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Porsche Taycan wheel and tire size revealed in pre-production prototype sighting
Porsche has stated that one of the Taycan’s primary characteristics will be its capability to be driven hard on the track. In order to do this, the upcoming all-electric four-door would have to be equipped with powerful motors, a well-balanced, hefty battery, and capable, high-performance wheels. It takes some serious rubber, after all, to ensure that the Taycan stays planted on the road when it’s ripping through a closed circuit.
So far, Porsche has kept the Taycan’s tire size secret. Even the camouflaged prototypes of the vehicle that have been deployed across the globe and spotted in numerous countries have mostly been equipped with unmarked tires. Fortunately, St00k, a moderator at TaycanEVForum.com, was recently able to capture a rare image one of the Taycan’s wheels that just happens to be marked.
What the TaycanEVForum.com moderator found was quite surprising. Looking at the Taycan prototypes that are being tested across the globe, it is easy to see that the all-electric vehicle is equipped with massive, wide tires.
As could be seen in the recently-shared photo, the Taycan prototype was equipped with 305/30/ZR21 Goodyear Eagle tires. That’s incredibly wide for a four-door sedan that’s the size of the Taycan, especially considering that the larger Tesla Model S P100D (now dubbed as the Model S Performance), only comes with 265/35/21 rear tires.
These large, wide tires hint at serious track performance for the Taycan. Large wheels such as 305/30/ZR21s, after all, provide exceptional handling for the upcoming all-electric car. This is particularly important for the Taycan, considering that one of its key selling points is its capability to be driven hard for extended periods of time without losing power.
So far, the Tesla Model 3 Performance is the benchmark when it comes to electric four-door sedans that can handle track driving, thanks to its dedicated Track Mode. With this in mind, Porsche would have to dig deep to make sure that the Taycan, which is significantly more expensive than the Model 3 Performance, will feature closed circuit driving capabilities that justify its Model S-level price.
While the Taycan’s 305/30/ZR21 tires confirm that the vehicle will be a monster around the track, the large tires also bring up some concerns about the vehicle’s range and efficiency. Larger, wider tires usually give optimum performance at the cost of range. This could be seen in the Model S, as a pre-“Raven” 100D equipped with 245/45/19 tires was listed with more range than a P100D fitted with 265/35/21 tires.
Hopefully, Porsche could balance the Taycan’s performance with its range well. This would allow the highly-anticipated vehicle to avoid the pitfalls of other premium EVs from European automakers such as Audi and Jaguar, both of whom have released otherwise great electric cars that are, unfortunately, the zero-emissions equivalent of gas-guzzlers.
Watch a preview of the Porsche Taycan’s track capabilities in the video below.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s net worth is nearing $800 billion, and it’s no small part due to xAI
A newly confirmed $20 billion xAI funding round valued the business at $250 billion, adding an estimated $62 billion to Musk’s fortune.
Elon Musk moved within reach of an unprecedented $800 billion net worth after private investors sharply increased the valuation of xAI Holdings, his artificial intelligence and social media company.
A newly confirmed $20 billion funding round valued the business at $250 billion, adding an estimated $62 billion to Musk’s fortune and widening his lead as the world’s wealthiest individual.
xAI’s valuation jump
Forbes confirmed that xAI Holdings was valued at $250 billion following its $20 billion funding round. That’s more than double the $113 billion valuation Musk cited when he merged his AI startup xAI with social media platform X last year. Musk owned roughly 49% of the combined company, which Forbes estimated was worth about $122 billion after the deal closed.
xAI’s recent valuation increase pushed Musk’s total net worth to approximately $780 billion, as per Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List. The jump represented one of the single largest wealth gains ever recorded in a private funding round.
Interestingly enough, xAI’s funding round also boosted the AI startup’s other billionaire investors. Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud held an estimated 1.6% stake in xAI worth about $4 billion, so the recent funding round boosted his net worth to $19.4 billion. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison each owned roughly 0.8% stakes that are now valued at about $2.1 billion, increasing their net worths to $6 billion and $241 billion, respectively.
The backbone of Musk’s net worth
Despite xAI’s rapid rise, Musk’s net worth is still primarily anchored by SpaceX and Tesla. SpaceX represents Musk’s single most valuable asset, with his 42% stake in the private space company estimated at roughly $336 billion.
