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Tesla has only produced 260 Model 3s so far
Tesla delivered its first batch of Model 3s to their owners at the end of July and production was supposed to steadily ramp up during the following months. Elon Musk predicted that around 100 cars would be produced in August, 1,500 in September and 20,000 in December, with 10,000 cars per week being the production target in 2018. But so far that plan has failed. In a recap on third quarter vehicle production and deliveries, Tesla said that only 260 Model 3s were produced and just 220 were delivered.
Tesla will discontinue its most affordable Model S this Sunday
On Sunday, Tesla's vehicle lineup will be smaller by one as it discontinues its cheapest Model S option, the Model S 75. That means the all-wheel-drive version -- the 75D -- will take its place as the low-end Model S sedan, currently listed at a starting price of $74,500. Electrek reported the news today and Tesla has confirmed the report to Engadget.
NTSB places blame on both driver and tech in fatal Tesla crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made its final determinations on the cause of the fatal Tesla Model S crash that took place in Florida in May of last year. In a report set to be released in the next few days, the NTSB concludes that the accident was the fault of both drivers and has issued a series of recommendations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), manufacturers of Level 2 automated driving systems, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Global Automakers.
Watch Elon Musk's Boring elevator hide a car underground
Elon Musk is once again updating everyone on the progress of his tunnel-digging operation's first segment. Judging from his latest vid, even the process of entering the underground route will be more elaborate than what we're currently used to. Fittingly, the Instagram clip shows a Tesla Model S driving on to a vertical lift platform and descending into the tunnel. It's enough to make you feel like Batman entering the Batcave.
Tesla’s Model 3 budget EV can do 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds
Some of the performance details of Tesla's Model 3, which is set to begin production in July, were leaked today by insiders at the Tesla Model 3 Owners Club. An infographic comparing the new, $35,000 model with the fancier and more powerful Model S reports a 0-60 time of a zippy 5.6 seconds.
Tesla recalls 53,000 vehicles for potential parking brake issue
Tesla is recalling 53,000 of its Model X and Model S vehicles built between February and October 2016. Some of these might have a manufacturing flaw that prevents the electronic parking brake from being switched off. While it hasn't been linked to safety issues or accidents yet, the cautious automaker is voluntarily recalling a large number of vehicles just to be safe.
Tesla narrowly missed its 2016 sales targets
At the start of 2016, Tesla set itself the ambitious goal of delivering up to 90,000 new cars to customers, and by the end of the year it almost, but not quite, achieved it. The company has revealed that it managed to get 83,992 electric vehicles out to people over the year; it would have been more but for some production hiccups in the fall. It's a big year-over-year boost for the relatively small automaker, since it only managed to deliver 50,580 cars in 2015.
The slow death of the manual transmission
I've never owned a car with an automatic transmission. From my 1969 Datsun 2000 roadster to the 2011 Mini Countryman S that currently sits in my garage, I've had a long line of vehicles that required more than just pressing on the accelerator and pointing it toward a destination. Yes, there were a few years when my wife had a Honda CR-V with an automatic transmission. But my cars have always required me to actually shift gears. I plan on continuing this tradition for as long as possible. But I know eventually I'll be forced to drive a car with my left leg sitting idle.
Fisker teases an electric sports car with a 400 mile range
Henrik Fisker is back in the news with another electric car company. Fisker Inc. (not to be confused with Karma Revero) is the latest venture from the famed designer. Aside from claims that the electric sports car will travel over 400 miles between charges, there won't be anything to see until halfway through next year, according to a report from Bloomberg. "It will definitely be something that when you see it, it will look completely different," Fisker (the person) tells the publication. "It will be sporty and spacious." He hopes to take on the Tesla Model S with the first vehicle, which he describes as a spiritual successor to the 2012 Karma.
Tesla edges out Toyota for longest range zero-emission vehicle
We knew Tesla was revving up and adding range to its electric vehicle lineup, but now we have the EPA's official word. The company's top-of-the-line Model S P100D is not only quickest production car in the world, but it's also the longest-running zero-emission vehicle with 315 miles of range -- narrowly beating out Toyota's hydrogen fuel-cell Mirai by just three miles.
Tesla's major Autopilot update starts rolling out today
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken to Twitter to announce the latest update to his company's EVs will begin rolling out tonight. We've heard quite a lot about the "major overhaul" that is version 8.0 already, since it includes significant tweaks to the semi-autonomous Autopilot mode -- a reaction to the feature's role in a fatal crash this summer. Following the update, Autopilot will rely more heavily on radar, rather than these sensors playing second fiddle to camera feeds. The idea is radar is much more reliable than cameras when visibility is poor, such as when you're driving through snow or fog.
Uber's self-driving cars, and more in the week that was
It's official: Self-driving cars are here. This week Uber's autonomous taxi fleet picked up its first passengers in Pittsburgh, while Ford announced that its self-driving car will have no steering wheel, gas pedal, or brakes. Ford is also working on cars that can harvest drinking water from thin air -- and then dispense it from a dashboard tap. In other auto news, the Chevy Bolt scored an EPA-certified driving range of 238 miles -- further than the base Tesla Model S. Tesla sued an oil exec for allegedly impersonating Elon Musk to steal trade secrets. And design studio Duffy London debuted the solar-powered super yacht of the future.
