Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

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A Chance Meeting

The Tesla CEO’s Cybertruck pledge was mentioned during DJ’s short interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. When Collins asked the 13-year-old what he told the Tesla CEO, DJ answered that he asked for a Cybertruck.

“I said, ‘can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there?'” the cancer fighter stated.

Daniel noted that Musk responded positively to his request, which was highlighted by Collins in a post on X. Musk responded to the post with a heart emoji, suggesting that he really will be sending a Cybertruck to the 13-year-old cancer fighter.

Teen’s Cancer Battle Inspires

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, Daniel has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12. During his speech, Trump highlighted the 13-year-old’s long battle with his disease. 

“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true,” Trump stated.

Daniels officially received an honorary badge from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, to much applause during the event.

Surprisingly Partisan

While Daniels’ story has been inspiring, Trump’s focus on the 13-year-old cancer fighter has received its own fair share of criticism. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, while referencing Daniels’ love for law enforcement, noted that she is hoping the 13-year-old never has to defend the U.S. capitol against Trump supporters. “If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace stated.

Anti-Musk and Trump accounts on X have also thrown jokes at the cancer fighter’s honorary badge, with some dubbing the 13-year-old as a “DEI hire” that should be looked into by DOGE.

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If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

• But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
• This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
• As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
• For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.

The convenience of…

— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025

FSD user’s tale:

• As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
• During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
• In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
• “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
• “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

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The video: 

• Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver. 
• The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
• While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
• Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.

Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus

full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7

— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025

Cool inside jokes: 

• The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it. 
• From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
• The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
• The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.

Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.

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Cybertruck keys:

• The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card. 
• The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key. 
• As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.

The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:

• Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
• As per Tesla’s description of the item: 
• “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
• The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
• In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
• The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.

Tesla Cybertruck merch push:

• Being the company’s most eye-catching vehicle, it is no surprise that that Tesla has been releasing quite a lot of merchandise inspired by the all-electric pickup truck. 
• These include a $250 levitating Cybertruck model, as well as a $35 Cybertruck wind-up racer, both of which are out of stock.
• Tesla also sells the $35 “CyberMug,” a $40 “CyberStein,” and a $50 “CyberVessel.”
• Other Cybertruck-inspired merchandise are the $60 Cyberwhistle Stealth, and the $50 CyberOpener.

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A video of Hundter finishing the race has made the rounds online, partly due to the racer’s eye-catching Starlink Mini setup. As could be seen in the video, Ben Hundter’s 279X Sportsman Moto class Sherco was equipped with a huge Jackery battery at the rear. The Starlink Mini was duct taped to the rider’s head. The iPhone that Hundter was using to FaceTime his mother was also taped to his chest.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fishgistics (@fishgistics)

In an interview following the race, Hundter explained that he had always wanted to race the Baja 1000, but his mother was hesitant since he has Type 1 diabetes. And while she did allow him to participate in the grueling race, she had one condition—he has to livestream the race to her the entire time. As such, the Starlink Mini, with its low power consumption, light weight, and high speed internet connectivity, became the perfect solution for the dirt bike racer. 

“I wanted to race the Baja so bad, but my mom wouldn’t let me because I have type 1 diabetes. She said the only way I could race it is if I was live streaming to her the whole time, so I have her on my chest right now,” Hundter noted. He also joked that he and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk came up with the duct taped Starlink Mini solution.

Cool

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2024

Elon Musk did see the video of the dirt bike racer completing the Baja 1000 while live-streaming through Starlink, and the CEO seemed impressed. In a reply to a video of the Baja 1000 participant on social media platform X, Musk stated that the feat was “cool.” 

Completing the Baja 1000 this year is already a feat in and of itself, so Ben Hundter and his brother David are coming home as winners. Unfortunately for the brothers, they ended up running afoul of a road closure during the race, resulting in the team running an “illegal line” through the peninsula, as noted in a Jalopnik report. This resulted in the brothers getting a 17-hour penalty and a disqualification.