Tesla ranks second among Musk’s holdings, as he owns about 12% of the EV maker’s common stock, which is worth approximately $307 billion.
Over the past year, Musk crossed a series of historic milestones, becoming the first person ever worth $500 billion, $600 billion, and $700 billion. He also widened his lead over the world’s second-richest individual, Larry Page, by more than $500 billion.
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Tesla Cybercab sighting confirms one highly requested feature
The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.
A recent sighting of Tesla’s Cybercab prototype in Chicago appears to confirm a long-requested feature for the autonomous two-seater.
The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.
The Cybercab’s camera washer
The Cybercab prototype in question was sighted in Chicago, and its image was shared widely on social media. While the autonomous two-seater itself was visibly dirty, its rear camera area stood out as noticeably cleaner than the rest of the car. Traces of water were also visible on the trunk. This suggested that the Cybercab is equipped with a rear camera washer.
As noted by Model Y owner and industry watcher Sawyer Merritt, a rear camera washer is a feature many Tesla owners have requested for years, particularly in snowy or wet regions where camera obstruction can affect visibility and the performance of systems like Full Self-Driving (FSD).
While only the rear camera washer was clearly visible, the sighting raises the possibility that Tesla may equip the Cybercab’s other external cameras with similar cleaning systems. Given the vehicle’s fully autonomous design, redundant visibility safeguards would be a logical inclusion.
The Cybercab in Tesla’s autonomous world
The Cybercab is Tesla’s first purpose-built autonomous ride-hailing vehicle, and it is expected to enter production later this year. The vehicle was unveiled in October 2024 at the “We, Robot” event in Los Angeles, and it is expected to be a major growth driver for Tesla as it continues its transition toward an AI- and robotics-focused company. The Cybercab will not include a steering wheel or pedals and is intended to carry one or two passengers per trip, a decision Tesla says reflects real-world ride-hailing usage data.
The Cybercab is also expected to feature in-vehicle entertainment through its center touchscreen, wireless charging, and other rider-focused amenities. Musk has also hinted that the vehicle includes far more innovation than is immediately apparent, stating on X that “there is so much to this car that is not obvious on the surface.”
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Tesla seen as early winner as Canada reopens door to China-made EVs
Tesla had already prepared for Chinese exports to Canada in 2023 by equipping its Shanghai Gigafactory to produce a Canada-specific version of the Model Y.
Tesla seems poised to be an early beneficiary of Canada’s decision to reopen imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, following the removal of a 100% tariff that halted shipments last year.
Thanks to Giga Shanghai’s capability to produce Canadian-spec vehicles, it might only be a matter of time before Tesla is able to export vehicles to Canada from China once more.
Under the new U.S.–Canada trade agreement, Canada will allow up to 49,000 vehicles per year to be imported from China at a 6.1% tariff, with the quota potentially rising to 70,000 units within five years, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Half of the initial quota is reserved for vehicles priced under CAD 35,000, a threshold above current Tesla models, though the electric vehicle maker could still benefit from the rule change, as noted in a Reuters report.
Tesla had already prepared for Chinese exports to Canada in 2023 by equipping its Shanghai Gigafactory to produce a Canada-specific version of the Model Y. That year, Tesla began shipping vehicles from Shanghai to Canada, contributing to a sharp 460% year-over-year increase in China-built vehicle imports through Vancouver.
When Ottawa imposed a 100% tariff in 2024, however, Tesla halted those shipments and shifted Canadian supply to its U.S. and Berlin factories. With tariffs now reduced, Tesla could quickly resume China-to-Canada exports.
Beyond manufacturing flexibility, Tesla could also benefit from its established retail presence in Canada. The automaker operates 39 stores across Canada, while Chinese brands like BYD and Nio have yet to enter the Canadian market directly. Tesla’s relatively small lineup, which is comprised of four core models plus the Cybertruck, allows it to move faster on marketing and logistics than competitors with broader portfolios.
Elon Musk’s net worth is nearing $800 billion, and it’s no small part due to xAI
Tesla Cybercab sighting confirms one highly requested feature
