Tesla Theater’s fan-made full-screen boost gives immersive, on-the-go movie experiences


A Tesla enthusiast has created a new website called TeslaTheater.com that gives Model 3, S, and X owners the capability to view numerous streaming media applications using the entirety of the vehicle’s 15″ display. Coupled with Tesla’s stellar sound system, this new Tesla Theater boost creates an immersive theater experience on wheels.

The service is the brainchild of r/TeslaMotors member u/TeslaModel11, who developed and created the website. The website is accessible through the Tesla web browser and is being improved nearly every day thanks to suggestions from fellow Tesla owners.

In the initial Reddit posting from u/TeslaModel11, he states:

I am the developer/creator of TeslaTheater.com. My goal is to provide a free service to fellow Tesla owners where we can easily view different streaming media apps in full screen vs. in just the small browser window. I’ve verified functionality on Model 3, S, and X so I feel it’s ready for wider beta testing and feedback.

How to Enable Full Screen mode?

You will see at the bottom of the site an “Enable FullScreen” link. That will enable a workaround that launches fullscreen with loading of a youtube screen that will loop you back into the interface by clicking “GO TO SITE” link. Just click that and you’ll be in the teslatheater.com interface in full screen mode and all apps and sites you load will remain in full screen.

Enjoy!”

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The Tesla enthusiast also created an ad spot for the website using the same template as the company’s V10 release promo, complete with a few added extras like Elon Musk’s now-famous dance routine at the Model 3 customer delivery event at Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai.

The Tesla Theater was added with the Version 10 Software Update in late September with just Netflix, YouTube, and Tesla Tutorials. However, the company is poised to expand its lineup of applications with other streaming services such as Twitch, and will add Disney+ in the near future, according to Elon Musk.

For now, the TeslaTheater.com website will serve as a bridge for owners to access Hulu, PlutoTV, TubiTV, HBO Go, Netflix, ESPN, Twitch, CBS All Access, FuboTV, YouTube, Disney+, Plex, ABetterRoutePlanner, Google Chrome, Reddit, and Google Maps. While some of these applications are available through the Tesla Theater, they are not available in full screen.

The ability to watch movies in full screen gives Tesla owners the opportunity to turn their vehicles into mobile movie theaters. Because TeslaTheater.com is compatible with the Model 3, Model S, and Model X, each vehicle is capable of making a Supercharging trip, or perhaps a night out with Camp Mode, a little bit more enjoyable. Each vehicle’s comfortable seats, stellar surround sound system, and large dash screen will give viewers an experience that will rival any drive-thru theater trip.

You can watch TeslaTheater.com’s ad spot below.

Tesla Theater’s fan-made full-screen boost gives immersive, on-the-go movie experiences

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Tesla gets new $800 price target from Wall Street firm who predicted $530


The New Street Research analyst who correctly predicted Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) rise to a $530 price target has once again raised the bar for the Silicon Valley-based automaker. Pierre Ferragu has increased the company’s price target from $530 to $800, stating Tesla’s industry-leading technology, demand, and execution as the reasons behind its increased anticipated value.

The company has seen a 22% increase in its price per share in 2020 alone. On Tuesday morning, TSLA stock price jumped by 5% to $536.20 in response to the price upgrade and amid signs that first deliveries of the Model Y crossover are imminent.

Ferragu predicted the company’s stock price would hit $530 per share in May 2018, citing Tesla’s increasing demand from consumers and dominance in the electric vehicle sector. The Elon Musk-led company has continued to improve the performance and range of its fleet of electric cars through technology advancements and frequent software updates, further broadening its appeal among car buyers.

The Model 3 was also released and began deliveries less than a year before the prediction and its overwhelming popularity was just another reason Ferragu felt the company’s stock would skyrocket.

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According to TheStreet, Tesla could sell around 20 million units in its “ultimate addressable market,” leaving room for growth that will help the company attain its $800 price point in the future.

Ferragu addressed his new price target in a note, stating Tesla will sell between two million and three million cars per year in 2025 and beyond. This would make Tesla’s market value somewhere between $230 billion and $350 billion or between $1,100 and $1,700 per share.

