The Tesla Model 3 PerformanceHandout / Tesla Teslas latest over-the-air update adds more performance to the sporty dual-motor Model 3, suggest new reports from owners.The update is available only on the dual-motor Model 3, according to Road Show, and can boost the cars acceleration off the line, leading to a new zero-to-60-mph (96 km/h) time of just 3.9 seconds. Thats 0.5 seconds faster than it used to be, and slots the vehicle just under the Model 3 Performances acceleration time of 3.3 seconds to 60 (96 km/h).There is a caveat to this boost in performance, however. The upgrade will cost US$2,000. Thats a lot of cheddar for a small boost in performance. If you were competing in real drag racing, half-a-second can mean winning or losing the race. But does it really matter when the vehicle is your daily driver? Is that significant an amount of money worth it for just a half-a-second better acceleration time? Users took to Reddit to describe their experiences, and they all seem to be pretty positive. The upgrade is described as noticeable, and worth it. People have even taken to calling updated vehicles 3D+.Tesla has not commented on the upgrade as of yet, but hopefully it will give some insight as to why the upgrade isnt free, and what exact changes were made to give the car its performance
Origin: Tesla reportedly offering a Model 3 acceleration boost for a small fee
Tesla
Watch: Tesla Model X and Ford Raptor engage in tug-of-war
YouTubers The Zunigas couldnt wait for Tesla and Ford to settle their tug-of-war beef, so they decided to stage a rematch of their own. In case you missed the Cybertruck reveal and all the memes that followed, Elon played a video clip of a Cybertruck skipping away with an F-150 in a tug-of-war like it was child dragging a reluctant puppy to the park.But skeptics, some at Ford included, pointed out the truck chosen was a two-wheel-drive F-150 and therefore not the best comparison.Enter The Zunigas guys, who happen to own a Ford F-150 Raptor with a twin-turbo V6 tuned to around 600 horsepower and a Tesla Model X, the most powerful SUV made by the brand and arguably the closest thing to a Cybertruck available. Heres the thing, if Elon wants a real challenge, he shouldve gone up against a Raptor, a big boy car, says Jose, on Team Ford, at the beginning of the video, going on to call the Tesla a Mom car and predicting that hed jack up its chassis with his truck. But when the electric Mom car was strapped to the big boy Raptor and the throttles buried, thats not exactly what happened. (Heads up, skip to the 3:00-minute mark to hear the trash talk, or to about 4:20 for the actual contest.)The Tesla comes out strong and doesnt let up, pulling the Raptor back a good distance before both drivers let up. But all may not be equal where rubber hits the road, with the Tesla wearing what some might call more appropriate tires designed for pavement, while the Raptors shoes are (likely) for off-road terrain. Is this the inevitable outcome of the Cybertruck vs F-150 rematch, or just another mismatched comparison? Give us your take
Origin: Watch: Tesla Model X and Ford Raptor engage in tug-of-war
Tesla Model 3 dominates UK EV sales figures
Tesla Model 3 dominates UK EV sales figures The Model 3 is the best selling car in the UK in 2019 to date Tesla’s Model 3 has taken the UK electric car market by storm, with more than 5,300 units registered in Q3 2019. The pure-electric saloon outsold the following four best-sellers combined for the three months covering July to September according to recently updated Department for Transport (DfT) figures. It has also shot into first place in the year’s sales charts, despite having only been on sale for a fraction of that time. Now that deliveries of the Model 3 have fully come on stream in the UK, Tesla’s most accessible model is only likely to continue that trend for the foreseeable future. Although the cheapest model in Tesla’s range, buyers opted for the most-expensive specification – the Model 3 Performance – most out of the three available trim levels. The Performance version has taken 42% of Model 3 registrations to the end of September 2019, while the entry-level Model 3 Standard Range + has accounted for a third of sales, leaving the Long Range model with 25% of the mix. Having only had 173 Model 3 units registered in Q2 2019 – deliveries only really started towards the quarter – Tesla has shifted huge numbers of the premium electric saloon since. With 5,311 units registered according to DfT data, it made the second best-selling electric vehicle in Q3 2019 VW’s e-Golf. Volkswagen shifted almost 1,200 units, putting