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 offered in extraordinarily low volumes.
Each fashions appear to be below the knife, particularly as their latest variations had been noticed in California earlier this week.
Nonetheless, photographs of the automobiles appear to indicate that Tesla shouldn’t be planning a significant 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 vehicles delivered. The Cybertruck seemingly made up nearly all of this quantity, as some shops 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 line with CEO Elon Musk, who stated 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.”
Nonetheless, the vehicles 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 photographs captured of the Mannequin X by The Kilowatts appear to indicate this isn’t the technique with the Mannequin X or Mannequin S:
— The Kilowatts 🚗⚡️ (@klwtts) Might 22, 2025
As we will 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 may be the addition of the entrance bumper digicam, which was first carried out on the Cybercab unveiled in October 2024, after which on the brand new Mannequin Y this yr.
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 doing a little issues 👀 pic.twitter.com/qchMiAWEoT
— The Kilowatts 🚗⚡️ (@klwtts) Might 22, 2025
Whereas these adjustments are welcome and needs to be helpful, they don’t look like they are going to encourage main gross sales progress, which is perhaps one thing Tesla is okay with.
Admitting the 2 vehicles are low quantity and never contributors to the corporate’s long-term targets, Musk is probably going prepared to only improve issues to make these extra appropriate and higher functioning with the Full Self-Driving suite.
Earlier this yr, VP of Car Engineering Lars Moravy stated the S and X weren’t going anyplace and would get “some love” earlier than the top of 2025:
“Simply give it a minute. We’ll get there. The improve a few years in the past was larger than most individuals thought when it comes to structure and construction of the automobile acquired quite a bit higher, too. However, we’ll give it some love later this yr and ensure it will get a bit of 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 acquired with the ambient lighting and entrance bumper digicam (at the least on the Mannequin Y).