“The stock will remain volatile, as the spread between bull and bear cases remains wide,” Ferragu stated. “And God only knows what the next controversy will be.”

Tesla’s Q4 2019 earnings call is scheduled for January 29. As the company’s Model Y has received its CARB certification and VINs are registered on the NHTSA website, it appears that the car may see first deliveries ahead of its projected Summer 2020 delivery time.

But the Model Y will not be the only indicator of how the company will perform in the new year. Analysts have previously predicted that the performance of Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai will be a key indicator of Tesla’s success in the global market heading into 2020.

Based on Tesla’s successful Q4 delivery numbers and Model 3’s continued dominance in the luxury sedan category, Ferragu’s $800 price target isn’t as far-reaching as one might think.

Disclosure: I have no ownership in shares of TSLA and have no plans to initiate any positions within 72 hours.

Tesla gets new $800 price target from Wall Street firm who predicted $530

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Tesla Gigafactory 4 site in Germany declared as restricted area


The Tesla Gigafactory 4 build site in Grunheide is now off-limits to local explorers as experts scan and clear the area for explosive ordnance.

“No Trespassing / Explosive Ordnance Clearance,” one of the signs in the forest reads in German. Tesla fan @Gf4Tesla who has been following the developments in Grunheide shared the news on Twitter. He added that he might resort to drone shots to update his followers about the latest GF4 news.

The Tesla board of directors recently approved the purchase agreement for the 300-hectare property where the first Tesla car factory in Europe will rise. This follows the approval of the Brandenburg Finance State Committee that sealed the deal for the purchase of the land for 40.91 million euros or about $45 million.

According to the spokesperson of the state government Florian Engels, Brandenburg authorities are still waiting for the independent report about the second appraisal of the expansive industrial property. Engels said that the report will be prepared as soon as possible and if the appraised value of the land deviates from the first assessment, the price of the Tesla GF4 property will be adjusted.

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Sealing off the forest in Grunheide is a safety measure to avoid unwanted incidents as workers on the site have been building access roads for better logistics in the area. The team has also been searching for unexploded World War II explosives in the area, most likely American aviation bombs. In case vintage bombs are found, the German federal government will shoulder the cost of disposal.

Aside from the dangers of vintage bombs, Tesla is also closely coordinating with authorities and local environmental groups to move animals living in the forest such as a species of endangered bats, deers, wolves, ants, among others. The electric carmaker must be able to remove the trees in the parcel of land they will use for the first phase of construction by Feb. 27, just before the breeding season of birds in the area and when tree cutting will be prohibited.

The area has also been cordoned off and proper signs put up in the build site to make sure only authorized personnel move in the area. Members of local environment groups recently conducted forest walks to protest the building of the Tesla factory and it could be dangerous for anyone to roam around the forest that has not yet been cleared of vintage bombs.

To address the issues raised by locals, Tesla opened an information center in Grunheide and has promised to resolve issues within the legal framework.

Tesla plans to begin construction of the Gigfactory 4 facility by mid-March and start production by July next year. The car factory is set to generate about 8,000 jobs and produce roughly 150,000 cars during its initial phase.

 

H/T to @Gf4Tesla

Tesla Gigafactory 4 site in Germany declared as restricted area

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Tesla Model Y expected to surprise in upcoming Q4 2019 earnings call


Tesla may be incredibly quiet and conservative with its Model Y timeframes, but if recent sightings and alleged leaks are any indications, it appears that the upcoming all-electric crossover is coming sooner than expected. An announcement of its impending release is expected to be made by company executives on the upcoming Q4 2019 Financial Results and earnings call, scheduled for January 29 at 3:30 PM PST.

The past few weeks have been rife with an incredible amount of Model Y release candidate sightings across the United States. Unlike the first Model Y crossovers that were spotted on American roads, the vehicles in recent sightings were more refined and production-ready. Tesla has even allowed images of the Model Y’s third-row seats, a somewhat controversial option due to their legroom and size, to be photographed. 

