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Tesla promises to halve charging time with V3 Supercharging
As promised, Tesla has unveiled the third version of Supercharging, the high-powered chargers that it has spread out to top off owners' batteries as they travel the country. The promise is that it will eventually bring down charging times by an average of 50 percent. Peak rates go up to 250kW per car thanks to a new liquid-cooled cable design, and new stations don't have to split energy between multiple cars -- you'll always get the fastest rate available. On the most efficient vehicles, like a Model 3 Long Range, Tesla expects they'll get 75 miles of charge in 5 minutes, and add range at a rate of 1,000 miles per hour. It claims that V3 Supercharging "enables our vehicles to charge faster than any other electric vehicle on the market today." That is, at least until vehicles supporting 350kW charging, like Porsche's Taycan and Audi's E-Tron SUV hit the market.
Tesla's high-end Model S and X just got a lot cheaper
Tesla just made its high-end vehicles more reasonably priced for potential buyers. In addition to launching the long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, the automaker has also slashed the prices of its higher-end Model S and Model X configurations. The long-range Model S and Model X vehicles now cost $83,000 and $88,000, respectively, down from $96,000 before savings. That makes the long-range Model S just $4,000 more expensive than the base version, despite having a range that's 65 miles longer and a top speed that's 15mph faster.
Tesla starts charging $7,000 to add Full Self-Driving features post-delivery
Tesla is splitting its self-driving function into two tiers -- Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability -- and charging a few thousand extra dollars for Navigate on Autopilot, Autopark, Summon and other features coming out later this year.
Tesla's car sales are going online-only
Along with launching its long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, Tesla announced that it is taking car sales to the internet -- exclusively. That shift is apparently a part of why it's going to be able to lower prices by a claimed 6 percent on average, as it winds down "many" store locations. A few spots in high-traffic areas will remain as galleries and showcases, even as it ramps up the service system with a goal of providing same-day or even same-hour appointments where techs come to you. That does mean Tesla will fire some employees. On a call with the media, CEO Elon Musk said "We will be closing some stores and there will be some reduction in head count as a result." For customers, Tesla is hoping that by offering the ability to return their car at no cost within the first 7 days or 1,000 miles is enough to remove the need for a test drive. Musk sent out an internal memo to employees expanding on his statements about layoffs. CNBC posted it in full, as the exec told employees: "Unfortunately, this means that some jobs will be impacted or transitioned to other areas of the business. This is a hard decision, but it necessary to make our cars more affordable...In the coming weeks, we will be evaluating all of our sales and marketing organization to understand where there are operation efficiencies"
Tesla Model 3 loses Consumer Reports recommendation
The long-simmering tussle between Tesla and Consumer Reports over car reviews took a fresh turn Thursday, after the publication said it could no longer recommend the Model 3. Tesla had finally claimed the distinction last May after it was able to reduce the car's braking distance. Previously, Consumer Reports declined to recommend the car due to that issue, along with "stiff" ride quality and a "distracting" touchscreen.
Tesla pushes Sentry Mode, Dog Mode updates to its EVs
Less than a month after Elon Musk said Sentry Mode for Teslas would be "coming soon" the update has started to roll out, along with a couple of other tweaks. In a blog post detailing Sentry Mode, Tesla explained it uses the car's external cameras to watch for potential threats. If it's in standby, the cameras are watching, ready to go into an "Alert" state if someone does something like leaning against the car that pops up a message on its touchscreen saying that the cameras are recording. If someone breaks a window or something then it goes directly into Alert, which activates the alarm, plays music at loud volume and turns up the brightness on the interior screen. It also sends an alert to the owner via their Tesla app and if they've plugged in a formatted USB drive prior to enabling Sentry Mode, then it will save a recording of everything starting ten minutes before the Alert was triggered. You'll have to turn on Sentry Mode each time you want to use it -- with its recordings that's probably for the best -- by going into the Safety & Security menu. Sentry Mode Sentry Mode continuously monitors your car's surroundings while it's locked and parked. When a potential threat is detected, the cameras on your car will begin recording, and the alarm system will activate. You will receive an alert from your Tesla app notifying you that an incident has occurred. To enable Sentry Mode, go to Controls > Safety & Security > Sentry Mode. You must re-enable this feature with every use. Sentry Mode is designed to add another layer of protection to your car, but it will not prevent against all possible threats.
