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Tesla Model 3 Performance with Dual Motor badge and carbon spoiler spotted in the wild

Tesla Model 3 Performance with rear carbon fiber spoiler and Dual Motor badge. [Credit: TheHalfChubPrince/Reddit]

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If recent sightings are any indication, the Model 3 Performance will soon be in several key Tesla locations to be used as test drive vehicles. Last weekend, sightings of the Model 3 Performance were reported by the Tesla community in social media, with the electric car being spotted in facilities like the Buena Park, CA center. As could be seen in the sightings from last week, the Model 3 Performance units were still fresh off the factory, and some of their accents, such as their dual motor badge and their carbon fiber rear spoiler, have not been installed yet.

Thanks to a Tesla enthusiast, the first pictures of the Model 3 Performance with its rear accents have been uploaded online. In a post on the r/TeslaMotors subreddit, u/TheHalfChubPrince, who shared the MPGe ratings of the Model 3 last weekend, uploaded pictures of the vehicle with its rear accents fully installed. From what could be seen in the recent photos, the Model 3 Performance’s carbon fiber rear spoiler is stunning, but its dual motor badge is quite prominent.

The design of the Tesla Model 3 Performance was teased last month when the electric car company rolled out an adjustment in the vehicle’s price, varying its cost structure from the original $78,000 with all options except Autopilot to $64,000 before any options. In the configuration pages for the vehicle, it was revealed that the Model 3 Performance would have an underlined dual motor badge at the lower left side of the car’s rear. So far, the Tesla community has been quite polarized with the badge’s design, with some reservation holders stating that they would request Tesla not to place the badge on their Model 3 Performance. Based on the recently uploaded images, however, the dual motor badge actually blends quite well with the Model 3’s aesthetic.

Tesla is currently upselling the Model 3 Performance, with CEO Elon Musk encouraging reservation holders on Twitter to test drive the vehicle. According to Musk, the Model 3 Performance is “like having pure fun jacked straight into your brain whenever you want.”

Considering that Tesla is aiming for profitability this Q3 2018, the company’s push to upsell the Model 3 Performance to reservation holders is strategic. Priced at $64,000 before options and as high as $80,000 with all upgrades including Autopilot and Full Self Driving, sales of the Model 3 Performance is set to give Tesla a boost in profit this quarter. After all, according to an analysis from Detroit veteran Sandy Munro, the Model 3 is profitable for Tesla, with the Long Range RWD variant set to give the company profits of 36%, and the $35,000 base variant set to give an 18% profit. The Model 3 Performance’s margins are likely even higher.

The Model 3 Performance is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The electric car, which Elon Musk states would be 15% faster on the track than a BMW M3, has a top speed of 155 mph. The Model 3 Performance can also travel 310 miles on a full charge.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

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:

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.

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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.

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(Credit: xAI)

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.

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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.”

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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.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

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.”

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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.

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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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