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Apart from this, Model Y VINs have been registered by the electric car maker with the NHTSA. One could recall that when Tesla did the same thing for the Model 3, the all-electric sedan’s first deliveries turned out to be just about a month away. The VIN registrations come on the heels of the Model Y’s CARB registration on January 9, which included some interesting tidbits of information about the vehicle’s range. 

This seems to be a solid sign of the Model Y’s impending arrival as well. Back during the days of the Model 3 ramp, the company signed the Long Range RWD variant’s CARB certificate on July 3, 2017, just 25 days before deliveries began on July 28. With these in mind, it appears that the Model Y’s first deliveries, or at least the start of its mass production, is starting earlier than expected. It does, if any, line up with a rumor shared by Tesla enthusiast @moez on Twitter, which claimed that a Tesla employee had mentioned the start of the upcoming vehicle’s first deliveries. 

It remains to be seen if @moez’s information is accurate, as Tesla employees are known to keep vital company information secret. Nevertheless, it does make sense in a way, considering everything that Tesla has been preparing and exhibiting in the United States so far. The fact that Elon Musk has also launched the Model Y program in China at Gigafactory 3’s first MIC Model 3 customer deliveries is just icing on the cake. 

Tesla China, after all, will likely develop its Model Y program faster than its American counterpart. Made-in-China Teslas are off to a great running start with MIC Model 3s being made with stellar build quality. If the electric car maker can keep up this pace with the Model Y, then its presence in China will likely get significantly boosted once more. 

The upcoming Q4 2019 earnings call on January 29 will hold several critical updates about the company’s ongoing projects, such as Gigafactory 3 in China and Gigafactory 4 in Europe. If signs and sightings are any indication, it would not be surprising at all if Elon Musk or any other Tesla executives would release an update on the Model Y’s mass production and first deliveries as well. And if these turn out to be sooner rather than later, Tesla’s disruption of the auto industry will likely get far more prominent very, very quickly.

Tesla Model Y expected to surprise in upcoming Q4 2019 earnings call

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SpaceX’s first ever Block 5 booster gives one last hurrah, in photos


After helping SpaceX enter a new era of routine rocket reusability, the very first Falcon 9 Block 5 booster is officially nothing more than bits, pieces, and a few artificial reefs at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean — intentionally destroyed to give SpaceX the confidence it needs to soon launch astronauts.

Captured on camera by Teslarati photographer Richard Angle, the upgraded Falcon 9 booster was able to give one last spectacular hurrah prior to its even more spectacular demise, returning fire to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex 39A for the first time in more than half a year. Lacking landing legs and grid fins, visible instead as comically stark outlines on the booster’s sooty exterior, Falcon 9 B1046 lifted off for the fourth and final time on January 19th, 2020.

In doing so, B1046 became the third orbital-class booster ever to fly launch four separate missions — a more than fitting end to the first in a line of upgraded Falcon 9 rockets that have brought with them major improvements in reusability and reliability. Nevertheless, a little over 90 seconds after lifting off for the fourth time, Falcon 9 B1046 – left behind after Crew Dragon successfully escaped the (simulated) failing rocket – yielded under intense off-nominal stresses, rupturing the booster’s propellant tanks and creating a vast fireball at least 300 meters (1000+ ft) in diameter.

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Powered by nine Merlin 1D engines and capable of producing up to 7600 kN (1.7 million lbf) of thrust, Falcon 9 B1046 was extensively tested at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas development facilities over a period of two or so months – unusually lengthy. The extra time was used to make sure that the first completed Block 5 booster – representing an almost clean-slate upgrade of the Falcon rocket family – was agreeing with SpaceX’s engineering models and expectations at all points.

The company likely spent several weeks or more performing numerous wet dress rehearsals (WDRs) — filling Falcon 9 B1046’s propellant tanks with liquid oxygen, refined kerosene (RP-1), helium, and nitrogen and verifying that the rocket was structurally sound and functioning smoothly. Once complete, SpaceX moved onto static fire testing, igniting the booster’s M1D engines for increasing periods of time. Finally, the company wrapped up the rocket and shipped it by road from Texas to Florida.

