Tesla Model S
Tesla’s best advertisements are the much-hyped ‘Tesla Killers’ from veteran auto
In one of his recent excursions on Twitter, Elon Musk reaffirmed that Tesla does not advertise. While traditional car companies invest a lot in advertisements, Tesla has mostly relied on word-of-mouth and clever initiatives such as referral programs to promote its vehicles. As the auto industry shifts towards electric transportation with more and more EVs from traditional auto, it is evident that Tesla’s best advertisements can actually come from its vehicles’ rivals in the market.
Take Audi, for example. The German automaker has already released its first all-electric vehicle, the e-tron, an SUV expected to compete against the Tesla Model X. Audi has been promoting the SUV heavily, as shown in physical advertisements such as billboards and social media campaigns. Jaguar’s the same with the I-PACE, and the same is true with Porsche and the Taycan. These veteran carmakers know the auto business, and they are aware that ultimately, advertisements work. And they do.
Back in March, the I-PACE comprised almost 6% of Jaguar’s entire US sales. This is the company’s first all-electric vehicle, and it is competing in the market without a dedicated rapid charging network or the convenience of Tesla’s frequent over-the-air updates. Despite this, the I-PACE appears to be seeing a lot of interest, especially among buyers who are already committed to Jaguar’s brand. Porsche is experiencing something similar with the Taycan. The company is yet to reveal the production version of the high-performance sedan, but the number of paid reservations for the Taycan already exceed the company’s initial estimate for the vehicle’s annual production rate. Audi’s e-tron also appears to be getting a lot of interest from car owners committed to German-made vehicles too, even if the company is reportedly running into issues with the SUV’s production.
These electric cars from veteran auto, while packaged and hyped as potential “Tesla Killers” at some point, actually play a valuable part in Elon Musk’s plan to wean the world away from fossil fuels. Each I-PACE, e-tron, or Taycan that is sold is ultimately not a blow against Tesla; rather, it is a blow against vehicles equipped with the internal combustion engine. Despite this, it is still pertinent to note that even if veteran auto’s much-promoted electric vehicles are designed to take down Tesla’s entries like the Model S and Model X, it might still take some time before these companies can create a compelling EV comparable to one of Tesla’s offerings. This results in one of the most ironic twists for Tesla, as the existence and performance of rival EVs end up becoming the perfect advertisements for its electric cars.
The Audi e-tron will be yet another perfect example to illustrate this point. When the vehicle was unveiled, Audi hinted that the all-electric SUV’s range would be around 300 miles per charge, thanks to its sizable 90 kWh battery. The vehicle was only given a very conservative and almost underwhelming 204 miles of range per charge by the EPA, which is estimated to be caused by the vehicle’s poor efficiency. Ironically, range and efficiency is something that Tesla, which is still learning the challenges of mass producing vehicles, has mastered over the years, as proven by the Model S Long Range, which can travel 370 miles on a single charge. This learning curve that veteran auto is currently traversing with regards to electric vehicles is something that was felt openly by r/TeslaMotors subreddit member u/SilverTangerine5599, who recently took the Audi e-tron on a 260-mile test drive in Europe.
Similar to the Jaguar I-PACE, the Audi e-tron relies on an existing electric vehicle charging network to recharge its batteries. This became a problem during the test drive, since several public chargers that were compatible with the premium all-electric SUV proved unavailable. Ultimately, the r/TeslaMotors subreddit member noted that he ended up charging the e-tron at a 10 kW connector, which took a very long time to charge the vehicle’s batteries. This proved to be quite frustrating, since several Teslas finished recharging at a nearby Supercharger while the e-tron charged for hours at 10 kW. In a post about the experience, the electric vehicle enthusiast noted that at least for now, Tesla’s best advertisement could very well be a customer’s firsthand experience in an EV that is not a Tesla.
It should be noted that the Jaguar I-PACE and the Audi e-tron are both first-generation vehicles, and thus, are only bound to get better with time. Both carmakers already have their interior and build quality locked in from their experience in producing internal combustion vehicles. In the coming years, Jaguar, Audi, and every other large automaker going all-in on electric cars will have to master ideas that first movers like Tesla have refined over the years, such as software and efficiency.
When Tesla open-sourced its patents, Elon Musk admitted that the company could not transition the transportation sector away from the internal combustion engine on its own. For such a change to happen, other companies would have to join the movement. The arrival of the I-PACE, the e-tron, and other all-electric vehicles like the Taycan show that the electric car movement is now gaining speed.