Tesla's most affordable Model S returns with bigger battery
Tesla's more affordable Model S 60 is back, and it comes with a more attractive base price of $66,000 (£53,000). That's around $4,000 less for the 60kWh sedan that the automaker originally sold from 2012 to 2015 before it was replaced by the 70D. To sweeten the deal, Tesla added a 75kWh battery pack to the car and the extra power and range can be unlocked via a software update if the owner needs to do so. Of course, there's an added cost involved for the update, but exact pricing for that hasn't been revealed.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Solar Impulse's trans-Pacific flight, and more!
The Solar Impulse airplane is on a mission to circle the globe using only the power of the sun, and this week it continued its journey by crossing the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, Tesla showed just how fast the Model S is by challenging a Boeing 747 to a drag race. An Italian company is turning vintage moped parts into some of the coolest electric bikes we've ever seen, and a Swedish cyclist created an all-weather bike that looks just like a car. And we've seen buses and vans turned into some pretty incredible things -- but Lee Broom's palatial gallery on wheels takes the cake.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: The Tesla Model S gets an upgrade
The Tesla Model S is one of the highest-rated electric cars ever, and it just got even better. This week the automaker rolled out an upgrade that gives the vehicle a bigger battery, a refreshed exterior and a "bioweapon defense mode." Meanwhile, the Solar Impulse sun-powered airplane is getting set to fly across the Pacific Ocean after a lengthy stop in Hawaii. Stephen Hawking teamed up with Russian billionaire Yuri Milner on a plan to send postage-stamp sized spaceships to Alpha Centauri in search of life. IKEA announced plans to launch a chainless bicycle later this year, and a popular new bike/stroller hybrid hit the market only to sell out in a matter of hours.
A semi-autonomous road trip in the Tesla Model S
Perhaps the worst driving experience of my life happened in 2009 while helping a friend move. She could only afford to rent a rusty van for a single day, so I agreed to make the 14-hour round trip from London to Scotland and back again in one shot. After setting off at 9 AM, we arrived at 7 PM, some four hours behind schedule, thanks to bad traffic. I started the 450-mile home leg at around 9 PM, and the entire journey was a battle to stay awake, alert and within the confines of my lane. Plenty of coffee and roadside breaks later, I arrived home at 6 AM, 21 hours after setting off. It was the most unsafe I've ever felt in a car. When Tesla offered us the opportunity to test out its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature in the Model S, my thoughts immediately went to Scotland and that traumatic journey. While I'm never going to trade my VW Golf for a car that expensive, the new Model 3 will arrive at $35,000 with many of the same capabilities. So I saw the opportunity to take an extremely early Model 3 test drive, of sorts. I wanted to know if it could make a cross-country journey on electric power, and see if the Autopilot would have made that long trip to Scotland a little less arduous.
Upgraded Tesla Model S rumored to arrive next week
Recently, Tesla's world has revolved around the Model 3. But there's more coming soon from the company. Rumors of an upgraded and pricier Model S began circulating last month, and now more details about that EV have emerged. According to CNET's Tim Stevens, the overhauled Model S could debut as early as next week, based on information from sources inside Tesla. The report claims Tesla is set to make "luxury-minded" changes to its flagship vehicle, internally and externally, as Elon Musk's team looks to compete against Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The best electric vehicle
By Rik Paul This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After doing three months of research, interviewing leading experts, and driving all 11 electric vehicles that are available in the US, we're convinced that the Kia Soul EV is the best car for most people who want to drive gas-free. Costing about $34,000 (or $26,500 after a federal tax credit), the Soul EV is a comfortable, versatile everyday car that's easy to live with and drives better than most other EVs. Its 93-mile driving range is one of the longest you'll find, which reduces range anxiety. It's stocked with nifty high-tech features that make driving an EV easier. And it has a superlong warranty. Overall, the Soul EV is a great car that will cut both your driving costs and your carbon footprint.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: BMW's car of the future, and more!
What if installing solar panels were as easy as rolling out a carpet? That's the promise of the Roll-Array, a powerful, flexible solar system that can be set up in two minutes flat. Meanwhile, Deltec has launched a line of solar-powered prefab homes that start under $100,000, and we spotted an amazing teardrop trailer that can operate completely off-grid thanks to roof-mounted photovoltaics. In other building technology news, Boeing debuted a new self-cleaning airplane bathroom that uses UV light to obliterate germs.
New electric GT racing series to feature Tesla's Model S
As soon as next year, Formula E will have some company. The Electric GT World Series was announced this week, aiming to field 10 teams for its first season in 2017. What's more, the new series will be the first all-electric GT racing series. The plan is for those 10 teams to put 20 cars on the track at seven different races during the first year. In true GT (Gran Tourer) form, the series will use production cars that are available for consumer road use. Series officials say there's only one current vehicle that fits the bill: the Tesla Model S.
