News
Tesla Model S Plaid races two of the world’s quickest sedans. The results were not close
There was a time when the Porsche Taycan Turbo S was considered extremely quick. Being one of the few cars that could beat the Tesla Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode in the drag strip, the Taycan was the car that proved that veteran carmakers should not be ignored in the electric vehicle race. It’s a beautiful vehicle, it handles like a Porsche, and it’s devilishly fast.
But that was before the arrival of the Tesla Model S Plaid. With three electric motors and over 1,000 horsepower, the Model S Plaid was a completely different animal. And even with new competitors like the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which was recently tested to be capable of completing the quarter-mile 10.21 seconds at 143.37 mph, the Plaid seems like it exists in a league of its own.
And this, ultimately, was proven in a recently posted video from Brooks Weisblat of the DragTimes YouTube channel. After featuring the Lucid Air in three videos so far, the veteran drag racer opted to race the newcomer against both the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. A triple-threat race is always fun, but when it involves three of the world’s quickest sedans, then things become very interesting.
The three vehicles are pretty different on paper. The Lucid Air Performance Dream Edition is listed with two electric motors that make 1,111 horsepower and a weight of 5,236 pounds. It also costs a hefty $170,000. The Taycan Turbo S is a Porsche through and through, with its two electric motors that make 750 horsepower, 2-speed transmission, and its weight of 5,300 pounds. It’s also the most expensive of the three at $218,000 for the specific trim featured in the video.
Compared to its two competitors, the Tesla Model S Plaid seems to be a completely different beast. It features three electric motors that make 1,020 horsepower and it weighs 4,833 pounds, making it the lightest of the three. This is quite interesting since the vehicle is a full-sized family sedan. It’s also the most affordable at just around $130,000 before options. Also interesting was that the Plaid had the lowest state of charge during the race with its 82% battery. The Lucid Air had 86% of its battery left, and the Taycan Turbo S had 90%.
The three vehicles engaged each other in three separate races: two standing drag races and one rolling race. And in each bout, the Tesla Model S Plaid completely dominated its competition. It’s pretty amazing to see in DragTimes‘ video, but the Plaid almost made the Lucid Air look moderately quick, and the Taycan Turbo S look like it was standing still. Based on these results, it would seem like the only vehicle that could soundly beat the Model S Plaid today for now is the Rimac Nevera, and that’s an all-electric hypercar worth millions of dollars. Among fellow performance sedans in its price range, it seems that the Tesla Model S Plaid is near-untouchable.
Watch the Tesla Model S Plaid battle with the Lucid Air and the Porsche Taycan in the video below.
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Cybertruck
Tesla set to activate long-awaited Cybertruck feature
Tesla will officially activate the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature on Cybertruck soon, as the company has officially added the feature to its list of features by trim on its website.
Tesla is set to activate a long-awaited Cybertruck feature, and no matter when you bought your all-electric pickup, it has the hardware capable of achieving what it is designed to do.
Tesla simply has to flip the switch, and it plans to do so in the near future.
Tesla will officially activate the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature on Cybertruck soon, according to Not a Tesla App, as the company has officially added the feature to its list of features by trim on its website.
Tesla rolls out Active Road Noise Reduction for new Model S and Model X
The ANC feature suddenly appeared on the spec sheet for the Premium All-Wheel-Drive and Cyberbeast trims, which are the two configurations that have been delivered since November 2023.
However, those trims have both had the ANC disabled, and although they are found in the Model S and Model X, and are active in those vehicles, Tesla is planning to activate them.
In Tesla’s Service Toolbox, it wrote:
“ANC software is not enabled on Cybertruck even though the hardware is installed.”
Tesla has utilized an ANC system in the Model S and Model X since 2021. The system uses microphones embedded in the front seat headrests to detect low-frequency road noise entering the cabin. It then generates anti-noise through phase-inverted sound waves to cancel out or reduce that noise, creating quieter zones, particularly around the vehicle’s front occupants.
The Model S and Model X utilize six microphones to achieve this noise cancellation, while the Cybertruck has just four.
Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD estimated delivery slips to early fall 2026
As previously mentioned, this will be activated through a software update, as the hardware is already available within Cybertruck and can simply be activated at Tesla’s leisure.
The delays in activating the system are likely due to Tesla Cybertruck’s unique design, which is unlike anything before. In the Model S and Model X, Tesla did not have to do too much, but the Cybertruck has heavier all-terrain tires and potentially issues from the aluminum castings that make up the vehicle’s chassis, which are probably presenting some challenges.
Unfortunately, this feature will not be available on the new Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive configuration, which was released last week.
News
Tesla Model S and X customization options begin to thin as their closure nears
Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.
Tesla Model S and Model X customization options are beginning to thin for the first time as the closure of the two “sentimental” vehicles nears.
We are officially seeing the first options disappear as Tesla begins to work toward ending production of the two cars and the options that are available to those vehicles specifically.
Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.
🚨 Tesla Model S and Model X availability is thinning, as Tesla has officially shown that the Lunar Silver color option on both vehicles is officially sold out
To be fair, Frost Blue is still available so no need to freak out pic.twitter.com/YnwsDbsFOv
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 25, 2026
Tesla is making way for the Optimus humanoid robot project at the Fremont Factory, where the Model S and Model X are produced. The two cars are low-volume models and do not contribute more than a few percent to Tesla’s yearly delivery figures.
With CEO Elon Musk confirming that the Model S and Model X would officially be phased out at the end of the quarter, some of the options are being thinned out.
This is an expected move considering Tesla’s plans for the two vehicles, as it will make for an easier process of transitioning that portion of the Fremont plant to cater to Optimus manufacturing. Additionally, this is likely one of the least popular colors, and Tesla is choosing to only keep around what it is seeing routine demand for.
During the Q4 Earnings Call in January, Musk confirmed the end of the Model S and Model X:
“It is time to bring the Model S and Model X programs to an end with an honorable discharge. It is time to bring the S/X programs to an end. It’s part of our overall shift to an autonomous future.”
Fremont will now build one million Optimus units per year as production is ramped.
News
Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD estimated delivery slips to early fall 2026
Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.
Tesla’s estimated delivery window for new Cybertruck Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) orders in the United States has shifted to September–October 2026. This suggests that the vehicle’s sub-$60,000 variant is now effectively sold out until then.
The updated timeline was highlighted in a post on X by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt, who noted that the estimated delivery window had moved from June 2026 to September-October 2026, “presumably due to strong demand.”
The Dual Motor AWD currently starts at $59,990 before incentives. Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.
If demand remains steady, the combination of a later delivery window and a pending price increase suggests Tesla is seeing sustained interest in the newly-introduced Cybertruck configuration. This was highlighted by Elon Musk on X, when he noted that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD’s introductory price will only be available for a limited time.
When the Cybertruck was first unveiled in November 2019, Tesla listed the Dual Motor AWD variant at $49,990. Adjusted for inflation, that figure equates to roughly $63,000 in 2026 dollars, based on cumulative U.S. inflation since 2019.
That context makes a potential post-February price in the $64,000 to $65,000 range less surprising, especially as material, labor, and manufacturing costs have shifted significantly over the past several years.
While Tesla has not announced a specific new MSRP, the updated delivery timeline and pricing note together suggest that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD could very well be the variant that takes the all-electric full-sized pickup truck to more widespread adoption.
Tesla set to activate long-awaited Cybertruck feature
Tesla Model S and X customization options begin to thin as their closure nears
