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The day Saleen turned its attention to the Model S

The day Saleen turns their attention to the Tesla Model S, you can say electric cars have reached mainstream

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Saleen Tesla Model S
Saleen Tesla Model S

Saleen Tesla Model S

We’ve noticed a few tuners turn their attention to electric vehicles (EV) over the past few years. There is no better acknowledgement than to enhance an already pretty fantastic car, the Tesla Motors Model S.

Saleen’s Model S

When tuners turn their attention to a car, it is usually because there is potential. We’ll excuse the few piston heads who are still resisting electric cars when none other than famed exotic car maker Koenigsegg publicly says he preferred his Model S to his BMW sedan. Can you give electric vehicles any better recognition?

I interviewed Bisi from Bisimoto a month ago. Bisi is famous for his gasoline engine work, but what set him apart was the work he did on the original Honda CR-Z Turbo. The car pushes out 533HP, all of which are very drivable. I also met with John Mueller over a year ago after he brought a Mitsubishi i MiEV at the Mitsubishi’s Owners Day. When I asked him why an i MiEV, he simply said the writing is on the wall and EVs are the future. After taking a ride in the Muellerized i MiEV, it was clear EV tuners have their work cut out. John didn’t do anything to the electric motor or battery. Instead, he lowered the suspension, tweaked it and gave the car proper tires. This I MiEV handles better than most sedans, period. Is it any wonder why Saleen turned its attention to the electric car of the year, the Model S?

Saleen Tesla Model S

Saleen Tesla Model S

Going from muscle cars to electric cars is a leap, but the company, usually associated with Ford Mustangs is taking its creative energies to see what more could they squeeze out of a Model S. Using a 85 S model the company is still mum on the technicalities, but promised a powertrain modification. The extra intakes lead us to believe Saleen is working on a better cooling system, which will make the car more fun at a track event. See our series with John Tamplin takes his Model S to the track.

One thing is for sure, the aesthetics bring the Model S more in line with the domestic market, than its worldly cosmopolitan current design. The front fascia is slightly reminiscent of the previous Corvette, as well as Bob Lutz’s Fisker V8 redo. The Saleen would make the Model S more attractive for the Detroit muscle car crowd. Since the car looks more aggressive, it is only fair to extrapolate it will be lighter. The generous carbon-ceramic brakes and wheels only confirms our hunch.

Saleen Tesla Model S

Saleen Tesla Model S

If the Model S is a Maserati now, the Saleen version should make it closer to a Ferrari. It’s good to see tuners working on EVs. If the biggest problem with gasoline engines is to boost up the performance, it is the opposite for the electric motor. Tuners need to figure out how to raise the performance of something that needs to be tuned down in order to make it drivable. This is a great dilemma we look forward to seeing how Saleen tackles, but don’t get your hopes too high. It won’t be available until next summer. After all, it isn’t all that easy making perfection even better.

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World’s fastest Tesla Model S Plaid undergoes major changes

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The "Plaidessey" creation of the BoostedBoiz (Credit BoostedBoiz YouTube)

You may have seen the formerly wrecked, then gutted 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid that had most of its body cut off and set the quarter mile record back in August, but now, it is a completely different creation dubbed the “Plaidessey.”

YouTube channel BoostedBoiz is making another major change by chopping off what little remained of the Plaid and dropping a 2001 Honda Odyssey body onto what’s left to create the “ultimate sleeper.”

In all fairness, the Odyssey body actually fits pretty well over the Model S, with less than two inches separating the wheelbase and only minor changes needed for the fenders.

One hurdle was the B pillar of the van not lining to where the Model S had its B pillar, but once the front windshield of the Model S was cut off, it made the accessibility into the car much easier.

The “Plaidessey” halfway through the changes (Credit: BoostedBoiz YouTube)

Before this major alteration, they set the Model S Plaid quarter mile world record by running 8.71 seconds down the dragstrip after cutting off the body and adding an aluminum shell to help with aerodynamics.

After setting the world record, they ran into another problem with the suspension getting stuck in low mode and even took it by a couple of Tesla dealerships in Florida to see if they could help with the issue. Unsurprisingly they weren’t able to get much help considering the changes made.

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They were eventually able to enlist the help of Electrified Garage to help narrow down their issues and get a replacement part shipped out to fix the suspension.

Check out the transformation on the BoostedBoiz’s channel below!

What do you think of this creation from a 2022 Model S Plaid turned “Cyberkart” and now the “Plaidessey?”

