Skip to main content

Tesla Updates Model S

img 1169118566 1460473813021 jpg 2017 Tesla Model S | Manufacturer image

CARS.COM — Hot on the heels of the unveiling of the new Model 3 compact electric sedan, Tesla Motors has revealed the first-ever styling changes to the bigger, more expensive Model S. The most obvious are changes to the sedan’s front-end styling, where a new face and headlights bring the Model S in line with the Model X SUV’s face, eliminating the vestigial grille and replacing it with a slimmer opening and cleaned-up bumper.

Related: Tesla Autopilot: First Test

Other changes to the latest version (Tesla doesn’t designate model years like other automakers) include some tech updates as well. The Model S’ standard onboard charger gets a mild boost from 40 to 48 amps, enabling faster charging under certain conditions.

Inside, the HEPA air filtration system that was previously only available on the Model X now joins the Model S’ options list. Tesla says it’s 99.97 percent effective at removing airborne contaminants. Two new interior décor choices are also newly available: Figured Ash Wood or Dark Ash Wood.

The updated model has just begun production at the company’s plant in Fremont, Calif., with deliveries expected by mid-May, according to Tesla’s website.

img 1167271524 1460473817276 jpg img 1168195045 1460473815731 jpg img 1169118566 1460473813021 jpg img 1167271524 1460473817276 jpg img 1168195045 1460473815731 jpg img 1169118566 1460473813021 jpg Add Cars.com as a preferred source on Google
Detroit Bureau Chief

I handle new car reviews, news, events, auto shows, and contribute to special projects and multicar comparisons while representing our team in the heart of the U.S. auto industry. I’ve been a part of the industry my whole life, growing up in an automotive family, spending the past 30 years working for Bosch and Nissan, and serving as an industry analyst for years before coming to Cars.com in 2012. I’m a graduate of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), have an MBA from Wayne State University in Detroit with a focus on international business strategy, and I’m a member of both the Automotive Press and the Midwest Automotive Media associations. My personal fun car is a pristine 2002 Ford Thunderbird, which I love because it is not an SUV, has zero touchscreens, and nothing dings at you all the time. My pronouns are he/him, but my adjectives are fat/sassy.

Featured stories