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Elon Musk teases ‘Ice Blaster’ as The Boring Co. delivers first 1000 flamethrowers

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Following the release of the Not-a-Flamethrower, it was only a matter of time before Elon Musk announced the next merchandise that The Boring Company would offer. Never one to disappoint, Musk stated that the Boring Co. Ice Blaster would be offered sometime before winter.

Elon Musk has actually mentioned the Boring Co. Ice Blaster earlier this year. Back in January, Musk was discussing the Not-a-Flamethrower on his Twitter page when one of his followers asked about the tunneling startup’s future products. During that time the Tesla and SpaceX CEO teased a device he dubbed as a “Freezegun.”

At this point, it seems safe to say that The Boring Company would indeed make an Ice Blaster sometime later this year. Musk, after all, has garnered a well-deserved reputation for joking about things on Twitter and eventually following up with something real. The Boring Co. Not-a-Flamethrower is the perfect example of this, as Musk first mentioned the device back in December 2017 seemingly as a joke, or at least that’s what it seemed like before the firestarter was released.

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In a way, selling an Ice Blaster would not be too difficult for the tunneling startup. The materials needed for a handheld Ice Blaster, after all, are already very similar to the items that The Boring Co. utilized for the Not-a-Flamethrower, such as a tank of propane and an internal trigger mechanism. Considering that liquid propane becomes super cold when it gets dispensed, all the tunneling startup really needs to do is to repurpose the Not-a-Flamethrower by removing its igniter. Once that is complete, the Boring Co. Ice Blaster is as good as done.

This actually makes Elon Musk’s “before winter” timeline more than feasible. The company, after all, only needs to manufacture another batch of modified Not-a-Flamethrowers to release its next product. Pricing for the icy device has not been announced, but it’s possible that the TBC Ice Blaster would be priced at around the same range as its fiery counterpart.

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The Boring Company’s pickup party for the first 1,000 Not-a-Flamethrowers on Saturday appeared to be a success. Based on images posted by Musk of the event, it seems like Not-a-Flamethrower reservation holders were had a grand time. One buyer, Frank Ippolito, even noted that since he bought the Not-a-Flamethrower, he was going to donate $1,000 to the California Wildfire Relief Fund. Responding to the Not-a-Flamethrower buyer, Musk stated that the Boring Company would be donating $10,000 to the CWRF.

The Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower was priced at $500 per piece, and it quickly proved to be an overwhelming success. The device sold out within four days, raising $10 million during its limited run. The Not-a-Flamethrower attracted its own set of critics, however, such as LA Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), who attempted to file a bill that would restrict the public’s access to flame-making devices. As we noted in a previous report, however, Santiago’s efforts ended up being held at the Assembly Appropriations Committee, ultimately becoming a victim of the state’s “suspense file” process.

For now, however, here’s an unboxing video of the Boring Company’s Not-a-Flamethrower, courtesy of Tesla owner-YouTuber and hypermiler that managed to squeeze 606 miles of range from a Model 3, Erik Strait.  

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

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:

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.

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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.

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(Credit: xAI)

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.

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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.”

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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.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

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.”

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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.

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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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