Lifestyle
Tesla Racing Series: Types of Racing
There are many different types of racing, and while it’s impractical to cover all of them, we’ll cover a few that we tried in our 48 Tesla Model S.
Autocross
Due to its heavy weight, the Model S does not perform very well in autocross events. To clarify, since the term “Autocross” can refer to several different types of setups, here we refer to a course laid out by cones on an asphalt surface, most often done on speedway infields or large stadium parking lots. Typical speeds on this type of layout are approximately 30 mph with occasional bursts of up to 60mph.
Autocross can also refer to country road racing – a type of racing that should never be done in the Model S in order to avoid damage to the battery pack that’s mounted beneath the vehicle. While a 1/4″ thick aluminum plate protects the battery, driving on rough surfaces increases the probability of hazardous debris or other large foreign objects to strike and damage the battery.
Autocross courses are usually 1/2 to 3/4 miles in length and comprised of 30+ turns. Mainly light and small cars such as the Mazda Miata tend to dominate these type of events. Bigger and heavier cars like the Tesla Model S have much more body momentum making it more difficult to control and less nimble (the Tesla roadster would probably do a lot better here).
We think Autocross events are great when it comes to getting your feet wet in racing. There are a variety of setups that one can practice on, such as off-camber turns, turns with elevation changes, slaloms, etc. It’s also the safest possible setup, as even the worst mistake would only lead to hitting a cone. One also has the freedom to experiment with new techniques on an autocross that may not be considered safe on other types of tracks.
Open Track Racing
Open track racing, also called track days or simply tracking, is by far the most fun and entertaining type of racing. This type of racing allows you to race alongside other cars on racetracks of varying sizes and complexities. Courses can range from lower speed technical road courses to as large as full stadium ovals where NASCAR races are held.
It’s important to note that this type of open track racing should not be confused with wheel-to-wheel competition racing, where the driver needs to be licensed, the car has to be race prepared, and the objective is to win by any means necessary – even if it means wrecking the vehicle. The objective of open track racing is to have fun, be competitive but courteous, and more importantly walk away with your car undamaged.
The Tesla Model S does well on these tracks given its sports car like handling, excellent stability controls, and snappy acceleration. One of the most exhilarating aspects of open track racing is being able to drive and pass other contenders at speeds well over 100 mph, and in a environment that’s generally safer than competition wheel-to-wheel racing.
At the same time, the tracks have a reasonable number of turns where you can practice your driving skills, such as following racing lines, braking zones, track outs, on and off camber turns, etc. While its fairly straightforward on paper, doing it in real life is a lot more difficult. It’s a very rewarding experience when you master a segment and can repeat it time after time. While open track racing is not a competition for track position, you are in fact competing with other cars for the best overall lap time.
Everyone we’ve ever interacted with at these events were friendly, helpful, and professional. And while you don’t receive a prize for crossing the line first, as you do in competition racing, the real reward is being able to meet a group of passionate people that all have the common goal of just plain ol’ having fun!
And this is where the primary focus of TESLARATI 48 Tesla is. At the time of writing, we completed 4 track events, Willow Springs (The Big Willow), the Streets of Willow, the California Speedway (Fontana Auto Club Speedway), and Buttonwillow.
After starting in the Novice group at the first track, we were promoted to the Intermediate group at the second event based on fast lap times. The 48 Tesla completed fastest lap times in the Intermediate groups around the middle of the pack in all subsequent events. Working on our skills while in this group will also give us time to seek alternatives to improve cooling of the Tesla drivetrain components that can cause power limitations. We’re also really looking forward to these new tracks coming up in the first half of the year: Chuckwalla, Spring Mountain, Sonoma, Thunderhill, and Laguna Seca.
We’ll be publishing our full event schedule as it becomes available so stay tuned!
Also see: The “48″ Tesla Model S takes on Buttonwillow Raceway [Video]
[learn_more caption=”Disclaimer”] The information contained in the “48” Tesla Racing Series is for general information purposes only and is not meant to serve as an endorsement for track, competition or activities around racing. Our endeavor is to simply showcase the amazing performance capabilities of the battery powered Tesla Model S sedan.[/learn_more]
Elon Musk
Trump’s invite for Elon just reshuffled Tesla’s big Signature Delivery Event
Tesla rescheduled its final Model S farewell to May 20 after Musk joined Trump in China.
Tesla has rescheduled its Model S and Model X Signature Edition delivery event to Wednesday, May 20, 2026, after abruptly calling off the original May 12 celebration. The event will take place at Tesla’s factory at 45500 Fremont Boulevard in Fremont, California, the same location where the Model S first rolled off the line in 2012. Invitees received a follow-up email asking them to reconfirm attendance and download a new QR code ticket, with Tesla noting that all travel and accommodation expenses remain the buyer’s responsibility.
The reason behind the original cancellation came into focus the same day it was announced. President Trump invited Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, and executives from Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, Citigroup, and Meta to join his trip to China this week for a summit with President Xi Jinping. The agenda covers trade, artificial intelligence, export controls, Taiwan, and the Iran war, following weeks of escalating friction between Washington and Beijing over AI technology, sanctions, and rare earth exports. Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I am very much looking forward to my trip to China, an amazing Country, with a Leader, President Xi, respected by all.”
