Tesla unveiled a new, “refreshed” Model 3 in early October 2020 that equipped several new adjustments to its mass-market sedan’s cosmetic look and performance. However, true, in-depth looks of the vehicle have been hard to come by, as deliveries for the new version of the car have not yet been completed.
Now, the first looks at some of the Model 3’s new features are being displayed in a new video from Hong Kong-based YouTube channel 駕輛 UpCar. The hosts had the opportunity to take an up-close look at the new Model 3 before others have had the chance.
駕輛 UpCar’s hosts state that the new version of the mass-market Model 3 “is really a new car” based on what they’ve seen from Tesla’s additions.
Tesla Model 3 ‘refresh’ goes live with 353-mile range, Uberturbine wheels, powered trunk, and more
Exterior/Cosmetic Updates
While the car’s exterior shape has remained relatively identical, the only minor revision was the headlights, which were spotted on a pre-refreshed version of the Model 3 that was built in China.
One of the most commonly recognized updates on the refreshed Model 3 was the addition of Chrome Delete. Tesla made this cosmetic modification standard with the Model Y, and many owners have been known to manually make this change with third-party kits on their Model 3s. However, Tesla made the Chrome Delete feature standard with the Model 3 refresh. The door handles, side mirror trim, window trim, and camera covers are all chrome deleted.
Double-Paned Glass
The double-paned glass was spotted on several builds of the Model Y in October. However, the feature is also standard with the refresh, although it was spotted on pre-refreshed versions of the Model 3. The additional layer of glass is required to help with interior cabin noise, which has been a common complaint with some electric cars due to their lack of an engine to dampen road noise. The glass also increases insulation and could complement the addition of the heat pump to the Model 3 to keep the cabin a comfortable temperature for passengers.
Powered Trunk
Another similarity between the Refreshed Model 3 and the Model Y is the addition of a dedicated powered trunk. A powered liftgate button was placed in the Model 3, allowing for easy opening and closing of the trunk at this button’s press.
Cabin Revisions and Additions
Teslarati covered the new center console in October, which is also outlined in 駕輛 UpCar’s video. The new design slides and retracts into itself and also has new material. Tesla parted from the piano black as fingerprints and dust were easily noticed. Additionally, a new suede wireless charging platform was placed just above the new center console design. Tesla began installing wireless chargers in the Model X in early 2020, allowing for quick and pain-free charging of compatible smartphones. USB-C ports are also available in the rear, allowing for fast-charging capabilities for passengers in the back of the car.
Performance and Range Upgrades
In terms of performance upgrades, the Long Range Dual Motor AWD improved from 4.4 to 4.2 seconds from 0-60 MPH, and the Performance gained one-tenth of a second from 3.2 to 3.1 seconds. In range, the Standard Range+ variant went from 250 to 263 miles of range per charge, while the Long Range Dual Motor AWD boosted to 353 from 322. The Performance variant also upgraded to 315 miles from its previous 299.
As Tesla begins the shipment of refreshed Model 3s from Fremont, it is only a matter of time before the first few lucky purchasers receive their cars. Increased performance and range ratings are sure to win over new buyers, but the improvements in Tesla’s vehicles will equate to higher quality builds in the future. The advancements could spread across other vehicles in the future, including Tesla’s planned $25,000 sedan that will be available in several years.
You can check out 駕輛 UpCar’s full video on the Model 3 refresh below.
H/t: Drive Tesla Canada
Elon Musk
Starlink passes 9 million active customers just weeks after hitting 8 million
The milestone highlights the accelerating growth of Starlink, which has now been adding over 20,000 new users per day.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has continued its rapid global expansion, surpassing 9 million active customers just weeks after crossing the 8 million mark.
The milestone highlights the accelerating growth of Starlink, which has now been adding over 20,000 new users per day.
9 million customers
In a post on X, SpaceX stated that Starlink now serves over 9 million active users across 155 countries, territories, and markets. The company reached 8 million customers in early November, meaning it added roughly 1 million subscribers in under seven weeks, or about 21,275 new users on average per day.
“Starlink is connecting more than 9M active customers with high-speed internet across 155 countries, territories, and many other markets,” Starlink wrote in a post on its official X account. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell also celebrated the milestone on X. “A huge thank you to all of our customers and congrats to the Starlink team for such an incredible product,” she wrote.
That growth rate reflects both rising demand for broadband in underserved regions and Starlink’s expanding satellite constellation, which now includes more than 9,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet worldwide.
Starlink’s momentum
Starlink’s momentum has been building up. SpaceX reported 4.6 million Starlink customers in December 2024, followed by 7 million by August 2025, and 8 million customers in November. Independent data also suggests Starlink usage is rising sharply, with Cloudflare reporting that global web traffic from Starlink users more than doubled in 2025, as noted in an Insider report.
