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
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!”
Elon Musk
X account with 184 followers inadvertently saves US space program amid Musk-Trump row
Needless to say, the X user has far more than 184 followers today after his level-headed feat.

An X user with 184 followers has become the unlikely hero of the United States’ space program by effectively de-escalating a row between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump on social media.
Needless to say, the X user has far more than 184 followers today after his level-headed feat.
A Near Fall
During Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s fallout last week, the U.S. President stated in a post on Truth Social that a good way for the United States government to save money would be to terminate subsidies and contracts from the CEO’s companies. Musk responded to Trump’s post by stating that SpaceX will start decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.
Musk’s comment was received with shock among the space community, partly because the U.S. space program is currently reliant on SpaceX to send supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Without Dragon, the United States will likely have to utilize Russia’s Soyuz for the same services—at a significantly higher price.
X User to the Rescue
It was evident among X users that Musk’s comments about Dragon being decommissioned were posted while emotions were high. It was then no surprise that an X account with 184 followers, @Fab25june, commented on Musk’s post, urging the CEO to rethink his decision. “This is a shame this back and forth. You are both better than this. Cool off and take a step back for a couple days,” the X user wrote in a reply.
Much to the social media platform’s surprise, Musk responded to the user. Even more surprising, the CEO stated that SpaceX would not be decommissioning Dragon after all. “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Not Planned, But Welcomed
The X user’s comment and Musk’s response were received extremely well by social media users, many of whom noted that @Fab25june’s X comment effectively saved the U.S. space program. In a follow-up comment, the X user, who has over 9,100 followers as of writing, stated that he did not really plan on being a mediator between Musk and Trump.
“Elon Musk replied to me. Somehow, I became the accidental peace broker between two billionaires. I didn’t plan this. I was just being me. Two great minds can do wonders. Sometimes, all it takes is a breather. Grateful for every like, DM, and new follow. Life’s weird. The internet’s weirder. Let’s ride. (Manifesting peace… and maybe a Model Y.)” the X user wrote.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck takes a bump from epic failing Dodge Charger
The Cybertruck seemed unharmed by the charging Charger.

There comes a time in a driver’s life when one is faced with one’s limitations. For the driver of a Dodge Charger, this time came when he lost control and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck–an absolute epic fail.
A video of the rather unfortunate incident was shared on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.
Charging Charger Fails
As could be seen in the video, which was posted on the subreddit by Model Y owner u/Hammer_of_something, a group of teens in a Dodge Charger decided to do some burnouts at a Tesla Supercharger. Unfortunately, the driver of the Charger failed in his burnout or donut attempt, resulting in the mopar sedan going over a curb and bumping a charging Cybertruck.
Ironically, the Dodge Charger seemed to have been parked at a Supercharger stall before its driver decided to perform the failed stunt. This suggests that the vehicle was likely ICE-ing a charging stall before it had its epic fail moment. Amusingly enough, the subreddit member noted that the Cybertruck did not seem like it took any damage at all despite its bump. The Charger, however, seemed like it ran into some trouble after crashing into the truck.
Alleged Aftermath
As per the the r/TeslaLounge subreddit member, the Cybertruck owner came rushing out to his vehicle after the Dodge Charger crashed into it. The Model Y owner then sent over the full video of the incident, which clearly showed the Charger attempting a burnout, failing, and bumping into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck owner likely appreciated the video, in part because it showed the driver of the Dodge Charger absolutely freaking out after the incident.
The Cybertruck is not an impregnable vehicle, but it can take bumps pretty well thanks to its thick stainless steel body. Based on this video, it appears that the Cybertruck can even take bumps from a charging Charger, all while chilling and charging at a Supercharger. As for the teens in the Dodge, they likely had to provide a long explanation to authorities after the incident, since the cops were called to the location.
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