Screen Shot 2021-01-28 at 8.14.09 am.png — Model S Plaid+ headlines revised range with over 1,100hp and a sub 9 second quarter mile

Model S will come in Long Range, Plaid and Plaid+ variants starting from USD$79,990, C$114,990 and AUD$129,990
Model X will come in Long Range and Plaid variants starting from USD$89,990, C$124,990 and AUD$149,990
Plaid+ boasts 520 mile (836 kilometre) range and will likely features Tesla’s new tabless 4680 cells
Both models feature redesigned interior with three screens, cut off steering wheel

Tesla revealed revised versions of both the Model S sedan and Model X SUV during the company’s Q42020/FY2020 earnings announcement on Wednesday, Pacific time. Though many speculated the company may cut the Model X altogether due to slow sales, Tesla has in fact rolled out a refreshed and upgraded Model X including a Plaid performance variant that may even tempt some buyers out of the Model Y and new Model S.

Exterior

Subtle exterior updates are the order of the day, with both the Model S and Model X receiving blacked out trim covering window frames, exterior mirrors, door handles and rear trunk lid stripbaimilar to the Model 3 and Model Y. There is a new selection of wheels for both models, as well as subtle detail changes to the front air intakes and bumper. It appears that there might be a slight increase in the track of the Model S, with ever-so-slightly wider arches than the 2020 model, but we won’t know for sure until the official dimensions are released.

Blacked-out trim pieces the order of the day for Tesla’s new Model S.

Technology

Under the metal, both the Model S and Model X will utilise the heat pump technology seen on Tesla’s Model Y and 2021 Model 3, known as the Super Manifold (you can see more on this piece of hardware in Sandy Munro’s teardown) and this piece of technology will provide improved cold-weather performance, greater HVAC efficiency without an antiquated electric heating element, and thermal cooling to battery, motor and other systems. The battery packs have also been redesigned, and Tesla claims the 2022 Model S and Model X are capable of 5X more high-speed quarter mile runs than previous battery architecture (for what that’s worth)

Interior

The interiors of the new models are where Tesla fanboys and fangirls will be most gratified, with substantial changes to trim, interior architecture and technology. The first element that grabs the observer is the yoke-style steering wheel that wouldn’t be out of place on a Cessna aircraft. Tesla’s version features a lot more technology however, with the company’s traditional scroll wheels integrated, as well as Ferrari-style buttons for vehicle functions such as indicators and headlights, removing protruding stalks from the steering column. Another benefit of removing buttons and stalks from interiors is that when Tesla rolls out its autonomous Robotaxi fleet, there’s nothing for passengers to potentially interfere with or damage.

The central rear screen will allow rear seat passengers to game away the hours.

One overlooked feature in the press release is a new 960 watt 22 speaker audio system with active noise cancelling. That’s the technology inside your favourite headphones for long haul flying, and it uses microphones to pick up distracting low-frequency noise, and fires back phase-inverted frequencies into your ear to enhance your listening experience. Tesla is looking to tech to solve a problem most other manufacturers try to alleviate with sound deadening insulation, double glazing and acoustic panels. It will be interesting to see its effectiveness.

In addition, Tesla has eliminated the vertical central touch screen, and reverted to a landscape orientation screen like the Model 3. This has been rumoured for some time, however the unlike the Model 3, the Model S and Model X keep the driver’s main screen and also add a rear screen that can be used for gaming via wireless controllers. Tesla says the system features a 10 teraflop processor (as much as a Playstation 5), but it’s not known if the graphics processing unit is the company’s own or one sourced from a third party such as Nvidia. The rear compartment also receives wireless charging pads in the centre armrest behind the cupholders.

[Update] Overclock3d.net reports that a leaked block diagram shows that Tesla will be using Radeon's AMD Navi 23 GPU, with 128-bit memory bus connected to 16Gb (2GB) GDDR6 memory modules that operate at 14Gbps speeds within the car. The graphics chip said to be connected to the rest of Tesla's infotainment system using a PCIe 3.0 x8 connection.

The rear of Tesla’s Model S retains its signature flat floor, and adds a central screen and redesigned door cards with wrap around inlays. Image: Tesla

For our money, the Lucid Air still appears to have the edge in terms of outright luxury and interior tactility, but we’ll reserve our judgement until we can get hands on sometime next year. Tesla offers black and white, all-black and beige interior trim options on both new models, with either timber inlays or carbon fibre inlays (Plaid models only) . Two wheel options per model are available, and are unique to their body styles.

Drivetrain and Battery

Both the Long Range Model S and Model X feature Tesla’s 100kWh battery pack, and offer 663 kilometres (412 miles) and 580 kilometres (360 miles) of claimed range respectively. The Plaid and Plaid+ variants are what tje internet is talking about however.

Although full specifications and details about the battery technology are yet to be released, according to Tesla’s website, the Plaid version is the quickest accelerating production car today, and offers a 0-60mph time of less than 1.99 seconds. The Model S and Model X Plaid have three high performance motors, with over 1,020 horsepower, carbon-sleeved rotors and torque vectoring, meaning that drive power sent to each wheel on a driveshaft is variable to optimise traction and performance.

The Plaid+ version of the Model S will feature, according to Tesla, “the quickest 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile acceleration of any production car ever”. Bold claims, but certainly possible with the 1,100+ horsepower and Tesla’s new tabless 4680 cells within the battery pack. It’s expected that said battery will pack way more than 100kWh too; Lucid will be using a 113kWh pack to achieve a 520 mile (836 kilometre) claimed range; whatever Tesla settles on, we’d bet that the Model S energy efficiency will be class leading, and that Tesla will also come close to a 520 mile range for the Model S Plaid+.

2021 Tesla Model X Range and Performance Specifications

2021 Tesla Model S Range and Performance Specifications

Tesla has been upgrading and retooling the Fremont California production lines to build the new models, a move that likely took place in December during the 18-day shutdown of the lines. which include new battery modules, battery packs and drive units, as well as the full suite of revised interior features. Tesla states that production will ramp up in Q1 2021 to full capacity later in the year, with customer deliveries expected as early as February/March in North America, and late 2021/early 2022 in Australia and Europe.

While Tesla is powering ahead with production of its new tabless 4680 cell batteries in California, it will take time for the company to scale up production to cover the entire production output. After selling 499,500 units in 2020, many analysts and commentators are expecting Tesla to sell between 600,000 and 800,000 units in 2021, thanks largely to the first full year of Model Y sales in China. For now, Tesla is still relying on sourcing batteries from Panasonic, CATL and LG Chem to supplement its own production.

See below for more images courtesy Tesla Motors.