Starlink’s momentum is increasingly tied to SpaceX’s broader financial outlook. Elon Musk has said the satellite network is “by far” the company’s largest revenue driver, and reports suggest SpaceX may be positioning itself for an initial public offering as soon as next year, with valuations estimated as high as $1.5 trillion. Musk has also suggested in the past that Starlink could have its own IPO in the future.
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NVIDIA Director of Robotics: Tesla FSD v14 is the first AI to pass the “Physical Turing Test”
After testing FSD v14, Fan stated that his experience with FSD felt magical at first, but it soon started to feel like a routine.
NVIDIA Director of Robotics Jim Fan has praised Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14 as the first AI to pass what he described as a “Physical Turing Test.”
After testing FSD v14, Fan stated that his experience with FSD felt magical at first, but it soon started to feel like a routine. And just like smartphones today, removing it now would “actively hurt.”
Jim Fan’s hands-on FSD v14 impressions
Fan, a leading researcher in embodied AI who is currently solving Physical AI at NVIDIA and spearheading the company’s Project GR00T initiative, noted that he actually was late to the Tesla game. He was, however, one of the first to try out FSD v14.
“I was very late to own a Tesla but among the earliest to try out FSD v14. It’s perhaps the first time I experience an AI that passes the Physical Turing Test: after a long day at work, you press a button, lay back, and couldn’t tell if a neural net or a human drove you home,” Fan wrote in a post on X.
Fan added: “Despite knowing exactly how robot learning works, I still find it magical watching the steering wheel turn by itself. First it feels surreal, next it becomes routine. Then, like the smartphone, taking it away actively hurts. This is how humanity gets rewired and glued to god-like technologies.”
The Physical Turing Test
The original Turing Test was conceived by Alan Turing in 1950, and it was aimed at determining if a machine could exhibit behavior that is equivalent to or indistinguishable from a human. By focusing on text-based conversations, the original Turing Test set a high bar for natural language processing and machine learning.
This test has been passed by today’s large language models. However, the capability to converse in a humanlike manner is a completely different challenge from performing real-world problem-solving or physical interactions. Thus, Fan introduced the Physical Turing Test, which challenges AI systems to demonstrate intelligence through physical actions.
Based on Fan’s comments, Tesla has demonstrated these intelligent physical actions with FSD v14. Elon Musk agreed with the NVIDIA executive, stating in a post on X that with FSD v14, “you can sense the sentience maturing.” Musk also praised Tesla AI, calling it the best “real-world AI” today.
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Tesla AI team burns the Christmas midnight oil by releasing FSD v14.2.2.1
The update was released just a day after FSD v14.2.2 started rolling out to customers.
Tesla is burning the midnight oil this Christmas, with the Tesla AI team quietly rolling out Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.2.2.1 just a day after FSD v14.2.2 started rolling out to customers.
Tesla owner shares insights on FSD v14.2.2.1
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester @BLKMDL3 shared some insights following several drives with FSD v14.2.2.1 in rainy Los Angeles conditions with standing water and faded lane lines. He reported zero steering hesitation or stutter, confident lane changes, and maneuvers executed with precision that evoked the performance of Tesla’s driverless Robotaxis in Austin.
Parking performance impressed, with most spots nailed perfectly, including tight, sharp turns, in single attempts without shaky steering. One minor offset happened only due to another vehicle that was parked over the line, which FSD accommodated by a few extra inches. In rain that typically erases road markings, FSD visualized lanes and turn lines better than humans, positioning itself flawlessly when entering new streets as well.
“Took it up a dark, wet, and twisty canyon road up and down the hill tonight and it went very well as to be expected. Stayed centered in the lane, kept speed well and gives a confidence inspiring steering feel where it handles these curvy roads better than the majority of human drivers,” the Tesla owner wrote in a post on X.
Tesla’s FSD v14.2.2 update
Just a day before FSD v14.2.2.1’s release, Tesla rolled out FSD v14.2.2, which was focused on smoother real-world performance, better obstacle awareness, and precise end-of-trip routing. According to the update’s release notes, FSD v14.2.2 upgrades the vision encoder neural network with higher resolution features, enhancing detection of emergency vehicles, road obstacles, and human gestures.
New Arrival Options also allowed users to select preferred drop-off styles, such as Parking Lot, Street, Driveway, Parking Garage, or Curbside, with the navigation pin automatically adjusting to the ideal spot. Other refinements include pulling over for emergency vehicles, real-time vision-based detours for blocked roads, improved gate and debris handling, and Speed Profiles for customized driving styles.
Starlink passes 9 million active customers just weeks after hitting 8 million
NVIDIA Director of Robotics: Tesla FSD v14 is the first AI to pass the “Physical Turing Test”
