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First look at Tesla Model Y Acceleration Boost in action

Credit: Tesla Raj on YouTube

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Tesla’s recently-released Acceleration Boost upgrade for the Model Y crossover is getting its first looks in a new video.

Tesla enthusiast and content creator Tesla Raj got together with his friend Tim, the owner of a Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive. Tim recently purchased the newly-available Acceleration Boost upgrade from Tesla, which is available through the company’s Smartphone App.

Although the Model Y LR AWD already sports an impressive 4.8-second 0-60 MPH acceleration rate and a 135 MPH top speed, the Acceleration Boost upgrade shaves an additional half-second off of the 0-60 time.

To prove that the Model Y’s performance did, in fact, improve after purchasing the Acceleration Boost upgrade, Raj and Tim executed a 0-60 MPH test before buying the $2,000 option. The test proved to be relatively accurate compared to Tesla’s listed specifications, and it ran from a standstill to 60 MPH in 4.84 seconds.

Tim then went into his Smartphone app and purchased the $2,000 upgrade, indicating that there is a 48-hour window where the feature can be refunded and removed from the vehicle’s software. This was a requested function from some owners who complained that their phones “butt-dialed” the app and purchased optional upgrades in the past. Tesla added refundable options for its upgrade packages in case this happens, or if an owner is not satisfied with the improved performance.

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Tesla Model Y Dual Motor AWD gets paid Acceleration Boost upgrade

After the vehicle downloaded and installed the Acceleration Boost software, Raj and Tim ran yet another 0-60 MPH test, and the results proved that the upgrade did precisely what it said it would do.

The post-purchase test showed a 4.32-second 0-60 MPH acceleration rate, which was about a half-second faster than the car’s performance before buying the upgrade. Impressively, Tesla has given owners the option to make their cars a half-second quicker by merely purchasing a quick upgrade on their phones. The installation process only took Tim a few minutes, and the results frankly spoke for themselves.

The pre-purchase times on the left are about a half-second slower than the speeds that were recorded with the Acceleration Boost on the left. (Credit: Tesla Raj | YouTube)

Only time will tell if the upgrade does more than what Tesla claims because some owners who purchased the Acceleration Boost for the Model 3 indicated that their new performance specifications were better than what was described.

With the Model Y being Tesla’s second mass-market vehicle, there is a good indication that it could be the company’s best car to date. While its body style is the most popular in the United States, it offers increased cargo space for travelers and parents, while giving increased and improved performance specifications for those who want a little more pep in the step of their daily driver. Tacking on the Acceleration Boost and coupling it with Tesla’s instant torque from the all-electric powertrain has ICE automakers shaking in their boots.

Watch the Tesla Model Y Acceleration Boost in action below, and let us know in the comments if you’ll be buying the optional upgrade.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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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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