Falcon 9 B1046 rolled out to the launch pad for the first time ever on May 3rd, 2018. (SpaceX)

Shortly thereafter, the rocket was quickly prepared for flight and became the first Falcon 9 Block 5 booster to successfully launch and land in May 2018. Over the course of 2018, SpaceX debuted another five Block 5 boosters, while Falcon 9 B1046 became the first Block 5 booster to launch both twice and three times in August and December.

Cheaper launches as a result of reusable rockets may not necessarily increase demand for satellite launches.
B1046 lifts off for the first time on May 4th, 2018. (Teslarati)
B1046 is pictured here in August 2018 after its second successful launch. (Teslarati)
Falcon 9 B1046 lands on drone ship Just Read The Instructions after its third successful launch in December 2018 – the first SpaceX rocket to cross the three-flight reusability milestone. (SpaceX)

Finally, on January 19th, 2020, Falcon 9 B1046 lifted off for the fourth and last time, becoming the third SpaceX booster to do so in barely two months. Fittingly, B1046’s last launch occurred at Pad 39A, the same launch site it lifted off from for the first time back in May 2018. Carrying an expendable upper stage, Dragon trunk, and Crew Dragon capsule C205, B1046 could not have experienced a more perfect 90 or so seconds of uninterrupted flight. Interrupted, however, it would shortly thereafter become.

(Richard Angle)
(Richard Angle)
(Richard Angle)
(Richard Angle)
(Richard Angle)
(Richard Angle)

Around 85 seconds after liftoff, Falcon 9 B1046 shut off its Merlin 1D engines at the same time as Crew Dragon C205 ignited eight SuperDraco engines, briskly carrying the spacecraft several thousand feet away in just a handful of seconds. Now fully uncontrolled and rudely interrupted to a supersonic wall of air, B1046 found itself bent and contorted in ways – and under loads – it simply was not designed to survive. Seconds later, the booster’s pressurized propellant tanks were breached, releasing a rapidly dispersing cloud of fuel and oxidizer that almost instantly ignited, creating a fireball the size of several city blocks.

All things considered, not a bad way to go for a well-worn rocket.

Check out Teslarati’s newsletters for prompt updates, on-the-ground perspectives, and unique glimpses of SpaceX’s rocket launch and recovery processes.

SpaceX’s first ever Block 5 booster gives one last hurrah, in photos

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Tesla Model X splits in half after blindsided by Nissan GT-R, Tesla driver walks away unscathed


A serious car crash in Hallandale Beach, Florida left a Tesla Model X split in two after a Nissan GT-R alleged ran a red light before slamming into the all-electric SUV at high speed. The driver of the Model X walked away with a minor injury to his leg while the occupants of the other vehicle were brought to nearby hospitals for treatment and are expected to recover.

The driver of the Model X was identified as Jose Diaz who was seen counting his blessings moments after walking away from the incident. In a brief phone interview with 7News Miami, Diaz narrated that the Nissan came so fast that he didn’t even see it and that he just felt the bang.

Eyewitnesses to the scene recall seeing the white Nissan GT-R running through a red light at the intersection of Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Three Islands Boulevard before careening into the rear section of the Tesla Model X.

“I went over to help the guy in the white car, because the car had a lot of smoke, and I thought it was going to blow. He came out unscathed, and he was kissing the floor. It was a little blood coming from his nose, and he said, ‘Oh, I just wanna see my girl,’” said Tony Peart, a witness who approached to help the Tesla driver seconds after the wreck.

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While it’s unfortunate to read about serious vehicular accidents, those involving a Tesla put into spotlight the all-electric carmaker’s award-winning safety features. It is very common to see SUVs involved in rollovers when involved in side-impact crashes because of their high center of gravity, but the opposite is true for Tesla vehicles and the Model X. With its low-mounted skateboard design battery pack, the center of gravity is far lower than traditional combustion engine cars, making it virtually impossible to roll over in high-speed crash testing.

The battery pack outer casing also serves as an extra layer of structural rigidity for the vehicle. Combined with a hybrid of ultra-high-strength materials, and large crumple zones that absorb energy to protect occupants from harm, and it’s no wonder that Tesla owners have touted never buying another car other than a Tesla.

