LNG: TESLARATI

The popular chrome delete treatment has finally made its way as a standard offering in Tesla Model Y.

When the electric carmaker unveiled its new 7-seater compact SUV to the world, Teslarati quickly took notice of Tesla Model Y lacking the same chrome accent trim as standardized across the Model S, Model X and Model 3 fleet. Unlike Model 3 which the vehicle is derived from, Model Y’s door handles, side mirrors, blinkers, pillar trim, and various accents that are ordinarily in chrome are finished in matte black.

Tesla Model Y without chrome trim

Tesla’s Model Y online configurator confirms the company’s direction to remove all chrome accent pieces from the exterior of the vehicle and have “chrome delete” as a standard offering. At least for now.

While it remains to be seen how this aesthetic change will be received by the greater Tesla community, signs of this cosmetic update first appeared when Tesla’s Chief Designer was spotted with a chrome-deletion treatment on his personal Model 3.

Having a Tesla void of any chrome is a common look that’s sought after by the aftermarket community, with owners forking out upwards of $1,000 to cover these pieces with black vinyl.

By making this a standard look on the Model Y, Tesla could be gauging the market for a reaction (and demand) before determining if this will be offered as a future upgrade. In other words, if there’s a negative reaction to this standard “chrome delete” offering, Tesla could simply bring back the chrome trim and offer the matte black trim as an additional upgrade. Conversely, the same could be said if there’s a positive reaction to it. With many people warming to the new look, Tesla could offer this as an upgrade package for existing Model 3, Model S and Model X.

A positive reaction will also help guide the team on setting design cues for future vehicles and vehicle updates such as the rumored Model S and Model X refresh.

Here are some before and after photos showing a Model 3 with standard chrome trim and without. What do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!

Tesla Model 3 with standard chrome accents

Tesla Model 3 with a “chrome delete” treatment

Elon Musk revealed a glimpse of Tesla’s “Cyberpunk” Pickup Truck the night he unveiled the Model Y. But there was a slight problem. No one noticed. So he dished out the spoiler.

As Musk pointed out through a series of tweets, there was, in fact, a “something else” that evening when he took to the stage to highlight the evolution of Tesla. Many believed it to be his Tesla-branded custom Nike sneakers, while the vast majority of the community had previously hoped for a surprise announcement on a Model S & Model X refresh or a Tesla Pickup Truck.

Musk delivered on that hope.

When the webcast for Tesla’s new 7-seater compact SUV ended on Thursday night, the soundtrack for science fiction classic, Blade Runner, served as a prelude to a teaser image of Tesla’s all-electric pickup truck.

“About a minute in, we flashed a teaser pic of Tesla cyberpunk truck,” notes Musk over Twitter.

Musk didn’t go into any other details about the pickup but based on remarks he’s made in the past, and a previous sketch of Tesla’s Truck, the new teaser image appears to be a wraparound tail light on the liftgate to the truck bed.

Tesla’s pickup truck is a project that Musk has been wanting to pursue since 2012. He revealed in late 2017 that the company already had the core design and engineering elements for the truck and that it would be built after Model Y. Over time, Musk continued to drop hints, calling it a “futuristic like cyberpunk, Blade Runner pickup truck” that will be unlike anything in the market.

“(As for the) Tesla pickup truck, we might be ready to unveil that this summer. It will be quite unique,” Musk asserted during the company’s Q4 2018 earnings call.

Tapping into the lucrative pickup truck market comes at a good time for Tesla, especially as legacy manufacturers begin to lay the foundation for electrifying their existing fleets. Competition is also beginning to heat up in the unchartered electric truck segment, most notably being spearheaded by Michigan-based Rivian.

Tesla has unveiled the Model Y, a seven-seater, 300-mile, all-electric SUV that is expected to be even more popular than the Model 3. Similar to the Model 3 unveiling, Tesla offered test rides in the Model Y after the event. Teslarati was able to acquire a slot for the SUV’s test rides.

Here’s how the test ride went.

Elon Musk has already stated that the SUV shares around 75% of its components with the electric sedan. From the exterior to the interior of the Model Y, it is evident that the vehicle is derived from its sedan sibling. The exterior is pretty much a bulkier version of the Model 3, while the interior shares the 3’s sleek dashboard that’s dominated by a 15″ touchscreen. The vehicle is pretty roomy too, as the test driver was around 6’2″ and there was ample headroom.

A look at the rear of the vehicle shows some classic Tesla cues. The second-row seats could seat three, and similar to Tesla’s other electric cars, there is ample legroom. The third-row seats, which can accommodate two, were folded down during the test drive. It remains to be seen how comfortable the third-row seats would be for adults, though considering the space on the vehicle, the last row could prove to be a pretty tight fit. Perhaps the Model Y’s third-row seats could serve a similar purpose as the Model S’ rear-facing jump seats, which are optimized for children.