Lifestyle
Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results
There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals.
The monster from China
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower.
Real-world tests
As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.
The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.
News
This signature Tesla feature is facing a ban in one of its biggest markets
The report indicates that Chinese government agencies have concerns “about failure rates and safety issues with the flush design.”
A signature Tesla feature is under fire in one of the company’s largest markets, as regulators in one EV hot spot are mulling the potential ban of a design the automaker implemented on some of its vehicles.
Tesla pioneered the pop-out door handle on its Model S back in 2012, and CEO Elon Musk felt the self-presenting design was a great way to feel like “you’re part of the future.”
It is something that is still present on current Model S designs, while other vehicles in the Tesla lineup have a variety of handle aesthetics.
According to Chinese media outlet Mingjing Pro, the company, along with others using similar technology, is facing scrutiny on the design as regulators consider a ban on the mechanism. These restrictions would impact other companies that have utilized pop-out handles on their own designs; Tesla would not be the only company forced to make changes.
The report indicates that Chinese government agencies have concerns “about failure rates and safety issues with the flush design.”
However, EVs are designed to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, which is the main reason for this design. It is also the reason that many EVs utilize wheel covers, and sleek and flowing shapes.
However, the Chinese government is not convinced, as they stated the aerodynamic improvements are “minimal,” and safety issues are “significantly elevated,” according to The Independent.
The issue also seems to be focused on how effective the handle design is. According to data, one EV manufacturer, which was not specified in the report, has 12 percent of its total repairs are door handle failure fixes.
There are also concerns about the handles short-circuiting, leaving passengers trapped within cars. Tesla has implemented emergency latch releases in its vehicles that would prevent passengers from getting stuck in their cars in cases of electric malfunctions or failures.
However, evidence from the Chinese Insurance Automotive Technology Research Institute (C-IASI) suggests that 33 percent of door handles using this design fail to function after a side impact.
Obviously, Tesla and other automakers could introduce an alternative design to those vehicles that are affected by the potential restrictions China intends to impose. The regulation would take effect in July 2027.
News
Tesla pushes crazy ‘Luxe’ incentive package on flagship Model S and X
Tesla is pushing more customers to the Model S and Model X with a new incentive package.
Tesla has pushed a crazy new incentive package, known as the “Luxe Package,” on the flagship Model S and Model X, along with a $10,000 price increase on each trim level.
The move aims to likely bolster margins for the company on the two cars while also giving those who choose to buy the Tesla lineup mainstays a variety of awesome advantages, including Free Supercharging, Full Self-Driving, and other add-ons.
Tesla is offering a crazy Supercharging incentive on its two ‘sentimental’ vehicles
Last night, Tesla launched the “Luxe Package” for the Model S and Model X, which includes the following four add-ons:
- Full Self-Driving (Supervised) – Your car will be able to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention
- Four-Year Premium Service – Wheel and Tire Protection, Windshield Protection, and Recommended Maintenance
- Supercharging – Charge for free at 70,000+ Superchargers worldwide
- Premium Connectivity – Listen to music, stream movies, monitor live traffic, and more – no Wi-Fi needed
Full Self-Driving is priced at $8,000. Free Supercharging for the life of the car is between $10,000 and $15,000 over the life of the vehicle, although Tesla has valued it at $5,000 in recent promotions.
Free Premium Connectivity is roughly $1,000, and the four-year tire, wheel, windshield, and maintenance plan is about $3,200.
🚨 Tesla increased the price of both the Model S and Model X by $10,000, but both vehicles now include the “Luxe Package,” which includes:
-Full Self-Driving
-Four years of included maintenance, tire and wheel repairs, and windshield repairs/replacements
-Free lifetime… pic.twitter.com/LKv7rXruml— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 16, 2025
In all, the value is over $25,000, but this is loosely based on usage.
The Model S and Model X are low contributors to Tesla’s overall sales figures, as they make up less than five percent of sales from a quarterly perspective and have for some time.
As they are certainly the luxury choices in Tesla’s lineup, the Model 3 and Model Y are the bigger focus for the company, as a significantly larger portion of the company’s sales is made up of those vehicles.
The Luxe Package is an especially good idea for those who drive high-mileage and plan to use the Model S or Model X for commuting or long drives. The free Supercharging makes the deal worth it on its own.
As for the price bumps, each of the vehicles are now priced as follows:
- Model S All-Wheel-Drive: $94,990
- Model S Plaid: $109,990
- Model X All-Wheel-Drive: $99,990
- Model X Plaid: $114,990
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