the electric Golf just ahead of the ever popular Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The Mitsubishi sits in third place for Q3 2019, with 1,177 registered during that time. Rounding out Q3’s best-sellers are the BMW i3 – now predominantly pure-EV registrations since i3 REX models have been phased out. With 1,135 registrations, it sits ahead of the Nissan Leaf’s 1,118 registrations, and Jaguar’s I-Pace with 1,057. The Mini Countryman Cooper S E, BMW 330e, and BMW 530e come in ahead of the Range Rover Sport P400e, LEVC TX range-extended taxi, and Renault Zoe. It’s worth remembering with the BMW models and the Zoe that these are end of run versions, with updated models released since the end of Q3 2019. These are likely to start appearing in the next set of figures for the BMW PHEVs, and in Q1 2020’s results for the Renault. It’s encouraging to see that pure-electric models have taken many of the top places in Q3. The Model 3, e-Golf, Leaf and I-Pace show plenty of blue on the left of the above table. The BMW i3’s figures are largely pure-electric too, with only 53 of the i3’s quarterly figures made up of i3 REX models. A similar picture is painted for 2019 to date, with all of Tesla’s Model 3 figures accounted for since the start of the year. It leads the table for the first nine months of 2019, and it seems exceptionally unlikely that it will be replaced when the next set of statistics for 2019 as a whole are released in March next year. The other models remain, though in a different order. The Outlander PHEV is in second place for the year with more than 4,600 registrations, BMW’s i3 with over 3,000 units, the Jaguar I-Pace with almost 2,900 registrations, and the Mini Countryman Cooper S E just 11 units behind the I-Pace with 2,863 registrations. It’s still a little early for the Model 3 to have an impact on the UK’s total plug-in sales charts, where the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV retains its significant lead. In fact it’s stretching the gap between it and the Nissan Leaf in second place – but only just. Mitsubishi has seen 43,616 Outlander PHEVs registered to the end of Q3 2019, compared to the 26,766 Nissan Leaf models registered, increasing the lead by almost 60 units compared to Q2’s figures. The BMW i3 retains third place, ahead of the BMW 330e and BMW 530e, with around 15,000, 14,000 and 11,000 registrations respectively. The Mercedes Benz C 350e comes in ahead of the Renault Zoe, Tesla’s Model S, the VW Golf GTE, and Mini’s Countryman Cooper S E for the top cumulative registrations. The Model 3 misses out on the top 10 total UK electric vehicle sales then, but only just. Having had registrations for just over three months of the figures available – which go back to the start of 2012 – it sits in 11th place overall, and has already overtaken UK sales of the Tesla Model X, which has been on sale since Q4 2019. Newer pure-electric entrants include the MG ZS EV and Mercedes Benz EQC, which only became available towards the end of Q3 2019. As such, we expect Q4’s registrations to significantly improve on the 66 MG models and 47 EQCs registered so far. Relative growth naturally saw a big increase for the Model 3, up more than 3000% compared to the Q2 2019. PHEVs such as BMW’s 745e saw a 120% increase between the two sets of statistics, and sales of the Mercedes Benz E 300 de increased by 87%. The pure-electric Audi e-tron showed growth of 78%. All of these are new models for the quarter – with only a handful of sales accounted for in Q2 – picking up
Origin: Tesla Model 3 dominates UK EV sales figures
LEGO, please make this blocky Tesla Cybertruck kit a real thing
Is there a more perfect project to build out of LEGO? Teslas angular Cybertruck shocked the world when it was revealed, completely devoid of any curved lines.Now, you could build your own desk-sized Cybertruck, if this project gets enough votes.The LEGO Cybertruck design was shared on the site LEGO Ideas, where users can submit their own LEGO set concepts and have people vote on them to become official products. The Cybertruck was submitted by user BrickinNick.Concepts go through a period where they collect votes, and when they hit 10,000, theyre reviewed by the company as a potential future product. The Cybertruck project has 592 more days to reach that 10,000-vote mark, and its already surpassed more than half that. Its more than just a cool design BrickinNick has a good reason for wanting to see a LEGO Cybertruck on store shelves.Teslas mission has always been to accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy, BrickinNick says. This aligns with