

Lifestyle
Tesla Tales: How a Model 3 led to the perfect proposal
If there is one thing that Texas-based engineering student Matthew Piccolo and his girlfriend Jessica Kuzma have in common, it is their love for Tesla’s electric cars. For Matthew, he was sure that she was the one. Thus, when it came to ask Jessica the all-important question, he knew he had to come up with something that both of them would appreciate and remember in the years to come.
That would be the Tesla Model 3. Using one of the compact electric car’s Easter Eggs, Matthew decided to propose to Jessica right as she sat in the driver’s seat. The proposal, which happened during a rainy Texas day, was nothing short of perfect.
“Thanks, Elon Musk, for building a car that makes such an awesome wingman for a proposal!” Matthew wrote in a Twitter post featuring the event.
Matthew chatted with Teslarati about his and Jessica’s Tesla tale, and it is something that is incredibly sweet. Both he and Jessica are college students, and thus, they cannot afford one of Tesla’s luxury electric cars for now. Being close to graduating from his engineering degree, Matthew plans to help his now-fiance go through medical school. After that, they plan on buying their dream cars — a Tesla Model X and a Model 3.
Matthew wanted his proposal to incorporate his and Jessica’s “thing,” and he also wanted it to be creative and fun. His dad, for one, took great lengths when he proposed to his mother, buying cracker jacks for her every week and hiding the engagement ring as the prize inside the final pack. After brainstorming about his proposal, Matthew found something perfect on Turo — a white Tesla Model 3, which just happens to have a sketchpad Easter Egg.
“I just knew that’s how I would do it,” he said.
- A proposal done in a Tesla Model 3. [Credit: Matthew Piccolo via Stacy Felan/Twitter]
- A proposal done in a Tesla Model 3. [Credit: Matthew Piccolo via Stacy Felan/Twitter]
- A proposal done in a Tesla Model 3. [Credit: Matthew Piccolo via Stacy Felan/Twitter]
- A proposal done in a Tesla Model 3. [Credit: Matthew Piccolo via Stacy Felan/Twitter]
Matthew and Jessica saw their first Model 3 in the wild a few months ago outside her apartment complex, and both pretty much fell in love with the vehicle. According to Matthew, seeing the Model 3 in person after hearing about it for so long was “something else.” After finding the electric car on Turo, Matthew began to drop some hints to his fiance-to-be. He first told her that he had bought a Model 3, an idea that Jessica warmed up to eventually. According to Matthew, she eventually thought that “Model 3” was a code for “engagement ring.”
“She thought whenever I said ‘Model 3,’ that was code for ‘engagement ring.’ Little did she know I actually bought a Model 3, but only for a day. That’s how I got the surprise that I wanted out of the proposal,” he said.
Matthew chose July 4 as the date for his proposal. He and Jessica drove around the rental white Model 3, and according to Matthew, “she and I loved it,” despite the rainy weather. When Jessica saw the message on the white Model 3’s sketchpad Easter Egg, she knew her answer. As could be seen in the couple’s Twitter posts, she said yes, and it was the sweetest of proposals, done in a rainy Texas afternoon and besides a vehicle that both hopes to own one day.
Matthew states that it would be great to have a Tesla Model X carry them away during their wedding, similar to a Tesla-themed wedding we covered earlier this year. The engineering student also states that he and Jessica love the idea of using a different-colored Model 3 for a baby announcement in the future. At that point in their lives, Matthew hopes that they would already have their very own Model 3. Tesla’s electric cars, after all, make great wedding vehicles, as could be seen in this Model X fleet “performing” in unison for a bride and groom in China.
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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