Author: Chang Yan

Having worked at Tesla for 8 years, if I were to summarize the first rule that I learned from this manufacturer, it would be that Tesla’s products do not have annual facelifts and can be upgraded anytime, anywhere. Exaggeratedly speaking, the offline product you captured today may be different tomorrow.

Apart from always stirring up the emotions of old car owners and arousing the expectations of new owners, the deeper layer of this is that it reflects the rapid changes in the smart electric vehicle arena. Even traditional annual facelifts cannot satisfy the appetite for technological leaps.

Last night, looking at my WeChat moments, it seemed that there were Model S Plaid ready for delivery in China, and the first batch of owners were eager to receive them. Meanwhile, the Model S/X are accelerating their facelift to become a global car, not only in China but also in Europe.

On January 20th, the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) once again issued new certification certificates for Model S/X. The reason for saying “once again” is that the current Model S/X Plaid has already obtained European certification in 2022 and has started deliveries in some European countries. This means that within a few months, these models have received new updates again.

HW 4.0, the FSD hardware that Tesla fans around the world have been eagerly anticipating, has also been officially confirmed for the first time in the official documents.

First Launch of HW 4.0In the full-year 2022 financial report meeting, Musk explicitly confirmed that HW 4.0 will be launched in 2023 and will be incorporated into the Cybertruck. Given Tesla’s consistent pursuit of scale in FSD hardware, it is easy to imagine that HW 4.0 will be fully upgraded to all Tesla models in 2023. As the flagship model, the Model S/X will naturally become the first model to be launched.

Although the most conspicuous position on the cover of this document is given to HW 4.0, no specific specifications are given.

However, it can be confirmed that HW 4.0 will include a brand new FSD computer chip, which is said to have a computing power of more than four times the current chip, and will also update the GNSS antenna of GPS. This antenna can also provide support for other standard global positioning systems and provide better positioning accuracy for the entire vehicle.

According to previously leaked documents, HW 4.0 will also have a new HD radar, with improved detection performance.

More powerful electric drive system

When Tesla makes a move in electric drive, the whole world holds its breath.

It was already so far ahead, and now it’s taking away any chances of survival?

The biggest breakthrough in the newly registered Model S long-range and Model X Plaid (yes, I don’t know why this strange combination is chosen, maybe the remaining Model S Plaid and Model X long-range are coming soon) is the further improvement of the efficiency of the electric drive system, which is also a targeted improvement.

In terms of core technology, both models introduce Tesla’s third-generation inverter, which can provide better electrification efficiency, and the motor model of both models has also changed. The V2 motor rotor has replaced the original V1 version.

For the Model S Long Range, the new motor means greater power output, but the downside is that the declared range for this update is shorter at 634km, down from 649km.

Meanwhile, the Model X Plaid has gained optimization in energy consumption, which increases its range from the initial 528km to 543km, while its power output remains formidable.

Revamped exterior design and finally, higher top speed

Of course, both cars have also seen some upgrades in their braking systems, automatic headlight systems and even the interior rearview mirror of the Model X has undergone a change, but these are not changes that you can easily spot.

The most obvious change is probably the upgraded tail and brake calipers.

Gone is the long-standing T-shaped emblem on the rear, which is now replaced by the more low-key and “Old Money” TESLA wordmark. Many users who had made this modification on their own cars have now received an official design countermeasure.

On the other hand, after a long delay, the Model S high-performance caliper and wheel kit is finally available in Europe. This is actually a longstanding black humor of the Model S – even though the top speed of the Plaid model is specified as 322km/h on the official websites worldwide, it can only be achieved with the additional performance upgrade kit, which interestingly is also an extremely scarce commodity.“`

And passing the application in Europe this time means that there may be stocks available, otherwise Tesla needs to speed up production to meet the demand of European consumers and avoid potential lawsuits.

Due to the Plaid’s dazzling aura, it seems that buying a Plaid is the only way to not have regrets for this generation of models. However, after seeing the specifications of this upgrade, I think the Model S Long Range is currently the most worthwhile model to buy – the same appearance, impressive performance, longest endurance, and lowest price.

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This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.