing a lot of momentum in Europe, so much so that mainstream media has taken every opportunity to argue that the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla in the region. But while BYD sales this year in Europe are rising and Tesla’s registrations remain challenged, the raw capabilities of vehicles like the Model Y are difficult to deny.
This was highlighted in a 500-mile challenge by What Car? magazine, which showed that the new Tesla Model Y is more efficient, cheaper to run, and more reliable than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7, and even the nearly 400 KW-charging MG IM6.
Range and charging promises
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y. The Sealion 7 had more estimated range and the IM6 promised significantly faster charging. When faced with real-world conditions, however, it was still the Model Y that proved superior.
During the 500-mile test, the BYD nearly failed to reach a charging stop, arriving with less range than its display projected, as noted in a CarUp report. MG fared better, but its charging speeds never reached its promised nearly-400 kW charging speed. Tesla’s Model Y, by comparison, managed energy calculations precisely and arrived at each stop without issue.
Tesla leads in areas that matter
Charging times from 25% to 80% showed that the MG was the fastest at 17 minutes, while Tesla and BYD were close at 28 and 29 minutes, respectively. Overall efficiency and cost told a different story, however. The Model Y consumed 19.4 kWh per 100 km, compared to 22.2 for MG and 23.9 for BYD. Over the full trip, Tesla’s charging costs totaled just £82 thanks to its supercharger network, far below BYD’s £130 and MG’s £119.
What Car? Magazine’s testers concluded that despite BYD’s rapid sales growth and the MG IM6’s seriously impressive charging speeds, Tesla remains the more compelling real-world choice. The Model Y just offers stability, efficiency, and a proven charging infrastructure through its Supercharging network. And as per the magazine’s hosts, the Model Y is even the cheapest car to own among the three that were tested.
Watch What Car? Magazine’s 500-mile test in the video below.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe
One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.
A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.”
The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.
The world’s least intimidating ticket
According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.
Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.
Peak performative clownery
Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value.
Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.
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