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As noted by X user and Model Y owner @theevrydaychris, he left his Tesla Model Y at an airport parking lot for 10 days. He was actually not able to charge his vehicle at the airport since the ChargePoint chargers at the location were not working. Thus, when he left for Singapore for a 10-day trip, his Model Y only had 80% of its battery left.

Before leaving his Model Y, the Tesla owner noted that he also disabled power-hungry applications like Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection. He then monitored his vehicle’s battery charge through the Tesla mobile app while he was on vacation.

Great video and amazing to see new software refinement really minimize phantom drain! https://t.co/ojRRqO8JuP

— Kim Java (@ItsKimJava) October 30, 2024

On Day 1, the Model Y’s battery dropped by 1% to 79%. At this time, the Model Y owner noted that it wouldn’t be too bad if his Tesla lost 1% of battery charge every day. But for the next couple of days, the Model Y remained at 79%. Even when he returned to the United States ten days later, his Model Y still had 79% of its battery left. 

Quite interestingly, these findings were echoed by some users on X who responded to the Model Y owner’s post. One Tesla owner, for example, claimed that his vehicle lost just 2% of its battery over 16 days. Others also warned that leaving Sentry Mode or Cabin Overheat Protection on would drain a Tesla’s battery much faster. 

Tesla has been working on improving its vehicles’ power consumption when parked for some time now. Back in July alone, an update to the Tesla mobile app was rolled out to reduce phantom drain incidents. Previously, simply opening the app would “wake up” a Tesla, effectively draining some battery. But following the update, a Tesla would only wake up if instructed by its owner, saving power in the process.  

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The video was very brief, but it did seemingly tease something quite special and cool that may be coming to the all-electric pickup truck. The clip showed the Cybertruck seemingly in the Warner Brothers Studios Burbank’s “Metropolis” area with Tesla Lead Engineer Wes Morrill, who was holding a sledgehammer. 

Hit me baby one more time pic.twitter.com/ZDHfFspQs2

— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) October 10, 2024

As could be seen in the video, the Cybertruck lead engineer seemingly gave the all-electric pickup truck a voice prompt before hitting the vehicle’s door with the sledgehammer. The Cybertruck’s rear and front lights then displayed a pattern before seemingly responding through its external speaker. 

We need to take a closer look at the Talking Cybertruck.

The behavior of the lights has me thinking there's one possible conclusion:

An Integrated Voice Assistant.

Is this part of Master Plan Part 4? pic.twitter.com/U61qODAs7A

— The Cybertruck Guy (@cybrtrkguy) October 10, 2024

It’s remains to be clear if the demonstration was something that was specifically designed by Tesla for the Robotaxi unveiling event. Some Tesla community members, however, speculated that the short video might be teasing a potential “voice assistant” feature for the Cybertruck. This would be quite cool as it could allow owners to give commands and interact with their Cybertrucks. 

WE, ROBOT!!! LFG ?????? @Tesla @cybertruck @Tesla_Optimus @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/vSQkfthoCY

— Arash Malek (@MinimalDuck) October 11, 2024

Images teased by attendees of “We, Robot” show that there are several destinations in the Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA, that are dedicated to the electric vehicle maker. As per Tesla owner Arash Malek, attendees could visit “Westworld” where they can grab a bite; “Metropolis;” where attendees can play arcade games and take swings at the Cybertruck’; “TSLA Theater,” where attendees can grab dessert and watch videos on a giant LED screen; “New York,” which will host a block party; and “Merch,” where attendees can purchase products. 

