NIO Chief Executive William Li claimed that the company’s latest battery technology will give the all-new ET7 a drive range of over 621-miles between charges. With a starting price of $58,378 USD, it puts this vehicle in direct competition with the Tesla Model S in China. However, the base price does not include the battery pack, as that can only be leased from the company, bumping the base price up to $69,185 USD. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Elon Musk firmly believes in Carl Sagan’s vision that humans should eventually colonize another planet to avoid another major extinction event. To be more specific, Sagan once said that we “live in the middle of a shooting gallery with thousands of asteroids in our path that we haven’t even discovered yet. So, let’s be at least a two-planet species, as a backup plan.” Michio Kaku agrees with Musk’s plan of becoming a two-planet species. Read more for a video of the interview and additional information.
Tesla has activated full self driving in a limited capacity, but aside from a few short tests, we haven’t seen just how advanced it really is. This feature is made possible with large neural networks for Autopilot, thanks to a Tesla-designed system on a chip that can process 2,300 frames per second (fps). This marks a 21x improvement in image processing compared to HW2.5, which is capable of 110 fps. Read more to see one vehicle navigating from San Francisco to Los Angeles without human intervention.
The Tesla Model S, first launched in 2012, hasn’t seen many aesthetic upgrades, other than a front fascia refresh during 2016, but some major changes could be coming this year. Spotted near the company’s Palo Alto headquarters in California, this new footage either shows the upcoming Model S refresh or the tri-motor Plaid edition, though it’s missing the aerodynamic bits to confirm the latter, mainly the widebody. However, it does appear to have a lowered suspension and a revamped air diffuser. Read more for the video and additional information.
Photo credit: Jay in Shanghai
Located at Jing’an International Center in Shanghai, China, the world’s largest Tesla supercharger station has 72 functional V2 Supercharger stalls that power up your vehicle at 150 kW. On a related note, there are 56 California stalls with 250 kW V3 chargers that generate a combined 14,000 combined kilowatts. However, this supercharger station is fully covered, which means that you and your vehicle will be protected from the elements. Read more for a short video tour and additional information.
Alberta police drove by a 20-year-old man who was apparently asleep behind the wheel of his 2019 Tesla Model S while the electric vehicle was speeding down the highway on autopilot. They were alerted to the scene by a caller who noted that both of the front seats were fully reclined with no visible driver. When the officer arrived, the vehicle was traveling at approximately 87mph in a zone with a speed limit of 68mph. Both driver and passenger appeared to be dormant. Read more for the news report and additional information.
Can the all-electric Porsche Taycan 4S and Tesla Model S Performance stand up to modern supercars? Most certainly, even if it’s a Lamborghini Huracan Performante, McLaren 540C, and an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante. Each one of their petrol-powered competitors average 600 hp and six cylinders, with the Lamborghini Huracan Performante’s 640 hp V10 engine being the most powerful of them all. However, the Tesla Model S Performance boasts 762 hp and the Porsche Taycan 4S clocks in at 429 hp. Read more to watch the drag racing showdown.
Tesla’s new (2020.48.25) holiday firmware update has just rolled out, and there are a few new features, like a Boombox mode. That’s right, you’ll be able to turn your Model S / 3 / X / Y into a boombox and entertain a crowd with your media player when parked. That’s not all, the horn sound can also be customized to either a fart, goat, applause, snake, or upload up to five custom sounds of your own. Read more for a video walkthrough of this update and additional information.
Photo credit: Flathat3d
By now, many have seen or heard of the Karlmann King, the world’s most expensive SUV, but what if Toyota and Tesla joined in on the fun? It might look something like the Cyber Supra. Based on the Ford F550 4×4 commercial cab chassis, it’s powered by a 6.8-liter V10 engine producing 398 horsepower, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, which is needed, considering its curb weight of 13,230 pounds. With a 40-gallon fuel tank, you’ll have plenty during a zombie apocalypse. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Startup company Jupe, founded by ex-IBM project manager Jeff Wilson, has just unveiled its futuristic-looking cosmos-inspired urban escape pods that was created by designers from Tesla, SpaceX, and Airbnb. At $17,500 USD, this minimalist prefab shelter can be setup just about anywhere and is made of interconnected aluminum masts support its geometric shape reminiscent of an interstellar shuttle. For added safety, the sides are all made from fire-resistant canvas. Read more for additional pictures and information.