Tesla Model X earns a perfect NHTSA safety rating
Tesla has yet another achievement to crow about. On Tuesday, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its assessment of the company's Model X SUV and awarded it the agencies highest possible rating: 5 stars across every test category. That makes the Model X the safest SUV on the road today. US govt testing by @NHTSAgov finds Model X to be the safest SUV in history by significant margin https://t.co/zAdb5FQPEI — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 13, 2017 Every Model X variant -- the 60D, 75D, 90D, P90D and 100D -- all scored perfectly in front impact, side impact, rollover and overall safety. In fact, the NHTSA was unable to even tip one over during its dynamic test and gave the Model X only a 9.30 percent chance of rolling over during an accident. The company credits its electric drivetrain and power system, as well as the vehicle's low center of gravity thanks to its battery packs being located under the cabin floor, for its impressive rollover resistance. "Of all the cars NHTSA has ever tested, Model X's overall probability of injury was second only to Model S," the company wrote in its press release.
Tesla's Model S is getting a self-driving 'autopilot' mode in three months
The self-driving future is almost here -- if you've got one of Tesla's Model S cars. Tesla CEO Elon Musk just announced that it'll be bringing its new automatic steering mode, simply dubbed "autopilot," to the Model S lineup in three to four months via a software update. Musk says you'll basically be able to "go between San Francisco and Seattle without the driver doing anything." He's also careful to point out this isn't true self-driving, just very powerful automatic steering (it was announced alongside the dual-motor Model S in October). The downside? It's only available on highways, and it requires one of Tesla's $4,250 "optional tech" package. Musk notes that the company's current technology likely won't be safe in suburban neighborhoods, which often have random obstacles like kids playing in the street. Eventually, you'll be able to have your Model S park itself or drive up to you in a parking lot -- just don't expect to do that on public roads.
Tesla's Model S will plan trips along charger routes
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is making good on his promise to "end range anxiety" for Model S owners today with an over-the-air software update that packs in two new features: Smart trip planning for plotting routes along its charger network, and alerts for when you're getting out of charger range. The trip planning feature is even intelligent enough to know if a charging station is full or out of service. While many were expecting Tesla to give the Model S better mileage, Musk explains that these new features are more about squashing the perception of range anxiety. Many Tesla owners told him they don't feel any range anxiety at all -- these updates are more meant for potential Tesla shoppers who might by worried about being stuck in the middle of nowhere. Sure, it's not as exciting as magically getting more range, but getting people to move past their range anxiety will be important to all electric car companies over the next few years.
Tesla's Model S aces European safety tests too
Tesla's electric vehicles might be known for their impressive range and executive looks, but founder Elon Musk is always keen to emphasize their impressive safety standards too. After picking up an unprecedented 5.4 stars on the US' National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) inspection last year, the company's Model S sedan has received an equally glowing score in Europe. Many cars have got full marks in European safety tests this year, but it's less common for them to pick up the same score both in Europe and the US, where testing procedures differ.
Tesla could soon start selling its own used cars
The second-hand business for most consumer products, including automobiles, is constantly booming. It doesn't matter if you go through the actual manufacturer or websites like Craigslist and Ebay, the marketplace certainly exists. Knowing this, it looks as if Tesla is prepared to offer more than just a brand new, hot-off-the-press option on its Model S vehicles -- something that's typical among car manufacturers. According to Automobile News, Elon Musk & Co. are already working on a plan to sell the Model S used in the near future, as a way to compete against OEMs with similar alternatives in place.
Tesla Model S update adds calendar integration and traffic-based navigation
If you look at the changelog for Tesla's Model S, you'll see most of the updates have been minor bug fixes; it's fairly rare that the luxury electric vehicle gets upgraded with new features. Every once in a while, though, Elon Musk and co. unleash a meaty update and as it happens, today is one of those days. The company just released the (previously leaked) version 6.0 of its software, which adds a built-in calendar that syncs with your smartphone, along with a remote-start feature and traffic-based navigation to help you avoid the busiest roadways.
Tesla opening up 400 EV charging stations across 120 Chinese cities
There aren't more electric cars because there's no infrastructure, but there's no infrastructure because there's no demand. It's this chicken-and-egg problem that Elon Musk is hoping to end, at least in China, after a signing a deal that'll see Tesla open 400 charging stations in the country. The car maker has signed a deal with state-owned mobile network China Unicom, which'll see the latter business providing space at its retail locations for Tesla owners to re-juice at. The pair aim to have stations with two or more charging points up and running in 20 cities by the end of the year, with 100 further cities coming on board in the future. Why would a national phone carrier get involved in the auto industry? Unicom executive Jiang Zhengxin believes that the team-up will allow "effective use of the infrastructure" plus, hey, it's a nice bit of free publicity. Xinhua News, meanwhile, believes that the move will supercharge (pun intended) China's push towards green vehicles as a solution to its pollution problem.
