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Elon Musk says Tesla could build $25,000 EV in about 'three years'
When Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's second master plan, the $35,000 Model 3 represented the price floor. It wasn't set in stone, but you couldn't realistically expect more. However, the dream of a truly affordable Tesla EV just got a little more tangible. When tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee asked Musk in an interview about room for a lower-cost Tesla, the executive estimated that his company could build a $25,000 car in about three years "if we work really hard." This wasn't a promise of a car at that price point, to be clear, but Musk saw the vehicle as possible through a combination of both technical achievements and economies of scale.
Elon Musk explains funding plans for taking Tesla private
When Elon Musk said he was seriously looking at taking Tesla private, he still left a few open questions. Why did he decide to not only disclose it with a tweet, but shout "funding secured" from the rooftops? He's now offering an explanation -- not that it'll make everyone happy. In a blog post, Musk claimed that it "wouldn't be right" to limit talks of going private to just the largest investors. The tweets kept everyone in the loop, he said. He also insisted that he was speaking for himself as a "potential bidder" for his company.
Tesla may get help from Saudi Arabia in its bid to go private
Tesla may recruit an unusual ally in its effort to become a private company and take more control over its fate. A Bloomberg source has claimed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is in talks that could make it a "significant investor" in Tesla as part of the electric car company's plan to go private. The funding arm has already amassed a five percent stake in Tesla, but this suggests it would grab a larger slice if the plan went forward.
Tesla will open its security code to other car manufacturers
Tesla might just get into the habit of releasing source code for its in-car tech. Elon Musk has signaled his intention to post the source code for Tesla's car security software, letting any automaker roll it into their own machines. It would be "extremely important" to ensure the safety of future self-driving cars, he argued, and that's not without merit. You really don't want intruders crashing your car or otherwise causing havoc, especially when you're not at the wheel.
Tesla hires key Volvo designer to style future EVs
If you feel that Tesla needs to shake up the increasingly familiar design of its electric cars, you might be in for a treat. Auto Express and Electrek have learned that Tesla recently hired Ian Kettle, the former Volvo designer who led exterior work on the XC40. He started as a senior designer at Tesla "a few weeks ago," according to AE, and reports to chief designer (and former Mazda man) Franz von Holzhausen.
Tesla explains Track Mode on the Model 3 Performance
When word got out that Tesla's Model 3 Performance trim included an experimental Track Mode, it raised eyebrows: was it disabling safety limits to let you thrash the EV, or was there something else to it? You now have a proper answer. Tesla explained to both Road and Track and Electrek that Track Mode is changing the very characteristics of the car. It switches up the regenerative braking to rely more on the traction of the dual motors and slip distribution, increasing the regenerative power and providing the lift-off oversteer that drift fans crave. You'll also see a new powertrain cooling algorithm that's better-suited to the constant demands of a day at the circuit.
Tesla is adding classic Atari games to its cars
Tesla isn't limiting its fun-oriented EV updates to its upcoming party mode. Elon Musk has promised that "some of the best" Atari games will be playable in Tesla cars as part of a version 9.0 software update coming in roughly four weeks. The exec didn't provide a full list of titles, but he indicated that Missile Command, Pole Position and Tempest would ideally be part of the release, which will make them available as Easter eggs. And crucially, you won't just be tapping the screen or twiddling thumbwheels. For Pole Position, you'll use the car's steering wheel to drive in the game.
Tesla aims to make 10,000 Model 3 cars per week in 2019
Now that Tesla is finally making over 5,000 Model 3 cars per week, it's eager to move to the next production goal... and it knows it needs to pick up the pace. As part of its second quarter earnings release, the automaker signaled plans to ramp up production to 10,000 Model 3 units per week sometime in 2019. The "majority" of its production lines would be ready for that volume by the end of 2018, it said, but it will still have to boost output in "certain places."
Tesla 'party and camper mode' turns EVs into tailgating machines
Teslas are nothing if not giant batteries on wheels, so it would only make sense if you could use the battery for something other than getting from A to B, wouldn't it? You will soon. Elon Musk has teased the future addition of a "party & camper mode" that will keep the car's climate systems, "selective" lights, audio and device-powering features alive for "48 hours or more" while the car is stationary. Yes, you could host an all-day tailgate party with your Model X while the music keeps pumping and your phone stays charged.
Volvo's all-electric Polestar 2 will go up against the Model 3
Now that Polestar's first car (and its only hybrid car) is out the door, what's it going to do for the purely electric follow-up? Give Tesla's Model 3 a run for the money, apparently. Chief operating officer Jonathan Goodman told Autocar in a recent interview that the Polestar 2 would have the kind of performance and pricing that might have some Model 3 buyers reconsidering their life choices. The upcoming EV would cost between £30,000 to £50,000 (about $39,400 to $65,700) with as much as 400 brake horsepower and a 350-mile range. And that last figure is for the starter model -- you wouldn't have to pay a premium for long-distance driving like you do for its Tesla rival.