“I waited 4 years for this one and would wait 4 more if that is what it took to protect my family like this” recalls one Model X owner after his all-electric SUV saved his life and the lives of his family after being involved in a horrific crash.

The Tesla Model X was awarded a 5-star safety rating in every category by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since its debut. Last December, the Model X was a standout in its class for earning the highest overall rating to date in the 2018/2019 protocol of the  European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) for Large Off-Road Vehicles with a near-perfect score of 98 percent in Adult Occupant Protection category.

Tesla’s Q4 2019 Vehicle Safety Report revealed that its vehicles are still 3 to 4x safer compared to the average even without Autopilot and active safety features enabled. With Autopilot on, the numbers are even more impressive at one accident per 3.07 million miles driven compared to the NHTSA findings of one automobile crash per 479,000 miles in the United States.

Tesla Model X splits in half after blindsided by Nissan GT-R, Tesla driver walks away unscathed

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Tesla Cybertruck clone takes on heavy Siberian snow in off road tests


Tesla’s unique Cybertruck design has gained the attention of the automotive world, including a Russian mechanic who fabricated a near-identical Cybertruck prototype for deep winter testing in Siberia.

YouTube channel Кик Обзор (translated to Kik Review) fabricated a Cybertruck in its production garage, creating quite possibly the most realistic clone of Tesla’s futuristic truck to date. The engineers and builders at Kik Review built the Cybertruck by using the exact dimensions and specifications that Tesla has listed for its first pickup.

After putting the final touches on the Cybertruck clone, the team at GARAG54 loaded it onto a hauler and transported it to a local snow-covered field. The Cybertruck managed to drive through the accumulation with little issue, and nothing significant enough to stop the test.

The Cybertruck clone was then taken into the nearby town of Novosibirsk near the Trans-Siberian Railway in Southern Russia and gained the attention of pedestrians and fellow drivers. The truck was the center of attention, being recorded on video and being snapped for photos on people’s cell phones, evidently because of its unique design and polarizing build.

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“We have arrived in almost the center of the city, and people walk by, the reactions of the kids, it is very cool,” the channel’s host says. “It attracts attention to itself very much, its cool because the shape is unusual and men and women take out their phone to snap pictures.”

GARAG54 and Kik Review plan to keep the Cybertruck copy for themselves and have no plans to disassemble the vehicle.

The Cybertruck became a pop culture icon after its unveiling event last year. The vehicle became the focus of memes and music videos, and celebrities and public figures showed their support for the one-of-a-kind truck. Most interestingly, many people have attempted to build replicas of the Cybertruck, but this one from GARAG54 may be the best one to date.

Tesla will begin producing both the $49,990 Dual-Motor and $69,990 Tri-Motor variants of the truck in late 2021. The $39,990 Single Motor trim will be available the following year in 2022. All of the variants will come standard with Autopilot and an Adaptive Air Suspension feature, a necessary feature according to Elon Musk after he watched a Ford pickup become inoperable following an attempt to carry a 3,000-lb payload.

You can watch the video of Kik Review and GARAG54’s Cybertruck clone below.

Tesla Cybertruck clone takes on heavy Siberian snow in off road tests

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NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars on its upcoming Rover mission


NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars. That’s right, the Mars Helicopter, is a small, autonomous rotorcraft, that will travel with the agency’s Mars 2020 rover and scheduled to launch in July 2020.

The helicopter is designed to demonstrate whether or not this type of technology is capable of being used off-world. (A similar type of craft is scheduled to explore Titan, Saturn’s largest moon in the coming decade.)

“NASA has a proud history of firsts,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a news release. “The idea of a helicopter flying the skies of another planet is thrilling. The Mars Helicopter holds much promise for our future science, discovery, and exploration missions to Mars.”

What started as a development project, the Mars Helicopter quickly proved it was a shining example of how big things come in small packages.

Weighing in at just under 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), the craft’s fuselage is about the same size as a softball and its dual blades will slice through the tenuous Martian atmosphere, rotating at nearly 3,000 rpm. (For comparison, that’s 10 times the rate of a helicopter on Earth.)

“Exploring the Red Planet with NASA’s Mars Helicopter exemplifies a successful marriage of science and technology innovation and is a unique opportunity to advance Mars exploration for the future,” Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said in a news statement. “After the Wright Brothers proved 117 years ago that powered, sustained, and controlled flight was possible here on Earth, another group of American pioneers may prove the same can be done on another world.”

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The helicopter is equipped with solar cells to charge its onboard lithium-ion batteries, as well as a heating mechanism to keep it warm during the frigid Martian nights. But before it can buzz around Mars, it has to get there.

The craft will hitch a ride to the red planet thanks to NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 rover. It will launch attached to the rover’s belly.

Soon after the rover lands on the planet’s surface, it will deploy the helicopter. The rover then drive a short distance away so the craft can take flight.

“The altitude record for a helicopter flying here on Earth is about 40,000 feet. The atmosphere of Mars is only one percent that of Earth, so when our helicopter is on the Martian surface, it’s already at the Earth equivalent of 100,000 feet up,” Mimi Aung, Mars Helicopter project manager at JPL, said in a news release. “To make it fly at that low atmospheric density, we had to scrutinize everything, make it as light as possible while being as strong and as powerful as it can possibly be.”

Animation of Mars helicopter and Mars 2020 rover.
Credits: NASA/JPL-CalTech

The Mars helicopter will carry out a 30-day flight test campaign, where it will complete as many as five flights, each a little further away than the last. For its first flight, the helicopter will climb to 10 feet (3 meters), hovering for about 30 seconds.

“The ability to see clearly what lies beyond the next hill is crucial for future explorers,” said Zurbuchen. “We already have great views of Mars from the surface as well as from orbit. With the added dimension of a bird’s-eye view from a ‘marscopter,’ we can only imagine what future missions will achieve.”

NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars on its upcoming Rover mission

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Tesla Cybertruck LEGO kit one step closer to hitting stores as it qualifies for official review


While Tesla’s Cybertruck isn’t slated for production until 2021, an official LEGO Cybertruck kit may hit store shelves a little sooner.

LEGO is reviewing a fan-made brick-built Cybertruck submitted through its LEGO Ideas program. The idea has quickly gained traction since it was submitted in December last year, quickly rounding up 10,000 followers to qualify for a review from LEGO’s experts.

If the LEGO Cybertruck is approved, the toymaker’s designers will take over to finalize the kit’s design. It then gets sent to production before it gets shipped to stores.

LEGO Cybertruck pushes past 10,000

The LEGO Cybertruck is the brainchild of a long-time electric vehicle fan who goes by the Twitter handle BrickinNick. He says that while the Cyberpunk design of Tesla’s upcoming pickup truck isn’t for everyone, it has many features that lend itself well to a LEGO build.

“As of yet, EVs have only been marginally represented in the LEGO set catalog,” BrickinNick says. “The striking yet fun design of this LEGO Cybertruck would be an amazing way to get kids and adults alike excited about EVs and all the good they can do for our environment.”

LEGO Cybertruck with fully functioning features

BrickinNick’s submission has a front trunk and tailgate function but hopes to integrate several other features, including opening doors, a fold or slide-out ramp, opening charging ports, a full interior, steering, and suspension. He also plans to include a two-seater Tesla ATV as an accessory.

In his latest update, BrickinNick included a display stand featuring Elon Musk and Cybertruck designer Franz von Holzhausen, with the latter holding a sledgehammer and a steel ball to poke fun at the mishap during the Cybertruck unveiling in November.

The display also comes with a mini Cybertruck. For fans who can’t wait for LEGO to come out with an official LEGO Cybertruck kit, you can check out BrickinNick’s tutorial on how to build a mini Cybertruck below.

Other Tesla-inspired LEGO creations

LEGO launched its Ideas program to encourage fans to submit their own brick-built creations. If their ideas are approved, creators are expected to gather support for their designs.

Once a design reaches 10,000 supporters, LEGO will officially put it through a round of expert reviews. The toymaker does not disclose its review process and criteria. However, if a design passes the review phase, it is handed over to the company’s designers, who will finalize the kit before it hits the production floor.

Other Tesla fans have submitted their designs to the Ideas program, although none aside from BrickinNick’s project has gathered 10,000 supporters.

