Tesla Motors, Inc. is reportedly preparing to give its electric, five-door luxury liftback Model S a fresh new look next year. Since its first release back in 2012, the Tesla Model S has received rave reviews not only for its safety features and performance but also for its sleek design.
Tesla regularly updated Model S with software tweaks along with dual-motor all-wheel drive and battery-pack options. Now, a substantial update for the electric vehicle may already be in the works.
There are reports that Elon Musk's company is set to launch its much-anticipated Model 3 this coming March. The rumor that Tesla will also take that opportunity to give the Model S a slight facelift stems from a now-deleted post on the Tesla Motor Club website and originally spotted by Electrek.
The post indicated that a Model S owner was told by a Tesla service advisor that the company plans to integrate a small "facelift" on the Model S in an effort to make its front-end look more closely to the front-end of the Model X crossover SUV.
If accurate, the sedan could get a revised front-end sporting a smaller faux grille, new headlights and updated fog light surrounds. The redesign could also pave the way for features such as a second-generation Autopilot hardware.
Furthermore, the Tesla Motor Club post also claimed that the upcoming Tesla Model S redesign will be introduced in Spring 2016, shortly after the Model 3 is unveiled in March.
The Model X possess features not present on the currently available Model S, such as an upgraded cabin filtration mechanism, cooling system for the front seats, and even a feature that automatically opens the driver's door when the owner approaches.
Giving the Model S a Model X-inspired aesthetic upgrade does make sense, according to Inverse.com, since the Model X boasts some of the most pioneering next-gen specifications in the automotive world. However, the rumored Model S redesign says more about Tesla's unconventional business methods, suggesting that the company values innovation more than traditional manufacturing predictability.
The production of the Tesla Model S will be entering its fourth year in 2016, seven years since the first prototype was introduced. Prior to this purported redesign, the company has already revised the available powertrains and introduced Autopilot driving-assistance technology. However, Tesla has yet to integrate any revision to the Model S' aesthetic appearance.
