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Tesla Model S P100D wins over electric car skeptic after battling Germany’s best sedans

(Credit: carwow/YouTube)

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It is said that getting behind the wheel of a Tesla is the best way to become a believer in the power and capabilities of electric cars. This is something that a former electric car skeptic experienced after he raced the Tesla Model S P100D against three of Germany’s best high-performance sedans.

Celebrity car customizer Yianni Charalambous has been featured several times in auto-themed YouTube channel carwow, racing some of his personal vehicles like his Lamborghini Urus and Aventador S against the Tesla Model X P100D. In his previous races against the American-made electric SUV, Yianni is known to banter with carwow host Mat Watson about how vehicles like the Model X were “boring.” He has also poked fun at how electric cars need to heat up their batteries before they can perform their best. 

In a recent four-way race involving the Tesla Model S P100D, the Mercedes-AMG GT, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid, and the BMW M5 Competition, the electric car skeptic asked the YouTube channel’s host if he could go behind the wheel of the electric sedan, just so he could experience the vehicle for himself. 

Power-wise, the four cars were evenly matched. The Tesla Model S P100D features dual electric motors that propel the vehicle from 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid is equipped with a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor with a combined 680 horsepower. The BMW M5 Competition, on the other hand, features a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 625 horsepower. Lastly, the Mercedes-AMG GT is equipped with a 4-liter V8 with 640 brake horsepower.

The celebrity car customizer went through a brief learning curve with the Model S P100D’s Ludicrous Mode settings, but once the race began, the electric car skeptic immediately realized why some of his vehicles like the Lamborghini Urus lost against a Tesla. In the 10.8 seconds it took the Model S P100D to finish the quarter mile, Yianni found himself becoming a full believer in electric cars.

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The Tesla Model S P100D dominated in the quarter mile, followed by the Mercedes-AMG GT, which completed the race in 11.1 seconds, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid, which crossed the quarter-mile mark in 11.2 seconds, and the BMW M5 Competition, which finished the race in 12.4 seconds.

Following a rolling race and a brake test, Yianni became even more impressed with the electric sedan. So impressed was he that by the end of the races, the celebrity car customizer actually pulled the trigger and ordered his very own Tesla Model S P100D.

It’s quite fascinating to see the P100D, which was initially released in August 2016, is still capable of toppling some of the best high-performance sedans that Germany has to offer today. In a way, the performance of the Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode is proof that Tesla succeeded in making not just a good electric car; the young carmaker succeeded in creating one of the world’s best-selling cars, period.

Watch the Tesla Model S P100D battle the Mercedes-AMG GT, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid, and the BMW M5 Competition in the video below.

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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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