Tesla launches 200mph Model S “Gold” Signature in invite-only purchase
The vehicles at the center of all this are the last Model S and Model X units Tesla will ever build. Priced at $159,420 each, the 250 Model S and 100 Model X Signature Edition units come finished in Garnet Red with a one-year no-resale agreement, giving Tesla right of first refusal if the owner decides to sell. As Teslarati reported, the Model S defined Tesla’s early identity as a serious luxury automaker, and the Fremont factory line that built it is now being converted to manufacture Optimus humanoid robots.
Musk’s inclusion in the China delegation drew attention given his very public relationship with Trump, and the invitation signals the two have moved past and past grievances. Trump originally brought Musk on to lead the Department of Government Efficiency following his inauguration, and despite a sharp public dispute in mid-2025, the two have appeared together repeatedly in recent months. A seat on the China trip, the most diplomatically consequential visit of Trump’s current term, puts Musk back at the table on U.S. economic policy at a moment when Tesla’s China revenue remains one of the company’s most important financial pillars.
Lifestyle
Tesla Semi hauls fresh Cybercab batch as Robotaxi era takes hold
A Tesla Semi was filmed hauling Cybercab units out of Giga Texas for the first time.
A Tesla Semi loaded with Cybercab units was recently filmed leaving Gigafactory Texas, marking what appears to be the first documented delivery run of Tesla’s autonomous two-seater. The footage shows multiple Cybercabs secured on a flatbed trailer being hauled by a production Tesla Semi, a truck rated for a gross combination weight of 82,000 lbs. The location is consistent with Giga Texas in Austin, where Cybercab production has been ramping since February 2026.
The sighting follows a wave of Cybercab activity at the Austin facility. In late April, drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer spotted approximately 60 Cybercabs parked in two organized groups in the factory’s outbound lot, the largest concentration observed to date. Units being staged in an outbound lot is a standard pre-delivery step, and the Semi footage is the logical next frame in that sequence.
En route with @tesla_semi pic.twitter.com/ZfuOjaeLH1
— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) May 7, 2026
This is not the first time Tesla has used its own Semi to move Tesla products. When the Semi was unveiled in 2017, Musk noted it would be used for Tesla’s own operations, and over the years Semi prototypes were spotted carrying cargo ranging from concrete weights to Tesla vehicles being delivered to consumers. In 2023, a Semi was photographed transporting a Cybertruck on a trailer ahead of that vehicle’s delivery launch.
The Cybercab itself was first revealed publicly at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event on October 10, 2024, at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, where 20 pre-production units gave attendees rides around the studio lot. Musk stated at the event that Tesla intends to produce the Cybercab before 2027. The first production unit rolled off the Giga Texas line on February 17, 2026, with Musk posting on X: “Congratulations to the Tesla team on making the first production Cybercab.”
Tesla’s annual production goal is 2 million Cybercabs per year once multiple factories reach full design capacity, with the company targeting a price under $30,000 per unit. Tesla has confirmed plans to expand its robotaxi service to seven cities in the first half of 2026, including Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas, building on the unsupervised service already running in Austin. Musk has said he expects robotaxis to cover between a quarter and half of the United States by end of year.
Tesla has taken home the “Overall Loyalty to Make” award from S&P Global Mobility for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing Tesla owners’ willingness to come back. The 2025 awards are based on S&P Global Mobility’s analysis of 13.6 million new retail vehicle registrations in the U.S. from October 2024 through September 2025. The complete list of 2025 winners includes General Motors for Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer, Tesla for Overall Loyalty to Make, Chevrolet Equinox for Overall Loyalty to Model, Mini for Most Improved Make Loyalty, Subaru for Overall Loyalty to Dealer, and Tesla again for both Ethnic Market Loyalty to Make and Highest Conquest Percentage.
Tesla’s streak in this category started in 2022, and the brand has now won the Highest Conquest Percentage award for six straight years, meaning it keeps pulling buyers away from other brands at a rate no competitor has matched. Tesla’s retention among Asian households reached 63.6% and among Hispanic households 61.9%, rates that significantly outpace national averages for those groups. That breadth of appeal across demographics adds a layer of significance to a win that some might dismiss as routine.
The timing matters too. After several consecutive quarters of decline, Tesla’s share of U.S. EV sales jumped to 59% in Q4 2025. That rebound, arriving just as competitors were flooding the market with new models and incentives, suggests Tesla’s loyalty numbers are not simply the result of limited alternatives. Buyers are still choosing it when they have plenty of other options.
What keeps Tesla owners coming back has a lot to do with the and convenience of charging. The Supercharger network is the most straightforward example. With over 65,000 Superchargers globally, it remains the largest and most reliable fast-charging network in the world, and owners who have built their routines around it face a real practical cost when considering a switch. Competitors have made progress, but the consistency, speed, and availability of Tesla’s network is still the benchmark the rest of the industry is chasing. Then there is the software side. Tesla has built a model where the car you own today is functionally different from the car you bought two years ago, through over-the-air updates that add continuous game-changing improvements such as Full Self-Driving that has moved from a driver-assist feature to an increasingly capable autonomous system. For many Tesla owners, leaving the brand means starting over with a car that will not get meaningfully better over time, and that is a trade-off fewer and fewer are willing to make.
SpaceX just forced Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to team up for the first time in history
Tesla Model Y prices just went up for the first time in two years
