Lifestyle
Unplugged Tesla Model S and Model 3 win double podium finishes at Gridlife Laguna
A Tesla Model S Plaid and a reengineered Model 3 Performance from EV tuning house Unplugged Performance participated in the Gridlife Laguna Festival at the Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The twin Teslas ended the event with a rare double podium finish.
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.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Lifestyle
Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory
The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.
During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.
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.
Lifestyle
Elon Musk seemingly confirms Cybertruck gift to 13-year-old cancer fighter
Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, the teen has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12.
Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed that he will be sending a Tesla Cybertruck to 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston boy fighting brain cancer. The teen was recognized as an honorary Secret Service member by U.S. President Donald Trump during his address to Congress on Tuesday.
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.
Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
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.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
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.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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