the LEGO Groups goal of sustainability and leaving a positive impact on the planet. As of yet, EVs have only been marginally represented in the LEGO set catalog. The striking yet fun design of this LEGO Cybertruck would be an amazing way to get kids and adults alike excited about EVs and all the good they can do for our environment. The project also relies on Tesla granting LEGO a license to produce the brick truck. Whether the LEGO version or the Telsa version comes out first is the real race, since theres more than a year on the clock for LEGO fans to vote on the thing.If you just cant wait for a scale Cybertruck that long, one graphic designer has already released a template for a papercraft version you can print off and fold into a model yourself. Now if youll excuse us, we have to use the office printer for unrelated
Origin: LEGO, please make this blocky Tesla Cybertruck kit a real thing
An Infiniti dealership sells a Tesla to Sherbrooke’s mayor – and everybody goes crazy
Now that is customer service: Steve Lussier, mayor of Sherbrooke in Quebec Eastern Townships, was ready for a new car, and as a hybrid vehicle owner for the past 15 years, wanted something electric.But his long-trusted Infiniti-Nissan dealership the one he bought his Infiniti Q50 Hybrid and (rare) Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid (still owns it) from didnt have a new 100-per-cent electric model to offer him.Odds are it wont for another two or three years.So the dealership pulled some strings and got him what he wanted, a used 2018 Tesla Model 3 with just 30,000 kilometers on the clock, traded in by a local businessman.In one day, the transaction was done, says Lussier, who took delivery of the well-equipped full-electric sedan last Friday. I still have discover some of its features its such an advanced-techno car but for now, I very happy about it.Our story would normally end here, but Infiniti Sherbrooke posted about the deal on its social media and inadvertently inspired numerous blog posts blowing the whole thing up headlines along the lines of mayor turning green or Infiniti dealership admits it doesn’t have electric models.The dealerships Facebook page was flooded with comments about how the brand, in an effort to retain a loyal customer, instead lost him to Elon Musk, or how Infinitis doing Teslas marketing for it.Jean-Sbastien Poulin, co-owner of Infiniti de Sherbrooke, cant believe all this fuss when, bottom line, his client wanted an electric car. Infinitis brand doesnt have yet an electric car. So I found a solution.There are plenty of dealerships that sell other brands vehicles to accommodate their customers why all these roadblocks suddenly thrown at us?And of course, Infiniti isnt the only luxury brand without a pure electric offering. Try shopping for EVs at Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Cadillac, Land Rover or even Lexus, the haut-de-gamme arm of hybrid hype-builder Toyota. Yes, Lussier could have bought an Infiniti-adjacent Nissan Leaf, a good vehicle (he) recently test-drove for a whole week, but he says its not where I wanted to go. Ditto the thought of heading to Sherbrooke BMW for a new i3.He wasnt content waiting a year on an admittedly attractive new Polestar, and could have been lured into a Jaguar I-Pace if the brand had had staff on hand to answer his questions when he visited the Salon du véhicule électrique in Saint-Hyacinthe last October. Oops.But then, Lussier was already hooked on a Tesla anyway. I put a $1,000 a year ago to reserve a brand-new one, he told Driving.ca. After a test drive last summer, he fell in love with the Californian electric sedan. One of my municipal councillors already owns one, and he loves it, too.Lussier didnt suddenly turn green either. (Next week at city hall,) we are going to announce additional funding to help our citizens finance their home EV-charging stations, the Mayor confided to this author.We have been doing so with a $500 municipal subsidy since 2013, but it became so popular, with more than 300 requests a year, we had to review the budget allowance. So well reveal something else next Monday.Even greener, Lussier says hes set to purchase his first electric motocross bike from the local Valcourt Bombardier (BRP), which last February bought up the now-defunct California-based Alta all-electric motorcycle company.Asked if he will eventually buy an electric Infiniti when they hit the Sherbrooke showroom, Lussier says Im eager to test-drive what my dealership will offer, but if ever I want to buy another Tesla, I know that once again, it will accommodate
