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Tesla’s next-gen Roadster would likely have ‘Track Mode’ refined by the Model 3 Performance
The next-generation Roadster is set to become the golden standard of Tesla’s electric cars. The all-electric supercar is the very definition of a “Halo Car,” a vehicle designed to showcase the full capabilities of the automaker. The next-gen Roadster’s specs are practically unheard of, such as its 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, its sub-9-second quarter-mile time, its top speed of over 250 mph, and its 200 kWh battery that gives a range of 620 miles per charge.
Being Tesla’s halo car, the next-gen Roadster would likely annihilate any competition on the quarter-mile. Vehicles such as the Model S P100D and the Model X P100D, after all, are known for besting gas-powered supercars on drag races, and those are essentially family cars that just happen to be really quick. That said, inasmuch as the straight-line performance of the next-gen Roadster is all but assured, the vehicle’s capability to handle the demands of track driving are still up for question. Fortunately, Tesla appears to have addressed this through a feature found in the Model 3 Performance — Track Mode.
The Model 3 Performance is so far the only vehicle in Tesla’s lineup that has Track Mode. In a statement to Road and Track, Michael Neumeyer, Tesla’s Manager of Chassis Controls, stated that the Model 3 Performance’s Track Mode is not like similar features found in other vehicles, since “(Tesla’s) Track Mode doesn’t disable features, it adds them.” Elon Musk also provided more details about the feature in a recent interview with popular YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, where he described the feature as an “Expert User Mode” for drivers.
“Track Mode will open up a lot of settings. You can adjust settings, and it’s kinda like an ‘Expert User Mode.’ You can sort of adjust traction control, adjust battery temperature. You can basically configure a bunch of things, and it will tell you, like ‘Hey, you know if you do this, it’s a bit risky. You’re gonna wear out your brakes sooner; you might blow a circuit.’ But like, it’ll be clear — like, you know, this is the risk you’re taking. It’s kinda like if you have a graphics card in a computer. You can go in there and change the settings and you can overclock things,” Musk said.
From the perspective of the next-generation Roadster’s expected release in 2020, it appears that Tesla’s rollout of Track Mode in the Model 3 Performance is not just intended to give the electric sedan a considerable selling point — it also appears to be an excellent way for the company to gather data for the all-electric supercar’s own Track Mode (Track Mode V2, perhaps?). Considering that the Roadster is a halo vehicle, there is a very good chance that it would include the feature, and by the time the car gets released in 2020, Tesla would have probably refined Track Mode considerably based on data gathered from the Model 3 Performance. In a way, this makes the Model 3 Performance an even more compelling purchase today, considering that it might have a feature that would eventually be shared with the next-gen Roadster.
When the next-generation Roadster was unveiled last year, Elon Musk dubbed the vehicle as a “hardcore smackdown to gasoline-powered cars.” Later tweets from Elon Musk suggest that Tesla is actually looking to push even more boundaries for the next-gen Roadster. One of these is equipping a variant of the vehicle with actual rocket tech from SpaceX, which, according to Musk, should give the all-electric supercar notable boosts in speed and handling. Elon Musk also mentioned that the next-gen Roadster would be equipped with an “Augmented Mode” feature that will help drivers operate the vehicle.
For the next-generation Roadster to become a true halo car, it must prove its worth in both straight-line races and on the racetrack. If Tesla manages to tune the all-electric supercar to be robust enough to endure extended track driving, the next-gen Roadster could very well find itself beside other legendary halo cars in the automotive industry, such as the iconic Ford GT and the Ferrari F40.
Tesla has made two big interior changes to several Model Y vehicles in its lineup, and the changes come just as the new model year begins production.
Last year, Tesla launched the Model Y Standard, which separated the previous models into the “Premium” category. The Standard vehicles lack several features, including more premium interior materials, acoustic-lined glass, and storage.
@teslarati There are some BIG differences between the Tesla Model Y Standard and Tesla Model Y Premium #tesla #teslamodely ♬ Sia – Xeptemper
The Model Y “Premium” trims are now getting several new upgrades, which come after the company launched a seven-seat configuration of the vehicle last night in the North American market for an upcharge of $2,500.
The new Model Y seven-seat configuration did not come with just an additional row of seating; it also came with a slew of other goodies that now come standard and were previously only available on the Model Y Performance, which was launched late last year.
All Black Headliner
The new Tesla Model Y Premium trims will now come standard with a black headliner, something that many owners have been requesting for some time.