Tesla's Model 3 Performance has an experimental 'Track Mode'
Tesla's Model 3 is very quick, especially if you spring for the dual-motor Performance variant, but it's still tame for safety's sake. What if you want to launch an all-out assault on a race course? You might have that option soon. YouTuber Marques Brownlee recently had an opportunity to drive the Model 3 Performance on a track, and he pointed out an experimental "Track Mode" that takes the gloves off. The in-testing feature switches on "stability control and powertrain settings configured for track driving," and it's no secret what that means: you can drift, understeer and otherwise push the electric car past its usual limits.
VW's electric Pikes Peak racer is now the champion at Goodwood, too
VW made good on its promise to conquer Goodwood's Hillclimb with its pure electric race car soon after tackling Pikes Peak. The I.D. R Pikes Peak was the fastest vehicle to take on the legendary ascent at the Festival of Speed, finishing the climb in a brisk 43.86 seconds -- as you'll see in the video below, driver Romain Dumas outpaces the competition almost immediately. It's the first electric car to win the Festival's shootout, and certainly the fastest EV in the competition. Second place was also an EV -- Nio's EP9 was slightly slower at 44.32 seconds.
Tesla Model 3 rollover crash shows its real-world safety
While Tesla's Model 3 should be a safe car (this isn't the company's first try), it's hard not to feel nervous. Without official crash test results, how do you know how resilient it really is? Apparently, it's tougher than you might think. Reddit user StapleGun has recounted what might be the first rollover crash of a Model 3, and the new EV appears to have done a decent job protecting its lone occupant in what many would consider a nightmare scenario.
Pininfarina's $2 million electric hypercar boasts a 250MPH top speed
When Pininfarina teased its PF0 electric hypercar in March, it didn't do more than promise a massive amount of power and a 2020 launch. It's starting to dribble out details, however, and it now looks like the PF0 may deliver the best of all worlds -- at a cost. In separate interviews with Wired and The Verge, the company has provided both teaser pictures of the PF0 (surprise: it's sleek) and performance numbers that could make Tesla Roadster buyers at least momentarily nervous. It can reach a blistering 250MPH top speed, reach 60MPH in under two seconds and provide about 310 miles of driving range. You'll no doubt have to be gentle on the throttle to achieve that last figure, but this is theoretically a vehicle you can take on a city-to-city jaunt with some bursts of mind-numbing quickness in between.
Tesla speeds up delivery times for new Model 3 orders
When Tesla opened up Model 3 orders to everyone, it was easy to be jaded when delivery would take at least three months. Wouldn't the situation only get worse? Apparently, just the opposite is true: Tesla has dramatically shortened delivery times for new orders. If you order either the Long Range RWD or Performance dual-motor models, you're looking at wait times between one to three months. That's much, much better than the three to five months of before. Even Long Range dual motor buyers now face 'just' two to four months of thumb-twiddling.
Tesla Model 3 orders are available to everyone in North America
At last, you no longer need a reservation to order a Model 3 -- if you meet the right conditions. Tesla has opened its ordering system for the 'starter' EV to everyone in North America, letting anyone walk through the process whether they're ready to buy or just curious. Don't expect to buy the exact configuration you were looking for, though. While the worst of Tesla's production problems may be over, it's not yet ready to sell the $35,000 car it promised long ago.
Critics say UK EV policy doesn't do enough
As expected, the UK government revealed a raft of new measures yesterday designed to cut harmful emissions and promote EV adoption. The package, known collectively as the Road to Zero Strategy, builds on a pledge to ban sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2040. It includes a target or "ambition" to have at least half of all new car sales be "ultra low emission" by 2030. The government also announced its "intention" to make all new homes and street lighting with road-side parking come with EV charging points. The former requires a consultation, however, that will be launched "as soon as possible."
Tesla may finally start promoting the Model 3
Tesla hasn't done much to promote the Model 3 after the initial pre-order rush, and has even conducted an anti-marketing campaign (such as encouraging Model 3 customers to switch to the Model S) to help its assembly line keep up with demand. Elon Musk once told the press his company was doing what it could to "not sell the car." Now that production is largely in check, though, it appears ready to start its sales pitch in earnest. Electrek sources have claimed that Tesla is both "starting to build" its North American test drive fleet and offering incentives to stores that sell the Model 3 in Performance trim.
Tesla and Luxembourg squabble over failed Model S braking test
Did you think Tesla could move past braking complaints just because it addressed the issue with the Model 3? Luxembourg certainly doesn't. The European country's testing and standards body ILNAS has put itself at odds with Tesla after conducting an unusually public emergency braking test (media outlets like Luremberg Wort got to watch) that compared a 2015-era Model S to a new Volvo S90.The Model S failed the test in spectacular fashion, according to observers, crashing into a dummy car (above) at just under 19MPH where the S90 could avoid it at 37MPH. It didn't look good for Tesla, but the company unsurprisingly took issue with the results.
Watch VW's electric racer destroy the Pikes Peak record
When VW smashed Pikes Peak's all-time record with an electric car, there was one lingering question for those who couldn't see it live: where's the footage? You've got it now. VW has posted uninterrupted aerial footage of its I.D. R Pikes Peak racer's 7-minute 57-second hill climb, and the pace is as relentless as you'd expect -- the helicopter can barely keep tabs on the EV as it makes short work of undulating turns. Moreover, it's a good primer on why electric cars are well-suited to Pikes Peak.