Hot-rod Tesla Model S will burn rubber and your cash
Tesla's Model S P85 can vault from zero to 60 MPH in 4.2 seconds or so -- pretty good for a luxury car with no pistons. Tuning outfit Saleen thought it could top that, though, and has come up with a new version called the Foursixteen. The company also bestows 700HP to Mustangs, but it thinks the Model S "is an entirely new class" of American car equally deserving of such treatment. To that end, Saleen started with the P85 performance variant of the Model S with 416 horsepower and 443 foot-pounds of torque, and changed the final drive ratio for better acceleration. It also added aerodynamic updates, a new suspension, 22-inch wheels, carbon ceramic brakes, a "supercar" interior and a new rear spoiler. The result? A quicker, slicker Tesla Model S that we're guessing won't hit the original EPA range of 265 miles. Oh, and the price: $152,000 instead of around $94,570. Despite its hot-rod status, though, the Foursixteen qualifies for all Federal and state EV rebates -- meaning that depending on where you live, it could be up to $15,000 lower.
Tesla opens new Supercharger sites in London and Birmingham
Tesla's right-hand drive Model S has been available in the UK for a couple of months now, but its complementary Supercharger network has yet to make real impact on Britain's roads. However, the company has always intended to expand its free car-charging stations to cover many of the UK's major motoring hubs, and it's now started to deliver on its word. From today, London will play host to two Supercharger locations, with a new site located at Hyatt Regency London in Central London joining Tesla's first charger at the Royal Victoria Docks.
What it's like to drive a Tesla Model S in the UK
In a nutshell: more fun and more practical than you might expect, despite the high upfront cost. The right-hand drive model of the Tesla Model S has just arrived in the UK and it instantly transforms the story of electric cars in this country. Instead of being a glossy, distant, sometimes Hollywood-ised drama taking place along the West Coast of America, I find myself looking at a sleek, relatively unostentatious saloon parked up in the grey drizzle of Canning Town, East London. And I'm holding the keys.
Tesla Model S gets not-quite-official makeover as a convertible
Let's say you love everything about the Tesla Model S except its static roof. Well, Newport Convertible Engineering wants to help fix that. The aftermarket company has announced that it's received an order for 100 of its new droptop conversions from a Chinese investor, and tells Autoblog that it's reached out to Tesla to put an additional 5,000 units into production to help meet expected demand. The conversion kit isn't cheap, however. A soft-top convertible will run you $29,000 and, if you'd prefer a rigid version, that'll be $49,000. You still have to supply your own Model S, too. But hey, $100,000 (or more) is a small price to pay for having the possibly greenest -- and safest -- rag-top on the road, right?
Tesla Model S is 'low hanging fruit' for hackers to remotely track or unlock cars
Tesla has toughened the Model S' underbody to help prevent any more fires, but apparently it needs to add some reinforcement to its network features too. An enterprising hacker can't quite drive one of the electric vehicles away (they'd need a key fob to start the car), but holes in the auto's security apparently allow a ne'er-do-well to locate the vehicle, unlock its doors and steal your belongings. As Tesla owner and corporate security consultant Nitesh Dhanjani tells it, this "low-hanging fruit" can be picked by brute-force attacking Tesla's relatively weak one-factor password system, exploiting loopholes in the iOS app's API and by accessing the ride's network-interface jack under the dashboard. Thankfully, he found that the Model S' major systems were safe from attack. Dhanjani's submitted his findings to Musk and Co. and he advises current owners to take the precautions he's outlined to heart, specifically warning against using third-party apps. Tesla didn't respond directly to his concerns, but a spokesman has told Reuters that the company carefully reviews research provided by the security community.
Daily Roundup: Tesla's Supercharger Corridor, Sprint Spark, Steam's battle for the living room and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Tesla Model S deliveries begin outside of North America, starting with Norway
Tesla's four-door Model S has been trickling into North American garages for a couple of years now, and it seems that production has ramped up enough to finally begin deliveries internationally. Starting today, Model S buyers across various ponds will begin to see stock appear. As seen above, the action is starting in Oslo, Norway, where that guy in the driver seat looks particularly charged up about the parade that awaits. Sorry. It seemed funnier in the moment.
