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The new Tesla Model X is hiding an understated but incredible secret

Credit: The Kilowatts/Instagram

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The Tesla Model X may be the company’s flagship crossover SUV, but the vehicle has rarely gotten the spotlight this year. Even when Tesla refreshed the Model S and Model X, most of the attention was evidently focused on the Model S and its Plaid variant, which proceeded to destroy every comparable gas-powered vehicle in its class. 

But as it turns out, Tesla has also made some notable improvements to the new Model X Long Range. The company has just not been highlighting them yet. Fortunately, and as shared online by electric vehicle enthusiast @tempermanant, Tesla’s application documents to the EPA have provided some hints as to what exactly changed between last year’s Model X series and this year’s refreshed flagship SUV. 

https://twitter.com/tempermanant/status/1454011729982099456?s=20

It should be noted that Tesla’s filings for the 2021 Model X are only true for the Long Range variant, which has already started deliveries. Filings for the Model X Plaid, which features three electric motors and near-supercar performance, are yet to be made available. This is quite different from Tesla’s filings for the 2020 Model X, which represented both the base Model X Long Range Plus and the top-tier Model X Performance. 

A look at the documents shows that the refreshed Model X is lighter than its predecessor, with the new flagship SUV having a curb weight of 5,219 lbs. compared to the 2020 Model X Long Range Plus’ 5,437 lbs. This ~4% weight reduction seems to be partly due to the fact that the new Model X’s battery is ~14% lighter than last year’s Model X Long Range Plus. Tesla’s filings note that the new Model X is fitted with a battery that weighs 537 kg (1,183 lbs). In comparison, the Model X Long Range Plus featured a battery that weighed 625 kg (1,377 lbs). 

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Tesla Model X refresh gets in-depth exterior and interior walkthrough [Video]

Despite being lighter, however, the new Model X Long Range is about 30% more powerful than its Long Range Plus predecessor. The new Model X now features two AC Permanent Magnet Motors, with the front being rated at 243 kW and the rear being rated at 248 kW. This is quite an improvement over the Model X Long Range Plus, which featured a front AC Permanent Magnet Motor rated at 180 kW and a rear AC Induction Motor rated at 189 kW. 

What is quite interesting here is that Tesla’s filings for the new Model X are so far only true for the flagship crossover SUV’s base variant. Needless to say, Tesla’s filings for the Model X Plaid would likely be even more compelling, and it would likely show even more drastic improvements compared to the already stellar 2020 Model X Performance. For context, last year’s Model X Performance was listed with a front AC Permanent Magnet Motor rated at 151 kW and a rear AC Induction motor rated at 273 kW. It would not be a surprise if the Model X Plaid’s three electric motors end up blowing these specs out of the water. 

Check out Tesla’s filings for the new Model X Long Range in the document below. 

2021-Model-X by Simon Alvarez on Scribd

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And Tesla’s filings for last year’s Model X Long Range Plus and Model X Performance could be viewed below. 

2020-Model-X by Simon Alvarez on Scribd

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to tips@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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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 Model Y and Model 3 named safest vehicles tested by ANCAP in 2025

According to ANCAP in a press release, the Tesla Model Y achieved the highest overall weighted score of any vehicle assessed in 2025.

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Credit: ANCAP

The Tesla Model Y recorded the highest overall safety score of any vehicle tested by ANCAP in 2025. The Tesla Model 3 also delivered strong results, reinforcing the automaker’s safety leadership in Australia and New Zealand.

According to ANCAP in a press release, the Tesla Model Y achieved the highest overall weighted score of any vehicle assessed in 2025. ANCAP’s 2025 tests evaluated vehicles across four key pillars: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist technologies.

The Model Y posted consistently strong results in all four categories, distinguishing itself through a system-based safety approach that combines structural crash protection with advanced driver-assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver monitoring. 

This marked the second time the Model Y has topped ANCAP’s annual safety rankings. The Model Y’s previous version was also ANCAP’s top performer in 2022.

The Tesla Model 3 also delivered a strong performance in ANCAP’s 2025 tests, contributing to Tesla’s broader safety presence across segments. Similar to the Model Y, the Model 3 also earned impressive scores across the ANCAP’s four pillars. This made the vehicle the top performer in the Medium Car category.  

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ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg stated that the results highlight a growing industry shift toward integrated safety design, with improvements in technologies such as autonomous emergency braking and lane support translating into meaningful real-world protection.

