Tesla Model 3 ‘Ludicrous’ spotted at rumored event in California

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A batch of the forthcoming Tesla Model 3 Performance seems to have been spotted at a showroom in California, where some sources say the automaker is holding a private event for the yet-to-be-unveiled variant.

In a series of photos posted on Monday, the highly-anticipated Model 3 Performance, dubbed “Ludicrous,” can be seen both covered and uncovered at what appears to be Tesla’s showroom in Malibu, California. First spotted by X user Chris Zheng on Monday morning, many users also remained skeptical in the thread due to it being April Fool’s Day.

Despite the skepticism and the date, the claims were confirmed by multiple sources, with the initial photos showing a row of the electric vehicles (EVs) parked outside under covers, along with an additional covered unit in the center of the showroom with chairs surrounding it.

Credit: ChrisZheng001 | X

Credit: ChrisZheng001 | X

Credit: BooDev | X

Credit: BooDev | X

Later in the day on Monday, fellow X user BooDev shared additional photos surfaced showing the Model 3 uncovered outside, along with a photo of the matte black Cybertruck belonging to Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen. The post said that the showroom was doing a private event for the new configuration.

In addition, you can see the Model 3 Performance’s Texas manufacturer’s license plate, as well as the Ludicrous badge spotted in a Model 3 Performance sighting in late February. One of the shots includes perhaps the best sighting yet of a new aero front bumper design on the Model 3 Ludicrous, along with a brief video of the vehicle as it drives away. BooDev says that they heard the configuration’s 0-60 mph will be 2.9 seconds.

While the Model 3 Performance has been spotted multiple times covered in the U.S. and other markets in the past few months, it was officially confirmed to be coming by von Holzhausen in late January. Reports in China the same month suggested that the variant would be launching sometime in the second quarter of this year, while leaked documents in South Korea last month seemingly hinted at a few of the trim’s specs.

The upcoming trim, expected to eventually hit markets in North America, Asia and Europe, will come as the third of the long-awaited upgraded Model 3 (which Tesla now calls the “Reengineered Model 3” on its website in the U.S.), adding to the currently available rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations.

Tesla Model 3 “Ludicrous” leaks tease key features

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Tesla Model 3 ‘Ludicrous’ spotted at rumored event in California





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Tesla lead engineer defends Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire system

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A Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer has defended the all-electric pickup truck’s steer-by-wire system, which has so far been received warmly by reviewers but also criticized by more traditional auto fans. 

The Tesla Cybertruck is starting to be delivered to more and more customers. And with the increasing number of Cybertrucks on the road, questions are now emerging about whether the Cybertruck could truly establish itself as an iconic vehicle. YouTube auto reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) discussed this in a recent review, where he noted that the Cybertruck has already become iconic. 

One of the things that MKBHD praised in his review was the Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire system, which Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill also noted has ruined everything else for him. With steer-by-wire, pretty much every vehicle that still uses a traditional steering system immediately feels outdated. Such a comment caught the eye of some critics, one of whom noted that no one wants steer-by-wire in sports cars and that Tesla engineers are engineers first and car guys second. 

In response to the steer-by-wire critic, the Cybertruck Lead Engineer explained the advantages of steer-by-wire, including the system’s capability to behave like a power-assisted steering system if necessary. He also noted that drivers can amplify feedback in a steer-by-wire system. 

“Steer by wire and modern power assist steering are both doing the majority of the work for the driver and can have the same responsiveness and road feedback; in fact, you could amplify the feedback if desired. The main difference is that steer by wire can have a variable steering ratio which is better for low speeds. You could make a steer-by-wire system behave exactly like a power-assisted system if that’s what you really wanted to do,” Morrill wrote. 

The Cybertruck is the only vehicle today being shipped with a steer-by-wire system, so it’s no surprise that the feature is seeing resistance from some avid car enthusiasts. One thing is sure, however. The Cybertruck may be the first consumer vehicle to have steer-by-wire, but it certainly won’t be the last. With the system working in the Cybertruck, it would not be surprising if later iterations of the Model S Plaid or the next-generation Roadster are also released with a steer-by-wire system. 

Watch MKBHD’s Cybertruck review in the video below. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.cDon’t give us a heads up.

Tesla Lead Engineer defends Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire system





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Tesla China promotes battery tech, cites 12% degradation on Model S after 200k miles

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Tesla’s efforts to promote its vehicles are quite evident in China, though in true Tesla fashion, the company’s marketing has been quite focused on the science that goes into its premium all-electric cars. These include the battery technology employed in Tesla’s vehicles, which provide them with longevity over hundreds of thousands of miles of driving. 

Citing internal data, Tesla China noted in a post on its official Weibo account that the battery management system (BMS) used in its vehicles ensures that batteries are able to last for a very long time. Tesla notes that its BMS ensures that batteries are not overcharged or overdischarged, and they also ensure that cells are safe from damage at all times.

Tesla China also noted that due to the innovations and protections it has implemented on its vehicles’ batteries, its battery packs are able to last a very long time. A Tesla Model S, for example, has reportedly been found to lose only 12% of its battery capacity after 320,000 kilometers (200,000 miles) of driving. 

“It can maintain 88% of the battery capacity after driving 320,000 kilometers, ensuring battery life with strength and traveling to distant places,” Tesla China noted in its post. 

What is quite interesting with Tesla’s battery technology is the fact that it is steadily getting better. The Tesla Model S still uses 18650 cells that are sourced from Panasonic, and though the cells have been vastly improved over the years, Tesla has since adopted new battery form factors and chemistries for its vehicles over the years. These include the 2170 cells produced in Giga Nevada as well as the 4680 cells being used in the Cybertruck. 

Tesla may already be the world’s most valuable automaker by market cap, but the company is still fairly young. Thus, Tesla’s fleet of vehicles — especially its two mass market cars, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover — are still quite new. It would then be interesting to see how Tesla’s more contemporary battery systems perform in real-world settings over the coming years. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla China promotes battery tech, cites 12% degradation on Model S after 200k miles





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