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Will we see Tesla Motors in Formula E racing?

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Formula E has come a long way in a short 18 months, and we can’t help but wonder, what if Tesla Motors got involved in racing?

Call us optimistic, but we see a lot Tesla Motors could bring to the world of electric vehicle (EV) racing.

Tesla and racing are words in a sentence usually found on dedicated forums. Tesla makes no mention of racing, which leaves many wondering why not. Having said this, what would a Tesla race team look like anyway. Would it be a fully fledged race dedicated team, or would they prepare cars and send them off to privateers? And with the news of Formula E finally coming to the U.S. making its Long Beach race debut free, why not have a few Teslas racing along the track? Considering Lightning Motorcycle built its reputation in four years of serious racing, and is now taking order for the most outrageous superbike ever, the electric LS-218, the time is right for various EV racing series.

Is Tesla the Lamborghini of EVs?

48 Chuckwalla 4Is Tesla Motors the Lamborghini of electric vehicles, or will it go the Maserati route? Ferruccio Lamborghini never intended for his cars to be raced, and up until a few years ago, privateers would bring them to the race tracks. Now that VW owns the brand, Lamborghini trophy races are happening. On the other hand, Maserati was born out of racing, and we don’t see the same happening with Tesla. Still, will Tesla ever race its cars? It shouldn’t surprise us. One way or another, every car maker has to sharpen its claws with racing, the problem is when to do it for maximum exposure and benefit.

MUST SEE: [Video] Tesla Racing Series

We covered a few stories about fellow Model S drivers who bring their cars to the tracks. EV engineers routinely go from one company to another and it’s no surprise to see an ex-Tesla engineer working for a competing carmaker.

However, Tesla Motors should not get involved with racing at this stage of their development. The technology lifestyle company wouldn’t have sufficient financial funds to weather racing for a few seasons. And even if they did, who would they race against? It’s not like the Model S and the Roadster have a lot of competition, on the street or on race tracks.

An EV race series

AUTO - FORMULA E TESTS 2013

We hope to see Nissan, BMW, Tesla, GM and a few others strip their electric road cars of the daily un-necessities of three or four seats, stereo and infotainment systems, as well as other heavy security systems. They could prepare a few race batches, make them race ready and leave a few privateers to take them out racing. Imagine an FIA sanctioned electric car race. It would be a fantastic way to show these cars are not only ready for daily use, but has already challenged the internal combustion engine.

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ALSO SEE: The day Saleen turned its attention to the Model S

For those who feel range is an issue, Formula E is already working on the current limitation. Race drivers will have two cars for the 55 minute race and inductive charging will begin to appear shortly. However, don’t get your hopes too high that swapping batteries will help Tesla. It would be the opposite. As Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E told me, the FIA has such strenuous security constraints, that battery swapping was rejected in favor for inductive charging.

In the meantime, we feel hillclimbs are a given for EVs current short range. Any electric car can handle most hillclimbs and give their gasoline counterparts a run for their money, virtually. Surely Pikes Peak would greatly benefit from seeing EVs we all recognize.

Going back to Tesla, the company doesn’t need any advertising when we cover everything it does, but wouldn’t it gain an extra validation notch from racing? While it might be too early for Tesla Motors to officially race, the company will have to at some point. Racing would be yet another definitive way for Tesla Motors to show the potential for EVs.

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Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old

Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

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Credit: Tesla Owners Silicon Valley/X

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding. 

These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.

Tesla Semi’s Roar

There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.

Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.

Tesla Semi Ramp

Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.

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The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.

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Elon Musk jokes he will join Mr Beast’s “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla” challenge

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again.

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

Following the first quarter Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a bit more relaxed—relaxed enough to joke about fighting a gorilla with 99 other people, at least.

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again and not too busy picking fights with politicians on social media.

The Viral 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge

Over the weekend, a post on social media platform X went viral. The post itself was quite simple, with user @DreamChasnMike stating that he thinks 100 men could beat one gorilla. “Everybody just gotta be dedicated to the sh*t,” the X user joked. The post exploded on the platform, garnering 284 million impressions as of writing.

The silly question also triggered a massive debate about whether 100 men would really stand a chance against a literal gorilla. Some users even lamented that the premise was a sign of male hubris. Nevertheless, the question proved to be a fun topic on X, with some more dedicated users even posting simulated videos of what the “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge” could look like. 

Mr. Beast and Elon Musk Join In

The premise is quite similar to other viral videos from noted YouTube creator Mr. Beast, so it was no surprise that edited images of Mr. Beast YouTube thumbnails with “100 Men vs a Gorilla” also started spreading on the social media platform. Mr. Beast, who tends to be game to such silly ideas, actually reposted the edited image, joking “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?”

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In true Elon Musk fashion, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO noted that he would join the challenge. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen” Musk wrote in his post on X. Musk’s reply triggered quite a few laughs on X, with some stating that the world probably still needs the CEO.

While silly, Musk’s comment and his recent, more frequent posts about his companies’ products like Starlink and Grok have been received well by his supporters. Over the past months, after all, Musk has been very political and quite confrontational on social media. With Musk soon taking a step back from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) daily operations, however, it seems like X will soon get a more tempered and lighthearted Elon Musk once more.

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Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory

The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

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Image Credit: @metgodinwilderness7130/YouTube

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

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What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

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