“ANCAP’s testing continues to reinforce a clear message: the safest vehicles are those designed with safety as a system, not a checklist. The top performers this year delivered consistent results across physical crash protection, crash avoidance and vulnerable road user safety, rather than relying on strength in a single area.

“We are also seeing increasing alignment between ANCAP’s test requirements and the safety technologies that genuinely matter on Australian and New Zealand roads. Improvements in autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver monitoring systems are translating into more robust protection,” Hoorweg said.

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Tesla Sweden uses Megapack battery to bypass unions’ Supercharger blockade

Just before Christmas, Tesla went live with a new charging station in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm, by powering it with a Tesla Megapack battery.

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Credit: Tesla Charging/X

Tesla Sweden has successfully launched a new Supercharger station despite an ongoing blockade by Swedish unions, using on-site Megapack batteries instead of traditional grid connections. The workaround has allowed the Supercharger to operate without direct access to Sweden’s electricity network, which has been effectively frozen by labor action.

Tesla has experienced notable challenges connecting its new charging stations to Sweden’s power grid due to industrial action led by Seko, a major Swedish trade union, which has blocked all new electrical connections for new Superchargers. On paper, this made the opening of new Supercharger sites almost impossible.

Despite the blockade, Tesla has continued to bring stations online. In Malmö and Södertälje, new Supercharger locations opened after grid operators E.ON and Telge Nät activated the sites. The operators later stated that the connections had been made in error. 

More recently, however, Tesla adopted a different strategy altogether. Just before Christmas, Tesla went live with a new charging station in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm, by powering it with a Tesla Megapack battery, as noted in a Dagens Arbete (DA) report. 

Because the Supercharger station does not rely on a permanent grid connection, Tesla was able to bypass the blocked application process, as noted by Swedish car journalist and YouTuber Peter Esse. He noted that the Arlandastad Supercharger is likely dependent on nearby companies to recharge the batteries, likely through private arrangements.

Eight new charging stalls have been launched in the Arlandastad site so far, which is a fraction of the originally planned 40 chargers for the location. Still, the fact that Tesla Sweden was able to work around the unions’ efforts once more is impressive, especially since Superchargers are used even by non-Tesla EVs.

Esse noted that Tesla’s Megapack workaround is not as easily replicated in other locations. Arlandastad is unique because neighboring operators already have access to grid power, making it possible for Tesla to source electricity indirectly. Still, Esse noted that the unions’ blockades have not affected sales as much.

“Many want Tesla to lose sales due to the union blockades. But you have to remember that sales are falling from 2024, when Tesla sold a record number of cars in Sweden. That year, the unions also had blockades against Tesla. So for Tesla as a charging operator, it is devastating. But for Tesla as a car company, it does not matter in terms of sales volumes. People charge their cars where there is an opportunity, usually at home,” Esse noted. 

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Elon Musk’s X goes down as users report major outage Friday morning

Error messages and stalled loading screens quickly spread across the service, while outage trackers recorded a sharp spike in user reports.

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Credit: Linda Yaccarino/X

Elon Musk’s X experienced an outage Friday morning, leaving large numbers of users unable to access the social media platform.

Error messages and stalled loading screens quickly spread across the service, while outage trackers recorded a sharp spike in user reports.

Downdetector reports

Users attempting to open X were met with messages such as “Something went wrong. Try reloading,” often followed by an endless spinning icon that prevented access, according to a report from Variety. Downdetector data showed that reports of problems surged rapidly throughout the morning.

As of 10:52 a.m. ET, more than 100,000 users had reported issues with X. The data indicated that 56% of complaints were tied to the mobile app, while 33% were related to the website and roughly 10% cited server connection problems. The disruption appeared to begin around 10:10 a.m. ET, briefly eased around 10:35 a.m., and then returned minutes later.

Credit: Downdetector

Previous disruptions

Friday’s outage was not an isolated incident. X has experienced multiple high-profile service interruptions over the past two years. In November, tens of thousands of users reported widespread errors, including “Internal server error / Error code 500” messages. Cloudflare-related error messages were also reported.

In March 2025, the platform endured several brief outages spanning roughly 45 minutes, with more than 21,000 reports in the U.S. and 10,800 in the U.K., according to Downdetector. Earlier disruptions included an outage in August 2024 and impairments to key platform features in July 2023.

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