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Tesla’s ‘slowest’ Model S battles a roaring Kia Stinger GT S in drag race

[Credit: Top Gear/YouTube]

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Elon Musk wanted to change the public’s perception of electric cars when he joined Tesla Motors as a major investor in the company’s early days. While EVs prior to the Tesla Roadster (save for GM’s controversial and ultimately ill-fated EV1) were usually associated with slow, uninspiring vehicles, the Silicon Valley-based startup’s breakout machine was a sleek, quick, sexy car worthy of a place on any bedroom wall.

Fast forward more than a decade later, and Tesla is now an automotive startup capable of challenging some of the world’s most formidable car manufacturers. After the first-generation Roadster, Tesla’s charge was led by the Model S, a family sedan that could seat seven and whose fastest variant shames Italian-bred supercars off the line. Today, the Model S starts with the 75D, named after its 75 kWh battery pack that gives it a 259-mile range.

Being Tesla’s entry-level variant, the 75D is the “slowest” of the entire Model S line. The term “slowest” here refers to how it compares to its other Model S siblings though, as the vehicle is still zippy with a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds, thanks to its electric motors that produce 362 bhp and 486 lb-ft of torque. That said, the Model S 75D is hardly the Tesla of choice when it comes to drag racing, thanks to its rather conservative specs. 

Auto publication Top Gear, though, has selected the Model S 75D for this specific reason. In a recent video, the publication opted to race the Model S 75D with a car that pretty much surprised everyone when it was released — the Kia Stinger GT S.

Kia is hardly a name associated with powerful cars, but its first foray into the performance sedan market — the Stinger — was far better than what anyone really expected. Professional reviewers have remarked that the Stinger really has no business being as good as it is, with its roaring 3.3-liter Twin Turbo V6 producing 365 bhp and 376 lb-ft of torque. From a dead stop, the Stinger launches with an impressive 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds.

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Reviews of the Stinger have been quite impressive. James May of Top Gear and The Grand Tour fame liked the car, and Randy Pobst of Motor Trend was impressed overall. In a way, the Stinger owes a good degree of its capability to surprise to Albert Biermann, a man who Kia poached from German automaker BMW. When he was at BMW, Biermann headed the M division — that M division.

While the Stinger GT S is a formidable car in its own right, though, Top Gear‘s recent test shows that the vehicle is still not quite enough to beat Tesla’s “slowest” Model S. The Stinger might have more horsepower than the Model S 75D, but the instant torque from the electric car’s dual motors allowed the Tesla to establish an early lead in the race, and it just kept pulling away after. By the end of the quarter-mile, the Model S 75D was far ahead of the Stinger GT S. 

Watch the Tesla Model S 75D race the Kia Stinger GT S 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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Lifestyle

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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