Origin: An Infiniti dealership sells a Tesla to Sherbrooke’s mayor – and everybody goes crazy
Tesla driver distracted by dog in car blames Autopilot after smashing into police
A Tesla Model 3 driver was checking on his dog in the back seat when his car, on Autopilot mode, smashed into two parked cars, according to a police report out of Connecticut.The incident happened on the states I-95 highway early morning Saturday, December 7.According to a post by the Connecticut State Police department, one of the vehicles the Tesla struck was a police car pulled over to the side of the road, assisting a separate vehicle accident.Both of the patrol cars assisting with the other accident had their lights flashing, and a flare was set up, so it should have been pretty easy for somebody to see them. Unless, of course, youre relying on your car to drive itself while youre turned around checking on your dog in the back seat, which is exactly what happened.The driver of the Model 3 was issued a misdemeanor summons for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment, but luckily nobody nor any animal was seriously injured in the accident.The CSP issued a warning to remind motorists that although a number of vehicles have some automated capabilities, there are no vehicles currently on sale that are fully automated or self-driving.Tesla has not commented on the incident, and the investigation has not revealed whether or not the Model 3s brakes were applied prior to the collision, by either the driver or
Origin: Tesla driver distracted by dog in car blames Autopilot after smashing into police
Watch: Tesla Cybertruck rolls into intersection, knocking over traffic sign
New video of the Tesla Cybertruck concept driving around L.A. Saturday night, reportedly with Elon Musk himself at the wheel, shows the prototype has quite a bit of body roll through corners, more than youd expect for a vehicle weighed down by a floor full of batteries. Maybe chalk it up to the suspension design on the demonstration vehicle not being quite finalized?The video, of Musk leaving high-end Japanese restaurant Nobu in the Cybertruck, was posted by celebrity blog TMZ, and ends with the truck clipping a pylon or traffic sign as it rolls through a red light.While many have speculated Musk either didnt hear the clunk of the strike, or didnt care, we figure its much more likely Musk did it on purpose as a faux PR gaffe to draw media attention to the truck, since nothing Musk does ever happens by accident.Whos driving @ElonMusk or the Auto-Pilot?$TSLA pic.twitter.com/xvmyHPG8Ol GuruLeaks (@Guruleaks1) December 8, 2019UPDATE: It’s being reported the truck did not technically run a red light, as there is no traffic signal specifically facing that restaurant exit; and that the sign the truck knocked over is a “Right turns only” warning sign.Later on in the night, the Cybertruck was also seen driving down a California highway.In video from YouTube user Roberto Cruz, the truck cruises down the 405 South, a main public highway. We mention the public highway part because, as a prototype, the vehicle and its manufacturer plates only technically clear its use for testing purposes, and were not quite sure a night out at Nobu and a drive back on the 405 counts, there.The Cybertrucks tires are wider than the body, something also not allowed for new vehicles. Plus it lacks physical rearview mirrors, as you couldve guessed from Musk hitting that pylon.So, a whole bunch of no-nos from the CEO and his wild Blade Runner truck. But, once again, it was likely done to make us journalists take notice, and write a bunch of articles about it. Pretty clever for a guy that breaks the windows of his own truck and knocks over traffic
Origin: Watch: Tesla Cybertruck rolls into intersection, knocking over traffic sign
The best Tesla Cybertruck memes from Twitter and beyond
By now, weve all seen, heard about and most likely laughed about Elon Musks disastrous Telsa Cybertruck launch.And sure, hes already allegedly received over 250,000 deposits for the Homermobile-esque monstrosity, and is already laughing his way to the bank.But the truck is still ridiculous, and the internet agrees.To its credit, though, the Telsa Cybertruck might be the thing the internet was made for. Even more than cat photos and GIFs that reference 90s sitcoms. Ad evidence, weve gathered here a small collection of the best Cybertruck smackdowns from this week, courtesy of your friends, the internet trolls.LEGO Nails It PerfectlyDid LEGO spank Tesla so hard they had to use a safe word? Yes. Will we probably pay $24.99 for this three-brick model of the Cybertruck? Also yes. Guaranteed shatterproof. Pure gold.LISTEN: In this week’s episode, we talk about all the electrifying news coming out of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show with Postmedia Driving senior writer David Booth, including Ford’s bold Mustang Mach-e SUV. And, of course, we get Booth’s take on Tesla’s Cybertruck. