The oldest new cars in Tesla's US range have received another styling update, with new features and longer driving ranges – but they still won't be sold in Australia.
Tesla has given its oldest passenger vehicles – the Model S sedan and Model X SUV – another update after 10 and 13 years in US showrooms, respectively, with no sign of next-generation models.
As with the previous facelift for the Model S and Model X in 2021, the latest changes will not come to Australia, as the vehicles are no longer produced in right-hand drive.
Changes unveiled by Tesla in recent days represent the third and second styling updates for the sedan and SUV, respectively, and focus on tweaked design elements and new features.
The Model S Plaid receives the most changes, with a more aggressive front bumper and deeper rear diffuser "optimised for high-speed stability".
All versions receive new wheel designs – measuring 19 and 21 inches on the Model S, and 20 and 22 inches on the Model X – plus new Frost Blue and Diamond Black paint colours, and a matte black front Tesla badge.
A camera has been added on the lower front bumper, as with the latest Model Y, while the headlights now include adaptive driving beams.
Driving range claims have risen by up to 37km thanks to improved aerodynamics, though the longest-range variant available, the Model S Long Range, is unchanged at 660km in US EPA testing.
Tesla promises reduced wind and road noise, improved Active Noise Cancellation software, and "even smoother ride" through revised suspension, including new bushings.
Inside, multi-colour ambient lighting has been added across the doors, dashboard and centre console – which run welcome animations when the driver enters the vehicle – plus similar multi-colour LED lights in the footwells and door pockets.
Space in the boot, as well as occupants in the third row of seats in the Model X has also improved, the former by 2.7 per cent.
The controversial aircraft-inspired 'yoke' steering control is no longer available on the entry-level Long Range variants, and is now only offered as a $US1000 ($AU1540) option on the Plaid grades.
Unchanged are the powertrains in each model, with all models sharing a circa-100kWh battery pack, and two or three electric motors.
Long Range variants use dual motors developing 500kW combined, good for up to 660km of range and 0-60mph (97km/h) in 3.1 seconds in the Model S, or 567km (+37km) and 3.8sec in the Model X.
Plaid models use three electric motors – two rear, one front – producing 761kW combined, claimed to enable 0-60mph in 1.99 seconds in the sedan, or 2.5sec in the SUV.
Tesla claims driving ranges of up to 592km (+32km) in the former, and 539km (+34km) in the latter.
DC fast charging is limited to 250kW, allowing up to 330km of claimed range to be added in 15 minutes, according to Tesla.
The Model S Plaid's top speed is now limited to 240km/h as standard unless the option box for 21-inch wheels is ticked, which raises the limiter to 262km/h.
To unlock its full potential – 200 miles per hour, or 322km/h – buyers need to order the $US20,000 ($AU30,800) Track Package, which includes carbon-ceramic brakes, 20-inch lightweight wheels, and Goodyear track-day tyres.
The 2026 Tesla Model S and Model X are now on sale in the US, with price rises of $US5000 ($AU7700).
Plans to sell the outgoing facelift for the electric twins in Australia were scrapped in 2023, more than two years after pre-order books opened – and the final examples of the previous updates were delivered locally.
"I don't know the intimate details. We were taking reservations for that vehicle because we intended to deliver it," Tesla Australia country director, Thom Drew, recently told Drive.
"It was obviously a change by the product planning team quite late in the development where, unfortunately, we missed out on that in right-hand drive.
"From what I understand, there are some engineering difficulties in the vehicle that make it not possible to build it in right-hand drive, due to some decisions that were made.
"So it doesn't appear to be something that's going to be made in right-hand drive anytime soon."
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
