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Porsche Taycan driver's view is unmistakably 911 Porsche Taycan driver's view is unmistakably 911

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Porsche Taycan’s touchscreens are not like Tesla’s, but that’s a good thing

Porsche Taycan curved digital instrument cluster | Credit: Porsche

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Porsche has released teaser images of the Taycan’s interior, and the reception from the electric vehicle community has been somewhat mixed. The cabin of the upcoming all-electric sports car is arguably the most forward-thinking among Porsche’s lineup. It is also not difficult to see that the German carmaker adopted a theme that is notably different compared to Tesla’s ubiquitous and minimalistic cabin, but that is a good thing. 

When Porsche was designing the Taycan, the company was not designing a vehicle like the Model 3. Instead, the company was designing an electric Porsche. In this sense, a degree of familiarity is needed, especially considering that among the Taycan’s target demographic are people that have long embraced the company’s other vehicles, such as the iconic 911. 

This is a notable point, considering that the community’s aversion to the Taycan’s dash layout seemed to be due to the number of buttons and icons across the vehicle’s multiple touchscreens. Some comments noted that the only difference between the controls of the Taycan and something more traditional like the Cayenne is that the buttons are now touch-based instead of mechanical. 

The Porsche Taycan is equipped with five touchscreens. Its instrument cluster, which has four Driving Modes, consists of a curved, rounded 16.8″ display with touch-enabled buttons on the sides. This is complemented by a central 10.9″ infotainment screen and a secondary display for the front passenger. An 8.4″ touch panel with haptic feedback stands as the Taycan’s fourth touchscreen, while a fifth, optional 5.9″ display is also available for rear-seat passengers to adjust climate control and other settings. 

Porsche intends to adopt an aggressive rollout of electric and electrified vehicles in the near future, with the Taycan being the car to lead the charge. The Taycan must then strike a balance between traditional and progressive. Having a series of touch-based controls that are relatively similar to the controls the Porsche 911 and its other fleet of vehicles helps this case. Apart from this, the company has also highlighted that the Taycan’s touch displays are customizable, which means that drivers could adopt a more streamlined theme to their vehicles’ multiple touchscreens as needed. Having a fully digital display also gives Porsche the ability to gradually, and strategically, institute changes to its user interface design through software updates, and in a way that eases its audience into the age of modern user experiences.

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But as it stands now, there is a certain degree of familiar ergonomics that is provided with the Taycan’s multiple touch displays. The optional touch panel on the passenger side, for one, allows passengers to navigate the vehicle’s functions without leaning over to the center console. The haptic feedback on the display at the center console is easily accessible from the passenger seat as well. 

Ultimately, credit is due to Porsche for putting a notable amount of effort in developing a custom touch-based control system for the Taycan. It may not have the distinctly Silicon Valley-esque theme that is present in the Model 3, but the Taycan’s multiple digital touch-based controls show serious effort. It is, if any, notably better than the dual-screen infotainment system on the Audi e-tron, which appears to have been directly derived from an internal combustion vehicle.

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Tesla Model 3 becomes Netherlands’ best-selling used EV in 2025

More than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3.

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Credit: Tesla Asia/Twitter

The Tesla Model 3 became the most popular used electric car in the Netherlands in 2025, cementing its dominance well beyond the country’s new-car market. 

After years at the top of Dutch EV sales charts, the Model 3 now leads the country’s second-hand EV market by a wide margin, as record used-car purchases pushed electric vehicles further into the mainstream.

Model 3 takes a commanding lead

The Netherlands recorded more than 2.1 million used car sales last year, the highest level on record. Of those, roughly 4.8%, or about 102,000 vehicles, were electric. Within that growing segment, the Tesla Model 3 stood far ahead of its competitors.

In 2025 alone, 11,338 used Model 3s changed hands, giving the car an 11.1% share of the country’s entire used EV market. That means more than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3, Auto Week Netherlands reported. The scale of its lead is striking: the gap between the Model 3 and the second-place finisher, the Volkswagen ID3, is more than 6,700 vehicles.

Rivals trail as residual values shape rankings

The Volkswagen ID.3 ranked a distant second, with 4,595 used units sold and a 4.5% market share. Close behind was the Audi e-tron, which placed third with 4,236 registrations. As noted by Auto Week Netherlands, relatively low residual values likely boosted the e-tron’s appeal in the used market, despite its higher original price.