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click here.Read the CommentsIm not always one to read the comments, but in this case, yes: Read the comments. For example, this Instagram post by car builders EastWoodCo was good enough as it is, but the replies from readers deliver, too. View this post on Instagram Every time 🤦♂️ A post shared by Eastwood Company (@eastwoodco) on Nov 22, 2019 at 12:51pm PSTMy favourite comment was from franktech_automotive, who wrote: Had 6 months to work on final assignment. Waits until 12am the last night to hand it in at 8.Safelite AutoGlass with an Alley-OopSocial media marketing managers wait their entire lives for weeks like this, and lets be honest, the team at Safelite AutoGlass nailed this one. Their seven-tweet onslaught is best highlighted by this gem.Pullin up to Safelite like (3/7) pic.twitter.com/oHRt6iFjAq Safelite AutoGlass® (@safelite) November 22, 2019And it ends with “Best.Day.Ever.”Letting Yourself GoSci-Tech Universe took a bit of time out from sharing interesting space facts and clever sci-fi memes to take a little chirp at Musk as well, pointing out the decline in aesthetic standards that Tesla has suffered through its short but controversial history.@elonmusk pic.twitter.com/Oen7NlfBWP Sci-TechUniverse.com (@scitechuniverse) November 23, 2019Lets be honest though, weve all felt a little like the fifth panel from time to time.And Of Course Reddit Chimed InAjalleee on reddit hit the jackpot and earned themselves some car-knowledge credit with this doozy. Tesla Cybertruck from memes Stainless steel like a DeLorean? Check. Weird slanted back like a Honda Ridgeline? Check. Joke about what happens when two obscure and controversial cars love each other very much? Hey-o!Recalling a ClassicWe couldnt find the source of this one, but its been around a few times now, simple and straightforward in its referencing the classic Windows program, MS Paint.The Wexit EditionChad Whitehead on Facebook shared this beauty, and I like it for its Canadian flavour. I mean, sure, a Cybertruck on stilts would likely be upside-down before you can say Blade Runner or Ew, gross! but you do know that some Albertan will put a lift kit on one within minutes of its on-sale date. Or attempt to, at least.Right on the FridgeThere are literally hundreds of variations of this concept, including this one, and they all make us laugh.At the end of the day, its not often you see a prototype that looks not only like something the parent of a toddler taped to a refrigerator, but also like the refrigerator, too.Just found in Elon Musks childhood scrapbook #cybertruck pic.twitter.com/NYmbGXfRPw Greg Bohn (@gregbohn) November 22, 2019Greg Bohn seems to have been first to get his edition live, though.Are the Dubai Police Being Cheeky?When the Dubai police force tweeted the Tesla Cybertruck would join its fleet of insanely obscure and expensive cars in 2020, most people thought,Well, of course it will. But heres the kicker: the Cybertruck wont actually be built until 2021.شرطة دبي 2020 Dubai Police #CyberTruck pic.twitter.com/V9rMPLgjS4 Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) November 26, 2019Is this a classic subtle troll, or do the Dubai police have superhuman powers when it comes to the early acquisition of vapourware? We may never truly know.The Final WordDoes Elon Musk know his Cybertruck is being heckled, sniped at and ridiculed from backside to breakfast time? Yes. Does he care? No.250k Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2019The final word in this thread will go to this tweet from the Telsa boss referencing the number of $100 (thankfully refundable) pre-order deposits he has received so far:Nuff
Origin: The best Tesla Cybertruck memes from Twitter and beyond
Porsche and Tesla shine in NCAP crash tests