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The Gridlife Laguna Festival did not have a lot of electric vehicles that participated in the event. In a comment to Teslarati, Unplugged Performance development driver and experienced EV racer Craig Coker mentioned that there were fewer than five electric cars at Gridlife Laguna. Both vehicles competed in Gridlife’s TrackBattle series, which features practice, qualifying, and a final podium sprint. The team’s Model S Plaid, a Pikes Peak sub-10-minute club member called Dark Helmet, competed in the Unlimited Class, and the Model S Performance, called Red Rocket, competed in the Street GT Class. 

Unique Racers

What is interesting about Unplugged Performance’s twin Tesla racers is the fact that they are very different from what one might expect from a vehicle that’s built to be competitive in a racing event. While Dark Helmet features aggressive aero and a stripped-out interior, it still features a stock drivetrain, battery, and software from Tesla. Conventional racecars powered by the internal combustion engine are typically modified so they can put out more power. 

Such a statement is even more accurate for Red Rocket. The reengineered Model 3 Performance competed in the Street GT Class, which is a category for production cars with restrictions on tire width and factory aero components. Similar to Dark Helmet, whose modifications are mostly comprised of Unplugged Performance’s Apex-S Model S series, Red Rocket’s modifications are comprised of the EV tuner’s Ascension-R parts. 

In a comment to Teslarati, Craig Coker noted that Red Rocket is easily daily driven, so much so that the vehicle was driven by the Unplugged team to the event, unlike Dark Helmet, which was transported to Laguna Seca via trailer pulled by a Tesla Cybertruck. That speaks to the reengineered Model 3 Performance’s capabilities, and it also highlights how the EV tuner’s parts could still be useful for everyday use. 

“The 2024 Model 3 Performance we competed with, I would definitely take to the streets, get groceries and take my kids to school. In fact, we drove it to Laguna Seca from LA. Then we competed in it and then drove it back to LA,” Craig Coker said. 

The Podium Sprint

The twin Teslas both qualified for the podium sprint in their respective classes, despite some challenges such as Dark Helmet spinning out in one lap. Despite spinning out, Dark Helmet still qualified for the event’s podium sprint. Red Rocket accomplished the same thing, placing second in its class and qualifying for the podium sprint. The Model 3 Performance’s podium sprint ended with a 1:35.666 lap, allowing the vehicle to place second overall in the Gridlife Street GT Class. Dark Helmet completed its podium attempt lap in 1:28.465, allowing the all-electric racer to place third overall in the Unlimited Class. Both vehicles also set all wheel drive records for Street GT for Red Rocket and the Unlimited Class for Dark Helmet.

Craig Coker shared a comment about this year’s Gridlife event, as well as the performance of the twin Unplugged Teslas. “These events are always interesting as we are one of the few EV’s to compete. There are 100’s of vehicles on track over the weekend but less than five EVs in the mix. Sometimes we are hated, sometimes we are made fun of, and sometimes people love what we do. 

“But there is one thing no one can deny. When we show up to the track we are consistent in setting records, or a podium, or occasionally both. At Gridlife Laguna this year we went beyond and surprised many with not one but two podiums with two different vehicles in two separate classes. This is a very rare achievement. It could only be achieved with a hardworking and talented pit crew by my side,” he said.

Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Schaffer celebrated the twin Tesla’s achievements at the event.

“The UP Race team, along with our development driver Craig Coker, did a fantastic job. We brought out two Laguna Seca record-holding vehicles: the production EV lap record-holding Model S Plaid, ‘Dark Helmet,’ and our 2024 Model 3 Performance, ‘Red Rocket,’ which holds the lap record for the Model 3 Performance class. Both cars performed reliably against a highly competitive grid of the fastest ICE vehicles and drivers in the country. 

“The Model 3 set the Gridlife Laguna Seca fastest lap record for Street Class AWD, while the Model S continues to hold the Unlimited Class AWD lap record. Craig secured two podium finishes, demonstrating the true driving performance of Tesla engineering when paired with the same Unplugged Performance catalog parts our clients enjoy worldwide. EVs deserve a place in motorsports and we remain thrilled to be a rare representative of EV performance in challenging the fastest ICE vehicles at events globally,” Schaffer stated. 