The previous grey headliner and trim within the vehicle is now gone; it will be all black on all of the Premium trims from here on out, a welcome change:
Credit: Tesla
Larger and Higher Resolution Center Touchscreen
The center touchscreen in the new Model Y Premium configuration is now larger and has a higher resolution than the previous version.
In last year’s Model Y configurations (apart from the Performance), the center touchscreen was 15.4″. Now, Tesla has decided to go with the 16″ version across all Premium trims, which is a nice step up. It was nice to see this in the Performance, but it is really great to see Tesla include this in the Model Y’s more Premium trim levels.
Tesla Model Y Seven Seater
Tesla launched the latest iteration of the seven-seater for the Model Y on Monday night. Traditionally, the Model Y seats five passengers in total, but there were calls for a more spacious version several years ago.
Tesla released it, but it was extremely tight in the back, basically reserving those back seats for only small people or children.
Credit: Tesla
The new configuration looks to be slightly more spacious in the third row, but not as much space as most would require or want. Instead,
Elon Musk
Lufthansa Group to equip Starlink on its 850-aircraft fleet
Under the collaboration, Lufthansa Group will install Starlink technology on both its existing fleet and all newly delivered aircraft, as noted by the group in a press release.
Lufthansa Group has announced a partnership with Starlink that will bring high-speed internet connectivity to every aircraft across all its carriers.
This means that aircraft across the group’s brands, from Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines to Brussels Airlines, would be able to enjoy high-speed internet access using the industry-leading satellite internet solution.
Starlink in-flight internet
Under the collaboration, Lufthansa Group will install Starlink technology on both its existing fleet and all newly delivered aircraft, as noted by the group in a press release.
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites are expected to provide significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency than traditional in-flight Wi-Fi, which should enable streaming, online work, and other data-intensive applications for passengers during flights.
Starlink-powered internet is expected to be available on the first commercial flights as early as the second half of 2026. The rollout will continue through the decade, with the entire Lufthansa Group fleet scheduled to be fully equipped with Starlink by 2029. Once complete, no other European airline group will operate more Starlink-connected aircraft.
Free high-speed access
As part of the initiative, Lufthansa Group will offer the new high-speed internet free of charge to all status customers and Travel ID users, regardless of cabin class. Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx shared his expectations for the program.
“In our anniversary year, in which we are celebrating Lufthansa’s 100th birthday, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers.
“Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers,” Vranckx said.
Elon Musk
Tesla locks in Elon Musk’s top problem solver as it enters its most ambitious era
The generous equity award was disclosed by the electric vehicle maker in a recent regulatory filing.
Tesla has granted Senior Vice President of Automotive Tom Zhu more than 520,000 stock options, tying a significant portion of his compensation to the company’s long-term performance.
The generous equity award was disclosed by the electric vehicle maker in a recent regulatory filing.
Tesla secures top talent
According to a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Tom Zhu received 520,021 stock options with an exercise price of $435.80 per share. Since the award will not fully vest until March 5, 2031, Zhu must remain at Tesla for more than five years to realize the award’s full benefit.
Considering that Tesla shares are currently trading at around the $445 to $450 per share level, Zhu will really only see gains in his equity award if Tesla’s stock price sees a notable rise over the years, as noted in a Sina Finance report.
Still, even at today’s prices, Zhu’s stock award is already worth over $230 million. If Tesla reaches the market cap targets set forth in Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award, Zhu would become a billionaire from this equity award alone.
Tesla’s problem solver
Zhu joined Tesla in April 2014 and initially led the company’s Supercharger rollout in China. Later that year, he assumed the leadership of Tesla’s China business, where he played a central role in Tesla’s localization efforts, including expanding retail and service networks, and later, overseeing the development of Gigafactory Shanghai.
Zhu’s efforts helped transform China into one of Tesla’s most important markets and production hubs. In 2023, Tesla promoted Zhu to Senior Vice President of Automotive, placing him among the company’s core global executives and expanding his influence beyond China. He has since garnered a reputation as the company’s problem solver, being tapped by Elon Musk to help ramp Giga Texas’s vehicle production.
With this in mind, Tesla’s recent filing seems to suggest that the company is locking in its top talent as it enters its newest, most ambitious era to date. As could be seen in the targets of Elon Musk’s 2025 pay package, Tesla is now aiming to be the world’s largest company by market cap, and it is aiming to achieve production levels that are unheard of. Zhu’s talents would definitely be of use in this stage of the company’s growth.
Tesla makes two big interior changes to several Model Y vehicles
Lufthansa Group to equip Starlink on its 850-aircraft fleet
