Lifestyle
Tesla Model 3 reaction video highlights the excitement of first EV experiences
It is no secret that Tesla’s electric cars provide an experience that simply cannot be replicated by a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine. The silence of the drive, the instant torque from the electric motors, and the deep integration of software and hardware are but the tip of the iceberg in the list of things that separate Tesla’s vehicles from the cars of other automakers.
Being a new type of animal on the road, first experiences with Tesla’s electric cars are always memorable. More often than not, longtime Tesla owners would be able to narrate — from start to finish and in great detail — the first time they rode or drove one of the company’s creations. Most of the time, there is a lot of excitement involved, as unique features and the unique advantages inherent in an electric vehicle are felt for the first time.
This excitement was perfectly captured in a reaction video posted by Tesla Model 3 owner and YouTuber Andy Syle, who recently gave his niece and nephew a firsthand experience in his electric sedan. Andy showed some of his Model 3’s functions to the kids, such as Summon, Autopilot, its instant torque, as well as the car’s fun Easter Eggs. Needless to say, the entire video was quite adorable, as the kids interacted with what could very well be a car that would carry the passenger sedan over to the age of EVs.
What is particularly notable about the Model 3 owner’s video was how well the kids took in each of the car’s features. When Andy was demonstrating Autopilot, for one, his nephew immediately understood how the driver-assist function, while seemingly driving the vehicle on its own, is more of an advanced version of cruise control. The practical uses of Summon, as well as capabilities connected to the vehicle’s software, were also taken in by the kids without any degree of skepticism.
While undoubtedly an adorable video, Andy’s YouTube upload also teases one significant thing that bodes well for Tesla — these kids are future car buyers, and their impressions of the Model 3 were overwhelmingly positive. In the future, when they are purchasing their first vehicle, there is a very good chance that they would look for a one that is just as clean, just as powerful, and just as tech-integrated as Tesla’s electric cars.
Elon Musk dubs the Model 3 as a “bet-the-company” vehicle, a car that could determine Tesla’s success or failure. So far, though, the car has been performing well in the United States and Canada, and with manufacturing issues ironed out, other regions such as Europe and China are set to start receiving the Model 3 in early 2019. The Model 3 is only being offered in three variants, but the vehicle is already shaking up the United States’ passenger car industry. Meanwhile, the Model 3 Performance, the electric car’s top-tier variant, is challenging the upper echelons of Europe’s high-performance sedan market.
Perhaps the most disruptive variant of the Model 3, though, is one that is yet to be produced. Tesla intends to offer a base Model 3 that starts at $35,000. That’s a car loaded to the teeth with tech, starting at a price comparable to a top-tier Toyota Camry. When that vehicle comes out, there is a pretty good chance that the passenger car industry would be shaken to its roots unlike ever before.
Watch Andy Syle’s Model 3 reaction video in the video below.
Lifestyle
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update
Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.
Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.
The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.
Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video
With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:
Turn your Tesla into a rave cave with the new Light Sync feature 🎶
Rolling out now in software update 2025.26+ pic.twitter.com/IIsQxZ9jDP
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 29, 2025
To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”
Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.
Elon Musk
xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area.
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs
Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.
In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.
“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.
Musk Foundation donation
Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students.
The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”
“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.
The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”
Lifestyle
EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.
A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.
The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry.
A strategic fit
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.
That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.
“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”
Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”
Enabling the next wave
Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.
“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.
The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.
Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.
In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”
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