News
Tesla Track Mode V2 turns the Model 3 Performance into a more potent racing beast
Tesla will be rolling out Track Mode V2 as a free over-the-air (OTA) update to all Model 3 Performance owners who purchase the company’s race-focused Track Package.
Track Mode V2 introduces a deeper level of customizations and settings for Model 3’s Handling Balance, Stability Assist, and Regenerative Braking. Also included in Tesla’s second-generation Track Mode are features geared for Post-Driving Cooling, Compressor Overclock, and even one that acts as an onboard lap recorder.
The electric carmaker invited select Tesla owners and vloggers to a secret event last month at the Thunderhill Raceway in Willow, a town about eight hours away from Los Angeles, California, to showcase what drivers can do with the Model 3 Track Package and Track Mode V2. YouTuber Salomondrin was one of the fortunate guests to try the new hardware package in combo with the improved Track Mode. The Track Mode V2, according to Alejandro of the Salamondrin YouTube channel, is a huge upgrade from the previous iteration. The new Tesla Track Mode allows you to personalize the settings so drivers can squeeze more performance out of the car while feeling safer as well.
“Tesla wants to show that these cars are not just meant to go on road trips. These cars are not just meant to be your daily. These cars are fun like crazy,” said Alejandro.
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- Tesla Model 3 Track Mode V2 (Source: Salomondrin | YouTube)
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- Tesla Model 3 Track Mode V2 (Source: Salomondrin | YouTube)
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- Tesla Model 3 Track Mode V2 (Source: Salomondrin | YouTube)
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- Tesla Model 3 Track Mode V2 (Source: Salomondrin | YouTube)
Tesla Track Mode V2 comes as a welcomed addition to any Tesla race car driver and veteran performance tuner like California-based Unplugged Performance. CEO Ben Schaffer, whose company’s race-tuned Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R has continued to set lap records with, tells Teslarati that Track Mode has empowered amateur racers to compete with some of the industry’s most notable performance cars.
“Software is so deeply rooted into the driving experience when racing any Tesla. Software is absolutely a key advantage of the Tesla platform, especially when more control is given to drivers to adjust settings to their liking. There is no question that V2 will instantly unlock faster lap times and allow more fun for all Tesla drivers of every level of skill and modification,” says Schaffer.
Tesla Track Mode V2
To access Tesla Track Mode, one can click the car icon on the touchscreen, then go to Driving, and then click Track Mode. A disclaimer would pop up reminding drivers that the Track Mode disables or restricts certain Driver Assistance features and vehicle functions and that it should not be used in public roads.
Track Mode V2 will provide vehicle statuses, including data for the powertrain, tire temperature, and G-Force.
Track Mode V2 Release Notes
Track Mode has been improved to make it easier to monitor the status of your car, create custom track mode settings profiles and record your track day data.
Monitor the status of your car motors, battery, brakes and tires, allowing you to adjust your driving in real time. G-meter, a real-time accelerometer, can now be viewed in the Cards area of the touchscreen. The map now displays a Lap Timer. Follow the onscreen instructions to place a start/finish pin on the map. At the completion of each lap, the Lap Timer displays the duration of the lap. It also displays the times associated with the previous and best laps in the driving session.
Track Mode allows you to save up to 20 Track Mode profiles to suit your preferences or driving scenario, or customize for a specific track. A new settings profile can be created by tapping Track Mode Settings > Add New Settings, entering a name for the settings profile, then adjusting settings including Handling Balance, Stability Assist, Regenerative Braking, Post-Drive Cooling and Compressor Overclock. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for more information regarding each setting.
You can now save a video and data of the Track Mode driving session to a plugged in USB flash drive which must contain a folder named “TeslaTrackMode” (without the quotation marks). When “Save Dashcam for Laps” is enabled, Track Mode stores a video of each lap in a driving session when using the Lap Timer. Track Mode also stores the car status and telemetry data including details about the vehicle’s position, speed, acceleration, and use of accelerator which is stored as a .CSV file on the USB flash drive.
“… fine-tuning control to get the rear bias, front bias however you like, and then stability and regen. Track Mode 2 was created for enthusiasts that just needed more control and Tesla went above and beyond here,” said YouTuber YouTuber EverythingApplePro who was also invited to test drive a Model 3 Performance with Track Mode Package and Track Mode V2 software.
“It’s well worth it. The amount of control you are given in the software is amazing. No manufacturer really gives you that amount of control where you can actually change a hundred percent to the rear and take away all the safety features. Beautiful experience.”
Tesla has not disclosed when the OTA update for the Track Mode V2 will roll out but the $5,500-Model 3 Track Package— which includes Zero-G Performance wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, high-performance brake pads, track-focused brake fluid, center cups, pressure sensors, and lug nut covers– shipment is expected to begin in April.
Check out the Tesla Model 3 Track Mode V2 videos from Salomondrin and EverythingApplePro below:
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
In Pennsylvania, we got between 10 and 12 inches of snow over the weekend as a nasty Winter storm ripped through a large portion of the country, bringing snow to some areas and nasty ice storms to others.
I have had a Model Y Performance for the week courtesy of Tesla, which got the car to me last Monday. Today was my last full day with it before I take it back to my local showroom, and with all the accumulation on it, I decided to run a cool little experiment: How long would it take for Tesla’s Defrost feature to melt 8 inches of snow?
Tesla’s Defrost feature is one of the best and most underrated that the car has in its arsenal. While every car out there has a defrost setting, Tesla’s can be activated through the Smartphone App and is one of the better-performing systems in my opinion.
It has come in handy a lot through the Fall and Winter, helping clear up my windshield more efficiently while also clearing up more of the front glass than other cars I’ve owned.
The test was simple: don’t touch any of the ice or snow with my ice scraper, and let the car do all the work, no matter how long it took. Of course, it would be quicker to just clear the ice off manually, but I really wanted to see how long it would take.
Tesla Model Y heat pump takes on Model S resistive heating in defrosting showdown
Observations
I started this test at around 10:30 a.m. It was still pretty cloudy and cold out, and I knew the latter portion of the test would get some help from the Sun as it was expected to come out around noon, maybe a little bit after.
I cranked it up and set my iPhone up on a tripod, and activated the Time Lapse feature in the Camera settings.
The rest of the test was sitting and waiting.
It didn’t take long to see some difference. In fact, by the 20-minute mark, there was some notable melting of snow and ice along the sides of the windshield near the A Pillar.
However, this test was not one that was “efficient” in any manner; it took about three hours and 40 minutes to get the snow to a point where I would feel comfortable driving out in public. In no way would I do this normally; I simply wanted to see how it would do with a massive accumulation of snow.
It did well, but in the future, I’ll stick to clearing it off manually and using the Defrost setting for clearing up some ice before the gym in the morning.
Check out the video of the test below:
❄️ How long will it take for the Tesla Model Y Performance to defrost and melt ONE FOOT of snow after a blizzard?
Let’s find out: pic.twitter.com/Zmfeveap1x
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 26, 2026
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