As of writing, A Tesla Model 3 kit with an opening charging port and its own Supercharger has 278 days to reach the 10,000-supporter mark. It currently has 1,015 supporters. A SpaceX Falcon 9 kit was also submitted in 2017 but was unfortunately unable to gather enough supporters to qualify for review.

Tesla Cybertruck LEGO kit one step closer to hitting stores as it qualifies for official review

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Tesla finds fountain of youth as Model 3 ‘ages’ with 124 OTA software updates


Tesla’s over-the-air (OTA) software updates take the spotlight on a new video created by Tesla owners who are constantly amazed at how the Palo Alto, California-based car manufacturer enhances their electric vehicles. With OTA updates, Tesla can easily fix bugs or roll out features that practically makes its cars so much better as they age.

Tesla Model 3 owner and YouTuber Tesla Raj created a video with the help of other Tesla-focused YouTubers about the 124 OTA enhancements for the Model 3 since its release in 2017. The information was based on the Tesla Model 3 change logs compiled by tech enthusiast and Tesla fan Rocco Speranza.

“So, we are a two-car household. You obviously know my Tesla Model 3 but this is my wife’s 2016 Toyota RAV4 hybrid and the interesting thing is we bought this vehicle three years ago and it’s exactly the same that it was then as it is now,” Tesla Raj said.

“In retrospect, this is my Tesla Model 3 where in the last year and a half, it has gotten so many over-the-air enhancements, adding new features and abilities to it that it’s mind-blowing,” he added.

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Tesla regularly pushes OTA software updates to the Model 3, Model S, and Model X to fix software bugs, add new features, or enhance existing ones. The firmware updates can improve the car’s performance via a power boost, add safety features, or just make the car more fun for its driver and occupants. Speranza’s compilation of Model 3 change logs shows that Tesla updates its cars’ software every 7.3 days on average.

This ability to update the vehicle over WiFi sets Elon Musk’s car brand from the rest of the automotive industry. Ford is diving in and will start with OTA updates starting this year while most vehicles in GM’s lineup will have this feature by 2023.  Such Tesla advantage pushes automotive giants and legacy automakers such as Volkswagen to rally their team to act fast or risk falling behind beyond recovery.

OTA updates make consumers feel that their old vehicles are new because they are able to enjoy the latest features rolled out to newly-produced units as well. Tesla has been doing it since the beginning when consumers still dealt with range anxiety. It also changing how car companies can deal with a recall just like what it did when Consumers Report was so amazed how Tesla fixed a braking issue with its Model 3 via OTA.

Elon Musk explained Tesla’s advantage during the Tesla Autonomy Investor Day last April when he said, “The fundamental message that consumers should be taking today is that it’s financially insane to buy anything other than a Tesla. It would be like owning a horse in three years.”

Tesla’s electric cars, their connectivity, autonomous driving capability, and dream of having Tesla robotaxis reshaped and continues to drive changes in the car industry.

In September, Tesla owners received an update that includes the Smart Summon feature that is an improved version of the original Summon, plus some more. The update added a geographical location option that adds more convenience for users. Additionally, the Tesla holiday update gave Tesla vehicles better inner-city Driving visualization, voice commands, Camp Mode, among others.

Aside from free OTA updates, Tesla has also started exploring firmware updates that can be purchased through its mobile app. The carmaker introduced the Acceleration Boost upgrade for $2,000 that improved the Model 3 Dual Motor’s 0-60 mph time from 4.4 seconds to 3.9 seconds.

Elon Musk also has the habit of interacting with the Tesla community via Twitter where vehicle owners suggesting car features that they need such as using the cameras of the vehicle to negotiate tight parking spots, a feature to avoid dooring, or requesting for popular apps such as Disney+.

Consumers can only expect Tesla to continue pushing OTA updates in the future so its electric vehicles will perform better, be safer, and be more fun to drive.

Here’s the video by Tesla Raj in collaboration with notable members of the Tesla YouTube community on the 124 OTA enhancements:

Tesla finds fountain of youth as Model 3 ‘ages’ with 124 OTA software updates

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