The Tesla Cybertruck’s launch has been delayed again.
New swivel base for Model S and Model X touchscreens.
More powerful microchips for Model 3 and Model Y.
With a lineup of only four vehicles, including one that’s more than 10 years old, Tesla is doing very well at the moment, expanding its horizons across the globe and selling a lot of vehicles for a brand’s that has yet to blow a set of 20 candles on its birthday cake.
Alas, after dominating and revolutionizing the electric vehicle market for the past decade, a bunch of well-established automakers are finally catching up, and some have a serious EV offensive coming that will challenge Tesla’s market share. Nonetheless, here’s what to expect from the Tesla brand in 2023, with models listed in alphabetical order.
Tesla Cybertruck
We’re still waiting for the Tesla Cybertruck to appear, after being unveiled to the world in November 2019. Production was initially scheduled to begin in late 2021, but that was pushed back several times and now, pre-production units might roll out of the company’s Austin, Texas factory in mid-2023 at best, with mass production expected in late 2023. Meanwhile, it was recently announced that 1.5 million potential buyers have reserved their copy of the pickup truck. The Cybertruck was supposed to offer dual-motor AWD and tri-motor AWD powertrains at launch, with a single-motor, RWD variant to arrive afterwards.
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 sedan receives quicker processing power for the infotainment system and other electronic functions, moving from Intel to AMD chips. Radar sensors have been replaced with cameras, but the active safety features remain the same. The lineup includes the RWD Standard Range (272-mile/438-km range) as well as the dual-motor AWD Long Range (358-mile/576-km range) and dual-motor AWD Performance (315-mile/507-km range).
Tesla Model S
Now entering its 12th year of production, the ground-breaking Tesla Model S is getting old, but its design amazingly still looks up to date. The most recent Model S portfolio consists of the standard dual-motor AWD variant (405-mile/652-km range) and the new tri-motor, 1,020-hp Plaid (396-mile/637-km range). Tesla claims the Model S Plaid can hit 60 mph in 1.99 seconds. During the 2022 calendar year, Tesla added a swivel mount for the infotainment touchscreen, which can be rotated towards the driver or the front passenger at the touch of a button.
Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X is available with a choice of five-, six- and seven-seat interior layouts. The standard dual-motor AWD variant boasts a driving range of 348 miles or 560 km, while the tri-motor, 1,020-horsepower Plaid can blast from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds and has a range of 333 miles or 536 km. Like in the Model S, the Model X gets a swivel base for its infotainment system touchscreen.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y lineup currently consists of dual-motor AWD Long Range (330-mile/531-km range) and dual-motor AWD Performance (303-mile/488-km range) variants. The only significant change is a move from Intel to AMD chips to improve the infotainment systems speed and graphics.
Tesla Roadster
As for the second-generation Tesla Roadster, which made its debut back in 2017, its future is unclear. The company announced that its release would be delayed, and the Cybertruck will hit the market before it. The 2+2 Roadster is said to pack three motors and AWD, 7,376 pound-feet of wheel torque, a 0-to-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, a 200-kWh battery pack (that’s twice as big as the largest batteries in the Model S/Model X) and a driving range of 620 miles or 1,000 kilometres. The Roadster will cost $200,000 USD, while the limited-run Founders Series will cost $250,000 USD.