The new Porsche Taycan has scored five stars in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests, coming second only to the Tesla Model X in its category ratings. The Taycan, tested in entry-level 4S guise and equipped with the Performance battery package, scored above 80% for both adult and child occupant safety, with Euro NCAP stating that “a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions”. The Tesla Model X, being tested for the first time since its UK launch in 2016, follows in the footsteps of the newer Model 3, which also achieved a five-star rating this year. Euro NCAP praised the electric SUV’s autonomous emergency braking system, claiming that collisions were “avoided or mitigated in most cases”. Also awarded five stars in NCAP’s penultimate testing round of 2019 were the new Ford Kuga and similarly sized Renault Captur, Audi Q7, Subaru Forester, Ford Mondeo and the 2020 Skoda Octavia, tested in estate form. The Volkswagen Sharan and its Seat Alhambra sibling achieved four stars, with the Sharan penalised for a poor performance in the ‘side pole test’, in which the left-hand rear door detached during the impact, presenting what motoring researcher Thatcham called “a risk of occupant ejection”. NCAP stated that although the platform-sharing MPVs have been on sale in their current form since 2010, “the VW Group has done a fine job in keeping them up-to-date in terms of safety, with the addition of autonomous emergency braking and rear seatbelt load-limiters”. Rounding off the latest round of results is the facelifted Jeep Renegade, which scored three stars, making it the only car to achieve less than four stars in 2019. The small SUV’s low overall score is attributed largely to a 55% rating for its ability to protect vulnerable road users. Unlike the other models tested, autonomous emergency braking is not fitted as standard to the Renegade. Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: “Well done to Tesla and the other five-star performers for not only bringing best-in-class performance in testing but also for making safety systems accessible and standard across the European market. “It is also good to see manufacturers – Ford and Volkswagen in this case –standardising AEB and keeping safety up-to-date even for older cars, to the benefit of their customers.” The next round of crash test results will be released on 18 December
Origin: Porsche and Tesla shine in NCAP crash tests
The newest New York City taxi cab is — the Tesla Model 3
In addition to its five stock colours for consumers, you might soon see Teslas Model 3 in bright yellow. The all-electric sedan has been approved for use as a taxicab in New York City.According to Autoblog, the Model 3 was recently added to the list of vehicles permitted by the citys Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).Its the first all-electric car officially approved for taxi use since the first electric carriages that drove alongside horse-drawn cabs in the 1890s. The Model 3 was one of some twenty cars added to the list.In a response to Autoblog, the TLC said it didnt know who submitted the request to approve the Tesla. The city issues Alternative Fuel Medallions, but up until now, the published rules have stated these are valid only for a vehicle that is a hybrid electric vehicle or is powered by compressed natural gas that is manufactured by an original equipment manufacturer for the general commercial or consumer market. In addition, such a vehicle has to meet the same standard as other taxis, including minimum exterior size and interior volume, luggage capacity and air conditioning. Vehicles with internal combustion engines cant make more than 295 horsepower, and the Tesla meets that restriction in all but the Model 3s high-performance versions.New York previously designated an official taxicab, which most cab owners were required to purchase. In 2011, the Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow was named the official vehicle, but it was a controversial decision since it pushed out the previous greener choice, the Ford Escape Hybrid.Some believed the loss of the lucrative New York taxi market was the reason behind Fords decision to ditch the hybrid version which had far fewer consumer sales when the Escape was redesigned for 2013.In 2018, the TLC dropped the NV200 purchase requirement and approved a list of 30 possible vehicles, such as the Toyota Camry.To qualify as a taxi, the Model 3 as with every other vehicle will have to be equipped with a roof light, medallion and decals, an interior partition and cameras to photograph passengers, and be painted yellow. It will be allowed to remain in service for a maximum of seven years.LISTEN: In this week’s episode, we talk about all the electrifying news coming out of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show with Postmedia Driving senior writer David Booth, including Ford’s bold Mustang Mach-e SUV. And, of course, we get Booth’s take on Tesla’s Cybertruck. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: The newest New York City taxi cab is — the Tesla Model 3
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