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Tesla rolls out red carpet delivery for cancer-ridden Cybertruck customer

Credit: @Mrp11/Cybertruck Owners Club

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Sometimes, it’s the little gestures that truly show that a company cares about its customers. This is especially true if a company has already grown to such a level that it has become the world’s most valuable automaker by market cap. This was highlighted by Tesla earlier this month when the electric vehicle maker rolled out the red carpet for a Cybertruck reservation holder who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

Last month, a Cybertruck Owners Club member who goes by the username Mrp11 shared his situation to the forum’s other members. As per the Tesla customer, who already owns a Model 3, Tesla Solar, and Powerwall 2 batteries for his home, he has a reservation for a Foundation Series Cyberbeast, but he is not sure if he will be around long enough for his delivery. He then asked if there was a way to move up his reservation so he could take delivery of his Cyberbeast earlier. 

Other members of the Cybertruck Owners Club forum responded positively to the Tesla customer’s story, with some even offering their spot in the Cybertruck delivery queue. Others also suggested that the Tesla customer reach out to Tesla with his request. In a later update, Mrp11 shared that Tesla has stepped up, and it would not be long before he takes delivery of his very own Cybertruck. “Without sharing too much, I will soon have a purchased delivery of my own. Well beyond expectations and for me significance I cannot really explain the worth,” the Tesla customer wrote in a post. 

Midway through the month, the Tesla owner shared the efforts of the electric vehicle maker to make his Cyberbeast delivery more special. As per the Cybertruck Owners Club forum member, Tesla did a home delivery for his Cyberbeast, but his vehicle was not alone. It was accompanied by several other Cybertrucks, some of which were wrapped in Tesla’s OEM Paint Color Film. Following is the Tesla owners’ post. 

“Today, I received my Cyberbeast via a very cool home delivery. Some of you may have seen my post about being a Cancer patient with a wish. Today was delivery day and Tesla made it very special. Far beyond what we could have imagined. Great people and Great Companies Do Great things. They don’t have to but they do.

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“Here is how the home delivery went. Our new beast arrived plus support from a Rose Gold, a Black and another Stainless Cybertruck. They made a grand entrance, filled the driveway, and were there to address any new needs or concerns questions for as long as we wished.

“It made for an incredible event for which I will remember and cherish today forever. Thank you, Tesla, for making today so special,” the Tesla owner wrote. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to the story, which was also posted on X. As per Musk, he was glad that things worked out during the special Cyberbeast delivery.

Tesla may attract a steady team of negativity, but the company has a long history of recognizing its most passionate fans. In 2017, the Tesla community rallied around a terminally ill Model 3 reservation holder. Veteran Tesla owners championed his cause, making it known that experiencing the new electric sedan was one of his final wishes. 

Tesla responded by moving him up the reservation line, ensuring he received his Model 3 early. The delivery itself was a special event, with a large group of Tesla staff present to celebrate this emotional moment. This heartwarming story made him one of the first publicly known non-employee recipients of the Model 3, solidifying his place in Tesla lore.

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The following year, the Tesla community came together again to support another superfan. This time, a Model X owner battling stage 4 colon cancer expressed a desire to meet Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Design Chief. The superfan was treated to a personalized tour of the Fremont Factory, followed by an hourlong conversation with von Holzhausen. Elon Musk himself joined them for a brief chat, even amidst the intense “production hell” Tesla was facing at the time. 

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

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 S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results

There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.

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Credit: Carwow/YouTube

The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals. 

The monster from China

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower. 

Real-world tests

As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.

The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing. 

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Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.

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500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe

On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y.

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Credit: Tesla China

BYD is seeing a lot of momentum in Europe, so much so that mainstream media has taken every opportunity to argue that the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla in the region. But while BYD sales this year in Europe are rising and Tesla’s registrations remain challenged, the raw capabilities of vehicles like the Model Y are difficult to deny. 

This was highlighted in a 500-mile challenge by What Car? magazine, which showed that the new Tesla Model Y is more efficient, cheaper to run, and more reliable than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7, and even the nearly 400 KW-charging MG IM6.

Range and charging promises

On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y. The Sealion 7 had more estimated range and the IM6 promised significantly faster charging. When faced with real-world conditions, however, it was still the Model Y that proved superior.

During the 500-mile test, the BYD nearly failed to reach a charging stop, arriving with less range than its display projected, as noted in a CarUp report. MG fared better, but its charging speeds never reached its promised nearly-400 kW charging speed. Tesla’s Model Y, by comparison, managed energy calculations precisely and arrived at each stop without issue.

Tesla leads in areas that matter

Charging times from 25% to 80% showed that the MG was the fastest at 17 minutes, while Tesla and BYD were close at 28 and 29 minutes, respectively. Overall efficiency and cost told a different story, however. The Model Y consumed 19.4 kWh per 100 km, compared to 22.2 for MG and 23.9 for BYD. Over the full trip, Tesla’s charging costs totaled just £82 thanks to its supercharger network, far below BYD’s £130 and MG’s £119. 

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What Car? Magazine’s testers concluded that despite BYD’s rapid sales growth and the MG IM6’s seriously impressive charging speeds, Tesla remains the more compelling real-world choice. The Model Y just offers stability, efficiency, and a proven charging infrastructure through its Supercharging network. And as per the magazine’s hosts, the Model Y is even the cheapest car to own among the three that were tested.

Watch What Car? Magazine’s 500-mile test in the video below.

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Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe

One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.

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Credit: Ryan Torres/X

A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.” 

The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.

The world’s least intimidating ticket

According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.

Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.

Peak performative clownery

Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value. 

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Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.

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