Tesla has been hinting for just a few months now that the flagship Mannequin S and Mannequin X could be getting some consideration in 2025 because the automobiles proceed to be bought in extraordinarily low volumes.
Each fashions appear to be beneath the knife, particularly as their latest variations have been noticed in California earlier this week.
Nevertheless, photos of the automobiles appear to point out that Tesla is just not planning a serious overhaul, which begs the query: why even do it within the first place?
Tesla decides on the way forward for its flagship Mannequin S and Mannequin X
The Mannequin S and Mannequin X are grouped with the Cybertruck in Tesla’s quarterly supply releases, and Q1 noticed simply 12,881 models of the three automobiles delivered. The Cybertruck possible made up nearly all of this quantity, as some retailers reported round 6,400 deliveries of the all-electric pickup in Q1.
That is unconfirmed.
The Mannequin S and Mannequin X have caught round for “sentimental causes,” in response to CEO Elon Musk, who mentioned again in 2021:
“I imply, they’re very costly, made in low quantity. To be completely frank, we’re persevering with to make them extra for sentimental causes than anything. They’re actually of minor significance to the longer term.”
Nevertheless, the automobiles appear to be in want of a severe refresh. As Tesla modified up the outside aesthetic on each the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y, latest photos captured of the Mannequin X by The Kilowatts appear to point out this isn’t the technique with the Mannequin X or Mannequin S:
— The Kilowatts 🚗⚡️ (@klwtts) Could 22, 2025
As we are able to see, the general aesthetic of the X, if that is what Tesla plans to launch, has actually no adjustments from a purely visible standpoint. There’s the addition of the entrance bumper digicam, which was first applied on the Cybercab unveiled in October 2024, after which on the brand new Mannequin Y this 12 months.
There are some new 20″ wheels, and the inside has been fitted with ambient lighting.
The Mannequin S appeared to be comparatively the identical, aside from these few {hardware} adjustments, together with a rear diffuser on this Plaid that was noticed:
Tesla is certainly performing some issues 👀 pic.twitter.com/qchMiAWEoT
— The Kilowatts 🚗⚡️ (@klwtts) Could 22, 2025
Whereas these adjustments are welcome and ought to be helpful, they don’t seem to be they’ll encourage main gross sales progress, which is perhaps one thing Tesla is okay with.
Admitting the 2 automobiles are low quantity and never contributors to the corporate’s long-term objectives, Musk is probably going prepared to simply improve issues to make these extra appropriate and higher functioning with the Full Self-Driving suite.
Earlier this 12 months, VP of Automobile Engineering Lars Moravy mentioned the S and X weren’t going wherever and would get “some love” earlier than the tip of 2025:
“Simply give it a minute. We’ll get there. The improve a few years in the past was greater than most individuals thought when it comes to structure and construction of the automotive bought loads higher, too. However, we’ll give it some love later this 12 months and ensure it will get somewhat bit…you already know, with the stuff we’ve been placing in 3 and Y. Clearly, with 3 and Y, the upper quantity stuff, you’ve gotta focus there.”
It appears these methods have held true — the S and X seem like getting what the three and Y bought with the ambient lighting and entrance bumper digicam (no less than on the Mannequin Y).