The ride itself is very characteristic of Tesla, being quiet and smooth. The car seems to handle just like the Model 3, as it was nimble and responsive to the driver’s input. The iconic Tesla acceleration was there, thanks to the test unit’s dual motor AWD configuration. There was also very little body roll despite some spirited driving maneuvers. Based on how the Model Y handled imperfections on the road, the vehicle seemed like it was equipped with coil springs, similar to the Model 3.

Particularly notable is how well the Panoramic glass roof worked with the Model Y’s SUV form factor, allowing a full, unobstructed view of the sky. It should be noted that the glass roof does not have a center cross member such as the one found in the Model 3, effectively making the Model Y’s glass roof arguably the most stunning in Tesla’s lineup. Teslarati was told that this would make it to production.

The Model Y was pretty much what the Tesla community expected. It might not have too many bells and whistles (the glass roof is amazing though) but it represents a notable balance between features and practicality. Tesla would likely not run into production issues with the Model Y, thanks to its similarities with the Model 3 and the lessons the company learned from its past production ramps. At this point in Tesla’s history, the Model Y is a perfect vehicle to release, as it is reasonably-priced, and perhaps most importantly, not too difficult to produce.

The Model Y comes in four variants: the Standard Range, Long Range, Dual Motor AWD, and Performance versions. The Standard Range version is capable of going 230 miles on one charge, while the Long Range version goes 300 miles per charge. Both the Dual Motor AWD and Performance Model Y get 280 miles between charges.

The Model Y will enter production in Fall 2020, with Tesla producing the Standard Range version in Spring 2021. The Model Y starts at $39,000 for the Standard Range version and $47,000 for the Long Range variant. The Dual Motor AWD costs $51,000, and a Performance version will be priced at $60,000.

Watch Teslarati‘s test ride in the Model Y in the video below.

A couple of new sketches depicting the upcoming Porsche Taycan might have revealed what could very well be the closest look yet at the final design of the upcoming four-door all-electric sedan.

The latest drawings reportedly accompanied an insider email to Porsche employees, which was later shared with the TaycanForum.com community. Following is the email from Porsche, which was sent on 3/8/19.

“Our start to 2019 is charged with excitement. This is the year when the first all-electric Porsche will become a reality. The Taycan is certain to enthrall not only test drivers but also our customers with its performance. When it rolls off the production line and onto the roads, it will offer a true dynamic Porsche driving experience like every Porsche before it.

“Finishing work on the assembly line in Zuffenhausen is entering the final straight, and the expansion of charging infrastructure worldwide is advancing at a great pace. The historic main manufacturing center is being made fit for the automotive production of the future, as the outside world is preparing for a new standard in charging performance – typical of Porsche, the best in its class. All preparations are underway for a successful start for the Taycan.

“To keep you dreaming about the Taycan on public roads, we have also brought you the latest design sketch of the Taycan from the design studio in Weissach. As you can see, the rest of 2019 looks very exciting! We look forward to sharing these experiences together with you.”

“Bring home the new Taycan today, as a wallpaper exclusively for your desktop.” (click here)

It’s difficult not to notice that the design outlined in the new sketches are refined and seemingly representative of a vehicle that’s all but ready for production. The iteration of the Taycan in the sketch is a bit different from the futuristic outline and curves of the Mission E sedan, as its lines are bolder and closer in appearance to Porsche’s production vehicles. The sketch also includes a rear that’s quite reminiscent of the new 911’s design.

Perhaps more interestingly, the new sketches also carry similarities with the Taycan test mules that have been spotted over the past months. The prototypes, which remain camouflaged, are bulkier than the Taycan in the drawings, but elements such as the front end of the two vehicles are rather similar. Thus, the new Taycan sketches actually strike a pretty good balance between the Mission E concept and the prototypes that have been spotted doing real-world tests.

The Porsche Taycan will be produced at the heart of the company, in the Zuffenhausen district of Stuttgart, Germany. The Taycan is expected to be manufactured right alongside the new 911, a vehicle that could only be described as an icon for the company. Porsche’s Zuffenhausen site is currently undergoing a massive change, with the company quite literally building a factory on top of an existing factory to prepare for the production of the first all-electric car and its derivative, the Taycan Cross Turismo. Teslarati is in attendance at Porsche’s Digital Workshop on Thursday in Stuggart and at Porsche’s annual press conference in its Zuffenhausen site on Friday.   

The production version of the Porsche Taycan is expected to be unveiled this coming September.