Lifestyle
Tesla’s cross country rally looks to set a new Guinness world record

It was shortly after midnight this evening when I watched two Model S’ embark on a Tesla cross country cannonball run with a mission
– a mission to set a new Guinness world record for the lowest time of charge by an electric vehicle to travel across the United States. This comes just days after father-daughter duo had set another record for becoming the first Tesla Model S to drive coast-to-coast using nothing but the proprietary Tesla Supercharger.
This was my first official Tesla Motors promotional event so I really didn’t know what to expect. We usually have our team of journalists reporting on these kind of invitational events, but tonight will be a different story – I’m going! My usual nightly activity of watching re-runs of Breaking Bad can wait for all I care. Tonight I’ll be there to support the kick-off to this momentous occasion, but secretly I’m also there to satisfy an ulterior motive to chat it up with Elon himself.
The Tesla Cross Country Rally Event
The event was held at the Tesla design studio in Hawthorne, Los Angeles which neighbors Mr. Musk’s other venture – you’ve probably heard of it – a little company by the name of Space X. You know, the first private company contracted by NASA that successfully sent a spacecraft to the International Space Station.
As I pull into the venue, the sheer number of people and Model S vehicles that were present immediately takes me aback. For some reason I had this preconceived notion that Wednesday evenings at 10pm+ is a time of rest and relaxation (or re-runs of Breaking Bad in my case), but that wasn’t the case here. Dimly lit amber mood lighting line pockets of modern lounge furniture while a DJ spins the tunes of what can only be described as some form of electronic dance music (EDM). I get it. Electronic music to inspire electric vehicles! Right? Perhaps that’s the kind of rationale that takes form after hitting multiple rounds of an open bar – EDM for EV. I like it. Now where I can get another beer?
Young and old alike were there to talk Tesla and about the life changing moments derived from their experiences with the Model S. The thrill of piloting a silent rocket ship, never having to pay for your commute, and never having to worry about using an ignition key are just some of the things that Model S owners start to get spoiled by. One Model S owner that I spoke with mentioned that his old Honda Civic has become his weekend ride, but for a reason purely out of necessity – the need to remain grounded and not lose sight that the rest of the world is still driving on 1920’s gas burning technology. It makes him appreciate the Model S all that much more and never lose sight of the amenities that most owners have gotten quite accustomed to.
The Send-Off
A crowd forms around the towering Supercharger so I instinctively start to gravitate towards it only to find Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Designer for Tesla Motors, perched on the ledge below. So that’s why everyone’s there, I think to myself. Cool. It looks like he’s about to make a speech. He speaks to the audience about free coast-to-coast travel using the Tesla Supercharger network, and makes mention of John and Jill’s historic road trip across America. Franz goes on to explain how the two Tesla Model S teams that are present will attempt to set a new Guinness world record by traveling from LA to NY while using the lowest amount of time charging. The teams will power through all inclement weather that lies ahead and reach NY within three days, or so is the plan.
Franz steps down from the base of the Supercharger and begins to greet fans and friends. Here is Franz showing us some pictures of his famed electric-blue Model S from his iPhone.
Shortly after midnight, the two teams depart from the design center and make their way down to LA City Hall where they officially start the race. Time: 12:40am PST. Godspeed ahead Tesla Cross Country Rally team!
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The Official Start Time: 12:40am PST, Jan. 30, 2013 [/tab][/tabs]
Lifestyle
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update
Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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:
Turn your Tesla into a rave cave with the new Light Sync feature 🎶
Rolling out now in software update 2025.26+ pic.twitter.com/IIsQxZ9jDP
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 29, 2025
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.
Elon Musk
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.

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.
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.”
Lifestyle
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.

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.”
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.
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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