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Other strong performers included the Kia Niro, the Tesla Model Y, and the Hyundai Kona, highlighting continued demand for compact and midsize electric vehicles with proven range and reliability. No other model, however, came close to matching the Model 3’s scale or market presence.

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Tesla Model Y Standard Long Range RWD launches in Europe

The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.

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Credit: Tesla Europe & Middle East/X

Tesla has expanded the Model Y lineup in Europe with the introduction of the Standard Long Range RWD variant, which offers an impressive 657 km of WLTP range. 

The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.

Model Y Standard Long Range RWD Details

Tesla Europe & Middle East highlighted some of the Model Y Standard Long Range RWD’s most notable specs, from its 657 km of WLTP range to its 2,118 liters of cargo volume. More importantly, Tesla also noted that the newly released variant only consumes 12.7 kWh per 100 km, making it the most efficient Model Y to date. 

The Model Y Standard provides a lower entry point for consumers who wish to enter the Tesla ecosystem at the lowest possible price. While the Model 3 Standard is still more affordable, some consumers might prefer the Model Y Standard due to its larger size and crossover form factor. The fact that the Model Y Standard is equipped with Tesla’s AI4 computer also makes it ready for FSD’s eventual rollout to the region. 

Top Gear’s Model Y Standard review

Top Gear‘s recent review of the Tesla Model Y Standard highlighted some of the vehicle’s most notable features, such as its impressive real-world range, stellar infotainment system, and spacious interior. As per the publication, the Model Y Standard still retains a lot of what makes Tesla’s vehicles well-rounded, even if it’s been equipped with a simplified interior.

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Top Gear compared the Model Y Standard to its rivals in the same segment. “The introduction of the Standard trim brings the Model Y in line with the entry price of most of its closest competition. In fact, it’s actually cheaper than a Peugeot e-3008 and costs £5k less than an entry-level Audi Q4 e-tron. It also makes the Ford Mustang Mach-E look a little short with its higher entry price and worse range,” the publication wrote. 

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Elon Musk’s xAI bets $20B on Mississippi with 2GW AI data center project

The project is expected to create hundreds of permanent jobs, dramatically expand xAI’s computing capacity, and further cement the Mid-South as a growing hub for AI infrastructure.

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Credit: Governor Tate Reeves/X

Elon Musk’s xAI plans to pour more than $20 billion into a massive new data center campus in Southaven, Mississippi, marking the largest single economic development project in the state’s history. 

The project is expected to create hundreds of permanent jobs, dramatically expand xAI’s computing capacity, and further cement the Mid-South as a growing hub for AI infrastructure.

xAI goes MACROHARDRR in Mississippi

xAI has acquired and is retrofitting an existing facility in Southaven to serve as a new data center, which will be known as “MACROHARDRR.” The site sits near a recently acquired power plant and close to one of xAI’s existing data centers in Tennessee, creating a regional cluster designed to support large-scale AI training and inference. 

Once completed, the Southaven facility is expected to push the company’s total computing capacity to nearly 2 GW, placing it among the most powerful AI compute installations globally. The data center is scheduled to begin operations in February 2026.

Gov. Tate Reeves shared his optimism about the project in a press release. “This record-shattering $20 billion investment is an amazing start to what is sure to be another incredible year for economic development in Mississippi. Today, Elon Musk is bringing xAI to DeSoto County, a project that will transform the region and bring amazing opportunities to its residents for generations. This is the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history,” he said. 

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xAI’s broader AI ambitions

To secure the investment, the Mississippi Development Authority approved xAI for its Data Center Incentive program, which provides sales and use tax exemptions on eligible computing hardware and software. The City of Southaven and DeSoto County are also supporting the project through fee-in-lieu agreements aimed at accelerating development timelines and reducing upfront costs.

Founded in 2023 by Elon Musk, xAI develops advanced artificial intelligence systems focused on large-scale reasoning and generative applications. Its flagship product, Grok, is integrated with the social media platform X, alongside a growing suite of APIs for image generation, voice, and autonomous agents, including offerings tailored for government use.

Elon Musk highlighted xAi’s growth and momentum in a comment about the matter. “xAI is scaling at an immeasurable pace — we are building our third massive data center in the greater Memphis area. MACROHARDRR pushes our Colossus training compute to ~2GW – by far the most powerful AI system on Earth. This is insane execution speed by xAI and the state of Mississippi. We are grateful to Governor Reeves for his support of building xAI at warp speed,” Musk said. 

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