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

Credit: The Kilowatts/Instagram

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4 years ago

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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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Cybertruck

Tesla clears the air on Cybertruck ‘deactivation’ video that is obviously fake

Tesla has cleared the air on the viral video, stating it is fake.

Published

3 hours ago

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August 11, 2025

By

Credit: Cybertruck | X

Tesla has cleared the air regarding a video that has been circulating, where the owner claims his Cybertruck was “deactivated” by the company while he was driving.

The video was shared on X and showed a driver pulled over on the side of the road, claiming his Cybertruck had been deactivated by Tesla in the middle of traffic. It is very obviously fake to those who know the company, but these kinds of things have a tendency to pick up steam.

The video shows a screen that says:

“Tesla Cybertruck De-Activated. Critical Issue Detected | Contact Customer Service, Comply with Cease & Desist to Re-Activate. Update Failed, Return to Dealer.”

The same person who posted the video also shared an image of what appears to be a Cease and Desist letter from Tesla, but it is also likely fake:

The company finally responded to the video on Monday afternoon, stating that the video is, in fact, fake, reiterating that it will not disable vehicles remotely for any reason.

It is a shame that these types of things happen, especially as people are prone to believe anything they see on the internet. As there is so much misinformation circulating surrounding Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, it is no surprise that someone would leverage the situation for their own benefit.

If that Cease and Desist letter is not real, perhaps the next one might be. These types of things can truly cause damage to a company’s reputation, and someone getting an idea that Tesla would remotely deactivate a car could prevent them from buying one.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk is stepping up for Tesla Service in a big way

Elon Musk has stepped up to resolve a handful of customer issues regarding vehicle service.

Published

5 hours ago

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August 11, 2025

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tesla service
Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk is stepping up to help customers in a big way, especially when they are having issues with Tesla’s Service.

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages Tesla owners have is access to Musk through X, his social media platform. Over the years, we’ve seen Tesla add features, refine its cars’ performance, and more, all through asking Musk directly through a post.

Now, Musk is stepping up in another way by resolving a few Service complaints that customers had.

The first occurred last week when a recall on a Tesla battery was not honored by Service. The company sought $30,000 for a replacement and labor, which was not right. Musk responded that he would personally investigate the matter. The vehicle was fixed at no cost as it was a recall, and was ready for pickup the next day.

It also revealed a new strategy Tesla is using to combat service communication issues:

Tesla creates clever solution to simplify and improve its Service

The next occurred with a Cybertruck owner who was in Japan. Their car was parked at an airport in the U.S. and had lost a vast majority of its state of charge, leaving them just fifty miles of range at the time.

Musk reached out to the owner and said Service will take care of the car and will investigate the cause of the battery drain:

There are not too many companies out there where the CEO will get involved with individual issues like these. It’s pretty exclusive to Tesla, as Musk has commonly stepped up to resolve complaints with vehicles or to confront features that some owners might find useful.

Service has been a weak point of the company for some time, but it has worked to refine and resolve customer complaints by building more Service Centers across the world that can handle these issues.

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Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirms Robotaxi is opening to the public: here’s when

Anyone will be able to request a Tesla Robotaxi in September, Elon Musk said this morning.

Published

7 hours ago

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August 11, 2025

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Credit: Joe Tegtmeyer | X

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company’s Robotaxi platform is opening to the public, and he even gave a timeline for when anyone will be able to access one for a ride.

Tesla’s Robotaxi platform launched to a small group on June 22 in Austin, Texas. The company has continued to expand the number of riders and its geofence over the past month and a half.

Tesla officially launches Robotaxi service with no driver

Additionally, it launched rides in the Bay Area of California, but it differs slightly, as the Texas Robotaxi platform does not utilize a Safety Monitor in the driver’s seat. In California, the monitor sits in the driver’s seat.

As the geofence, service areas, and testing populations expand, Tesla fans are awaiting their elusive emails that enable their ability to use the Robotaxi platform. It now seems that the email will come soon, as Musk said Tesla will open up public access to Robotaxi next month:

Tesla has been prioritizing safety over anything else with the launch of the Robotaxi platform, which is why it has been slow to push invitations to new riders. It is confident in the abilities of the platform and its Full Self-Driving suite, which has been proven with data.

However, even a single accident could set Tesla back years in terms of its development of self-driving cars. It is not a risk it is willing to take.

Musk said during the recent Q2 Earnings Call:

“We need to make sure it works when the vehicles are fully under our control. It’s kind of one step at a time here. We don’t want to jump the gun. As I said, we’re being paranoid about safety. But I guess next year is I’d say confidently next year. I’m not sure when next year, but confidently next year, people would be able to add or subtract their car to the Tesla, Inc. fleet.”

As the platform will expand in Austin and the Bay Area for anyone, Tesla still continues to reiterate that Robotaxi will be available for everyone sometime next year, as Musk said in the quote above.

Things will continue to improve over time, and Tesla will likely expand its geofence in both regions in the coming weeks. It has already done that in Austin twice, with about a doubling in size occurring both times.

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