Questions or comments? Shoot me an email at rangle@teslarati.com, or Tweet me @RDAnglePhoto.

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Tesla Model S conversion project births stunning two-door convertible

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The Tesla Model S was a subject of a conversion project at Ares’ Design, turning the flagship sedan into a stunning two-door convertible.

The Model S was Tesla’s second car behind the original Roadster from 2008. Since its original release in 2012, Tesla has made several small refinements to the car. One of the most notable is the omittance of the nosecone in favor of a new, more modern design. Tesla implemented this change in 2016, and it has been highly-accepted among the community.

Recently, rumors of a refresh to the Model S design have been circulating within the Tesla community. Because the flagship sedan and subsequent Model X vehicles have not been updated in several years, Tesla may be considering updating the design. While possibilities are endless and everyone has their opinion on what should be done, the folks at Ares Design in Modena, Italy put their own spin on the Model S, ridding it of the rear passenger doors and doing away with the top of the car.

The project started with the removal of the roof and central B-pillars, along with the rear doors. The wheelbase was then shortened to make the two-door design more reasonably aesthetic, and Ares designed their own doors that were fabricated to the specifications of the newly-refined Model S chassis. Structural reinforcements were added as well to ensure the safety of passengers.

Paired with interior upgrades that include new seating and a colorful new steering wheel with matching accents, the Model S from Ares is certainly one of the more interesting revisions to Tesla’s flagship sedan. However, it isn’t an ugly or unruly conversion by any means. However, some enthusiasts may have something to say about the revisions to the Model S’ design, as it was many early Tesla enthusiasts first EV.

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Ares has many projects that will fit the taste of nearly every automotive enthusiast on Earth. With projects that span from Tesla to Lamborghini, there are several different routes the design studio has taken over the years to ensure the satisfaction of their customers and fans.

“At Ares, our co-create philosophy allows clients to work side by side with our designers and engineers to create their very own bespoke vehicle, a service that is unique to ARES,” CEO Dany Bahar said in a statement on the company’s website. “This Tesla project is a superb example of this; it was a pure coachbuilding project which we very much enjoy doing and seeing the results of our uncompromising standards.”

What do you think? Leave a comment down below. Got a tip? Email us at tips@teslarati.com or reach out to me at joey@teslarati.com

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Unplugged Performance Tesla Model 3 in Street Spec Beats Legendary McLaren F1 at Tsukuba

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Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R 2 at Tsukuba Circuit, Japan (Source: Unplugged Performance)

A Tesla Model 3 Performance with modifications from EV tuning house Unplugged Performance has achieved an elusive feat. During a run in Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit, a location famed for its twists and turns, the modified all-electric sedan managed to beat the record of a legendary naturally aspirated supercar, the McLaren F1, with an impressive lap time of 1:03.3.

What’s rather interesting is that the Model 3 Performance was actually in its street settings when it was brought to the track, and its driver was a neophyte with electric cars. While the vehicle had a slew of modifications, the Model 3 was not tuned or modified specially for the Tsukuba Circuit. It was even equipped with OEM tires from a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997), which are good on the track but also great for regular driving.

The Model 3 that was used for the Tsukuba Circuit run was the same car that Unplugged Performance brought to the Tokyo Auto Salon. The vehicle, which belongs to Tesla owner enthusiast Erik Strait and dubbed as the Model 3 Ascension R, was brought over to Japan this January following its showcase at the SEMA 2019 show. The all-electric car was showcased in Japan as a way to demonstrate how classic tuning methods could be applied for high-performance EVs.

It should be noted that its record-breaking lap was not the first time Unplugged Performance’s Model 3 Ascension R was brought to Tsukuba Circuit. After its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the vehicle was brought to the track, where it came close to beating the McLaren F1’s lap record with a time of 1:04.7. This was just one-tenth of a second slower than the McLaren F1’s record of 1:04.6.

While the McLaren F1 is no longer the world’s fastest supercar today, the vehicle remains one of the most formidable forces of automotive engineering ever created. The car, which saw production between 1992 to 1998, was considered groundbreaking and insane at the same time. In 1998, the F1 took the title as the world’s fastest production car with a speed of 240.1 mph, and it held on to its crown until it was beaten by the Koenigsegg CCR in 2005. Even decades after its release, the McLaren F1 remains the world’s fastest naturally-aspirated production car in the industry.

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For Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Shaffer, The Tesla Model 3 Ascension R is a love song of sorts to his background in JDM vehicles. It’s a fast electric car that is very capable on the track, of course, but it is also a proper road car that can be used for everyday driving.

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