The Next Stop

With Gridlife Laguna now complete, the Unplugged Performance team is now focused on the upcoming race at Thunderhil, which is expected to be held next month. 

“Gridlife announced a new west coast championship for 2024 called FCP Euro Pacific Championship. It’s a 3 stop event. Willow Springs, Laguna Seca and Thunderhill. So far we have captured 1st at Willow Springs Raceway, 3rd at Laguna Seca in the Unlimited Class. We are currently P1 in overall points. If we do well at Thunderhill next month we can win the championship. That would be a huge accomplishment for an EV to win this inaugural championship!” Coker said. 

There are only a few cars in the hyper-competitive world of automotive racing that are capable of changing the perception of what is possible for a production car. At the track, where victory and defeat are separated by milliseconds, few cars could make an impact large enough that even critics are silenced. As it turns out, the Model S Plaid and the Model 3 Performance—improved by bolt-on parts—could be these vehicles. 

Watch a video of the Unplugged Tesla team at the Gridlife Laguna Seca event below. 

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Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States when it made landfall on Thursday. As per the Associated Press, 44 deaths have been reported in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia as of writing. Moody’s Analytics estimated that the property damage from the storm could range from between $15 billion to $26 billion. 

A number of Tesla owners who were in areas affected by Hurricane Helene opted to share some updates about their experience. One owner, Calvin Hudson, who lives 40 minutes south of Tampa, shared a couple of images showing the floodwaters in his area being handled by his Cybertruck’s Wade Mode. The Tesla owner noted in later comments that a lot of people got flooded in his area. 

NEWS: Some Cybertruck owners in Florida are using Wade Mode after Category 4 Hurricane Helene (up to 140 mph winds) made landfall tonight.

Wade Mode uses the truck’s built-in air suspension to pressurize the battery, enabling it to drive in water up to 31" deep for 30 minutes.… pic.twitter.com/hVMuDKIF8b

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 27, 2024

Footage from CCTV cameras also showed a Tesla Cybertruck traversing moving floodwaters as Hurricane Helene was hitting the state. The video was brief and it’s not clear if the vehicle had its Wade Mode engaged, but it was clear that the all-electric pickup truck was able to drive through the moving floodwaters just fine.

Yes, we got a CYBERTRUCK driving out in the outer bands of Helene. Classic Florida moment. @MaxVelocityWX pic.twitter.com/hBWIBxWVP3

— James Pettus (@PettusWX) September 26, 2024

Other Tesla Cybertruck owners shared videos of their vehicles reportedly operating after Hurricane Helene had passed. One such video, which was posted on social media platform X, showed a Cybertruck driving over a fairly large puddle of water with ease.

The storm has passed through central Florida. Cyber Truck pushes through the puddles with ease! pic.twitter.com/G3NSrOP4in

— Don Browning (@donbrowning42) September 28, 2024

Posts in online forums such as the Cybertruck Owners Club and a number of Tesla Cybertruck Facebook groups also indicate that the all-electric pickup truck’s PowerShare feature became invaluable to owners during the height of Hurricane Helene’s wrath. As shared by numerous Cybertruck owners online, their vehicle’s PowerShare should provide their homes with enough energy to run their appliances for days. 

Cybertruck owner caught in Hurricane Helene in Florida:

“My entire neighbourhood last power and just for me was able to have my entire house on this is priceless I think foundation series worth every penny” pic.twitter.com/00gH7t6OO5

— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) September 27, 2024

That being said, not all Cybertrucks seem to have weathered Hurricane Helene without any damages. An image posted in a Facebook group showed a Cybertruck and a Tesla Model Y being submerged in the storm’s floodwaters. Both vehicles would most certainly be totaled considering the height of the floodwaters that hit the area. 

Via https://t.co/EC6XlHrEtT?

— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) September 27, 2024

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