The Tesla Model S and Model X are getting some minor updates just days after another round of price cuts.
Most obvious is a new paint color that Tesla calls Ultra Red (seen in the picture above and video below). It’s being made available for both the Model S and Model X, and will cost an additional $3,000, making it the most expensive paint option on the menu.
Introducing Ultra Red paint for Model S & X pic.twitter.com/CFT1sdyIr1
— Tesla (@Tesla)
March 9, 2023
In addition to the red paint, Tesla says its glass roof on both vehicles weighs less and lets in five times more light than before. Tesla says the new roof offers the same level of UV protection — that said, glass roofs still have their pluses and minuses. We don’t know how light the new glass roof is, but any amount of weight reduction is a net positive for improving the car’s center of gravity.
Another performance improvement is specific to the Model S Plaid and X Plaid variants. Both these models will now come with “improved brake pads with improved thermal efficiency”. Brake performance was one of our big complaints in testing the Model S Plaid, and while it likely won’t make them racetrack-ready, the better pads will boost road performance.
Tesla’s final update today is the addition of a round steering wheel as an option. The yoke is still available, but now you can imagine a round wheel from the factory. We highly suggest you do this if you’re ordering a Model S or Model X, as the yoke is worse than the wheel used in the real world. The yoke and wheel are both no-cost options.
Related Video: