Maxxd.com – Modified and Performance Car News

  • New Tesla Model Y “Juniper” units are arriving in China’s showrooms


    The new Tesla Model Y “Juniper” is not being delivered to consumers yet, but the all-electric crossover has started making appearances across the company’s showrooms in China.

    And as could be seen in videos of the vehicle, the new Model Y definitely seems like a worthy successor to the Model Y classic.

    Model Y “Juniper” in showrooms: 

    • Posts from social media users in China have revealed that Tesla is starting to display new Model Y units in some of its stores across the country. 
    • This has paved the way for images and videos of the new Model Y in colors such as ultra red, glacier blue, and white, among others, being shared online. 
    • The new Model Y looks very good from the videos, with its front light bar bringing a notable “cyber” vibe to the vehicle.
    • Its interior with its single stalk looks very clean as well, and features like its powers folding rear seats will most definitely be appreciated by consumers. 
    • Even the simple “Launch Series” badge at the rear of the Model Y fits well with the overall “Juniper” aesthetic.

    The Model Y classic’s swan song:

    • While display units of the new Model Y are now being brought to some Tesla stores in China, the Model Y classic is still getting quite a lot of attention.
    • This was highlighted in the previous week’s new vehicle registrations, about 80% of which were comprised of the previous-generation Model Y.
    • Among the images recently shared online was a Model Y classic in quicksilver—which was being used as a showroom car—being bought by a consumer even as Model Y “Juniper” units were being displayed across China.

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

    New Tesla Model Y “Juniper” units are arriving in China’s showrooms





    Source

  • Tesla Model 3 ‘Highland’ grabs Edmunds’ Top Rated EV of 2025 crown


    The new Tesla Model 3 “Highland” has grabbed the Top Rated EV of 2025 crown from noted automotive publication Edmunds, who released their list of best vehicles for the new year earlier today.

    The Model 3 underwent a major makeover that included upgrades to its cabin, interior, suspension, exterior, ride comfort, and others, as Tesla revamped the look and performance of what is one of the best-selling vehicles in its lineup.

    Edmunds has been critical of Tesla in the past but has also given the company its credit, especially when its due. It seems the Model 3 was one vehicle that the publication could not turn a cold shoulder to, especially considering all of the upgrades Tesla implemented with the new design as it overhauled the look and feel.

    Tesla Model 3 and Model Y top US EV sales in 2024: Cox Automotive

    Specifically, Edmunds was impressed with Tesla’s ability to provide a more efficient EV with better range ratings, build quality, ride quality, and a more modern and redefined look. It seems that many believe the Model 3 was simply in need of what Tesla calls a “refesh,” and it certainly did well in terms of what media outlets expected.

    Edmunds wrote:

    “…a major face-lift in 2024 brought improvements everywhere, including more range, a better ride quality, sharper handling and a nicer interior with — finally — professional build quality. Even better, none of this came with a price hike; the Model 3 is still one of the most affordable EVs out there.”

    They alos mention that the Model 3 has “always been a good but not great EV.

    However, there is plenty to think about when it comes to the all-electric sedan. Reese Counts, Edmunds‘ vehicle test editor, said there are few areas where the Model 3 does not outperform similar vehicles in its class. It’s a vehicle that truly does offer everything that others do, but with a little more.

    I drove the new Tesla Model 3, here’s what got better

    The Model 3 edged out notable competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BMW i5, both vehicles that earned Edmunds‘ “highly recommended” label, but could not quite edge out the Highland’s redefined design and performance.

    There were so many improvements to mention when we took the Model 3 “Highland” for a test drive early last year. The most notable was the decreased cabin noise and vast improvements in suspension and handling.

    Please email me with questions and comments at olstar@maxxd.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @MaxxdUK, or if you have news tips, you can email us at olstar@maxxd.com.

    Tesla Model 3 ‘Highland’ grabs Edmunds’ Top Rated EV of 2025 crown





    Source

  • Tesla can reverse three-decade-old prophecy that predicted U.S. manufacturing fall: Morgan Stanley


    Tesla can reverse a three-decade-old prophecy from Carl Sagan, who said in 1995 that U.S. manufacturing would decline, according to a note for Morgan Stanley.

    Sagan, an astronomer, said the U.S. would abandon manufacturing for service and information thirty years ago, but Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley believes Tesla has the ability to counter that point with its interesting position as an AI company, among other things.

    Analysts led by Jonas released a note on Tuesday that said:

    “The intersection of AI and the physical economy offers the potential to disprove Carl Sagan’s 1995 prophecy.”

    Tesla has utilized AI in its factories to help scale the production of its electric vehicles and energy products. What’s interesting is manufacturing, which used to be one of the U.S.’s main trades across the country, has weakened due to some companies exporting manufacturing to other countries.

    Morgan Stanley says that this can change:

    “Monumental capital flows must fund a new era of intelligent machines made in America.”

    The way Tesla has prioritized using AI in its factories started long ago, but CEO Elon Musk admitted that the company was too reliant on it at one point. Now, Tesla collects millions of data points for AI purposes, including for its self-driving efforts and to bolster the performance of its Optimus bot.

    Tesla has a lead in vision, language, and actuation (VLA) foundation models, which could pair well with the rapid advancements in AI. This creates the idea that Tesla has incredibly large shoes to fill.

    Tesla invites high school seniors to its Manufacturing Development Program

    As other companies working on AI and robotics could also play a role, Tesla seems to hold the narrative that most of the advancements in these sectors will have to go through them.

    With that being said, Morgan Stanley analysts believe that Tesla’s prowess in various tech fields could be what the U.S. needs to reverse a lack of investment into domestic manufacturing efforts.

    Please email me with questions and comments at olstar@maxxd.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @MaxxdUK, or if you have news tips, you can email us at olstar@maxxd.com.

    Tesla can reverse three-decade-old prophecy that predicted U.S. manufacturing fall: Morgan Stanley





    Source