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Tesla is missing one type of vehicle in its lineup and fans want it fast

Tesla is missing one vehicle from its lineup and its fans and owners are hoping the company builds it.

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Tesla’s lineup of vehicles has expanded considerably over the last few years. At first, the company offered the Model S luxury sedan, then the Model X luxury SUV, which has the seats but not the space or the affordability that everyone is looking for.

The Model 3 and Model Y are sedan and crossover vehicles that have launched the company into the mass-market category. The Cybertruck brought out the company’s first-ever pickup design, and while it is unorthodox, it is certainly functional.

Tesla Cybertrucks join Jalisco’s police fleet ahead of FIFA World Cup

But there is one thing Tesla is missing in its lineup, and it is a vehicle type that many have waited for and want. The company currently has not announced any plans to produce it, but its fans are loud and persistent, and we’ve even nudged Tesla to consider making it.

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It’s a full-size SUV.

This particular segment is dominated by combustion engines currently: Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon topped sales with 105,756 and 82,304 units sold, respectively. The Ford Expedition is just behind with 62,007 units sold last year. There are a few formidable competitors on the EV side of things, with the Rivian R1S, the GMC Hummer SUV EV, and even the Kia EV9.

However, Tesla has yet to dip its toe into this market, and it seems many of its fans are willing to admit that the company is missing a true “people mover” with enough space to handle a cross-country road trip with a handful of kids.

Why Not the Model X?

The Model X is likely Tesla’s lowest-selling vehicle. It contributes very little to the overall mission of the company, and even CEO Elon Musk once said that it, along with the Model S, is only produced due to “sentimental reasons.”

When it comes to the X, it’s simply not quite what people are looking for in terms of a “full-size SUV.” Instead, it is more of a van/crossover SUV hybrid. It does not have tons of cargo and interior space.

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It does have a lot of great tech, a flashy look, and adequate range for that trip with the kids. It’s a great car, and one that Tesla is planning to refine with an upcoming refresh, its second this decade.

However, it falls short of what would qualify as a full-size SUV, especially considering its third row is a little tight, even for younger children.

But it’s not quite what many would consider as what Tesla needs to fill this void in its lineup.

What Could Be Coming?

Many fans say they would like to see a CyberSUV — something built on the Cybertruck platform but in the form of a full-size SUV. This is not totally out of the question, especially considering Tesla has already made it clear the Cybercab would adopt the same sort of aesthetic as the Cybertruck.

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However, we can all agree it’s a far cry from what the Cybertruck truly is, and Tesla likely will not build something that’s even close to the pickup. It already admitted it would not adopt the stainless steel exoskeleton for future vehicles in the Q4 2024 Shareholder Deck.

So, if Tesla were to decide to build something that would be in the full-size SUV segment, it wouldn’t look like the Cybertruck.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla Model S and X customization options begin to thin as their closure nears

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Model S and Model X customization options are beginning to thin for the first time as the closure of the two “sentimental” vehicles nears.

We are officially seeing the first options disappear as Tesla begins to work toward ending production of the two cars and the options that are available to those vehicles specifically.

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

Tesla is making way for the Optimus humanoid robot project at the Fremont Factory, where the Model S and Model X are produced. The two cars are low-volume models and do not contribute more than a few percent to Tesla’s yearly delivery figures.

With CEO Elon Musk confirming that the Model S and Model X would officially be phased out at the end of the quarter, some of the options are being thinned out.

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This is an expected move considering Tesla’s plans for the two vehicles, as it will make for an easier process of transitioning that portion of the Fremont plant to cater to Optimus manufacturing. Additionally, this is likely one of the least popular colors, and Tesla is choosing to only keep around what it is seeing routine demand for.

During the Q4 Earnings Call in January, Musk confirmed the end of the Model S and Model X:

“It is time to bring the Model S and Model X programs to an end with an honorable discharge. It is time to bring the S/X programs to an end. It’s part of our overall shift to an autonomous future.”

Fremont will now build one million Optimus units per year as production is ramped.

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Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD estimated delivery slips to early fall 2026

Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla’s estimated delivery window for new Cybertruck Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) orders in the United States has shifted to September–October 2026. This suggests that the vehicle’s sub-$60,000 variant is now effectively sold out until then.

The updated timeline was highlighted in a post on X by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt, who noted that the estimated delivery window had moved from June 2026 to September-October 2026, “presumably due to strong demand.”

The Dual Motor AWD currently starts at $59,990 before incentives. Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.

If demand remains steady, the combination of a later delivery window and a pending price increase suggests Tesla is seeing sustained interest in the newly-introduced Cybertruck configuration. This was highlighted by Elon Musk on X, when he noted that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD’s introductory price will only be available for a limited time.

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When the Cybertruck was first unveiled in November 2019, Tesla listed the Dual Motor AWD variant at $49,990. Adjusted for inflation, that figure equates to roughly $63,000 in 2026 dollars, based on cumulative U.S. inflation since 2019.

That context makes a potential post-February price in the $64,000 to $65,000 range less surprising, especially as material, labor, and manufacturing costs have shifted significantly over the past several years.

While Tesla has not announced a specific new MSRP, the updated delivery timeline and pricing note together suggest that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD could very well be the variant that takes the all-electric full-sized pickup truck to more widespread adoption.

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SpaceX targets 150Mbps per user for upgraded Starlink Direct-to-Cell

If achieved, the 150Mbps goal would represent a significant jump from the current performance of Starlink Direct-to-Cell.

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Credit: SpaceX/X

SpaceX is targeting peak download speeds of 150Mbps per user for its next-generation Direct-to-Cell Starlink service. The update was shared by SpaceX Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs Lead Udrivolf Pica during the International Telecommunication Union’s Space Connect conference.

“We are aiming at peak speeds of 150Mbps per user,” Pica said during the conference. “So something incredible if you think about the link budgets from space to the mobile phone.”

If achieved, the 150Mbps goal would represent a significant jump from the current performance of Starlink Direct-to-Cell.

Today, SpaceX’s cellular Starlink service, offered in partnership with T-Mobile under the T-Satellite brand, provides speeds of roughly 4Mbps per user. The service is designed primarily for texts, low-resolution video calls, and select apps in locations that traditionally have no cellular service.

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By comparison, Ookla data shows median 5G download speeds of approximately 309Mbps for T-Mobile and 172Mbps for AT&T in the United States, as noted in a PCMag report. While 150Mbps would still trail the fastest terrestrial 5G networks, it would place satellite-to-phone broadband much closer to conventional carrier performance, even in remote areas. 

Pica indicated that the upgraded system would support “video, voice, and data services, clearly,” moving beyond emergency connectivity and basic messaging use cases.

To reach that target, SpaceX plans to upgrade its existing Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellites and add significant new capacity. The company recently acquired access to radio spectrum from EchoStar, which Pica described as key to expanding throughput. 

“More spectrum means a bigger pipeline, and this means that we can expand what we can do with partners. We can expand the quality of service. And again, we can do cellular broadband basically, cellular broadband use cases, like AI or daily connectivity needs,” he stated.

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SpaceX has also requested regulatory approval to deploy 15,000 additional Direct-to-Cell satellites, beyond the roughly 650 currently supporting the system. The upgraded architecture is expected to begin rolling out in late 2027.

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